"Microfilm" refers to reels of film that contain microscopic images of documents. The library uses microfilm to store millions of pages in a small space. To read microfilm, you load it into a machine called a microfilm reader, which uses a microscope to expand the documents to readable size and display them on a monitor.

Simpson Library's collection of microfilm is stored in two grey cabinets on the first floor, near the back wall, on the left side of the building as viewed from the front entrance.

You can use the library's microfilm readers to view documents and create PDF scans for free, or make printouts for 10 cents per page. If you are using microfilm for the first time, please speak with a library staff member. We'd love to help you!

This page lists newspapers in Simpson Library's microfilm collection, divided into these catagories:

• Fredericksburg newspapers on microfilm
• Virginia/Maryland/DC newspapers on microfilm
• Other newspapers on microfilm

The library owns printed indexes for many of these newspapers. These indexes are shelved with the books in the Reference section, and are marked below with a blue book icon.

The UMW Department of Historic Preservation has created a combined online index for all newspapers published in Fredericksburg between 1787 and 1928. Use this index to find the date of an article, and then use the microfilm to read the full text.

If you want to request newspapers on microfilm from other libraries (using interlibrary loan), use this book to find the titles and publishing runs of particular newspapers.