Decatur Newspaper Indexing Project

The Wise County Heritage Museum http://www.wisehistory.com/ now has the early years of the Wise County Messenger and the Decatur News digitized from microfilm into JPG picture form. It would be so helpful to have an index of the local births, weddings, obituaries, pictures, and other events of interest to genealogists.
Go to page http://www.tx-genealogy.info/museum/newspapers.htm for finished indexes.

Each year of the newspaper images has been burned onto a separate DVD. See picture below:

We would like to do a simple index of these newspapers in an Excel spreadsheet. There would be 4 columns:

Last Name, First Name Type of Article Notes (Optional) Image (Page)
       
       

This Excel table can be made small so it will float over the image of the newspaper page as you type in the name and everything. The Excel template and instructions are contained on every disc, or they can be downloaded by clicking HERE (Click the 'tabs' at the bottom of the sheets to see the template, instructions, and a sample).

If you could help with this volunteer project for the Wise County Museum please email me at Sue@WiseCountyTexas.info Discs can be picked up at the museum in Decatur or mailed to you.

Below is a Table of the Newspapers

PM=Paradise Messenger, AM=Alvord Messenger, WCM=Wise County Messenger, DN=Decatur News
The WCM 1880-1910 and the DN 1893-1900 are transcribed in books at the museum. The papers with an 'N' are online at newspapers.com and the papers with an 'NA' are online at newspaperArchive.com 

Color Code

Not
Adopted
  Claimed-
Adopted
  Finished
Index
 
Year Paper Pages Condition Description Transcribed at Museum Newspapers .com newspaper
Archive.com
Indexed by Email
1880 PM 150 Good Paradise Messenger-Some torn, some light T N    Edna Wood  ednawood1@hotmail.com 
1881 PM 208 Good Paradise Messenger-Some light T N    Edna Wood  ednawood1@hotmail.com 
1883 AM 210 Good WCM-Aug starts Alvord Messenger-Some torn, some light T N    Edna Wood  ednawood1@hotmail.com 
1884 AM 233 Good Alvord Messenger-Some torn, some light T N    Edna Wood  ednawood1@hotmail.com 
1885 WCM 396 Good Few torn T N NA  Not Indexed  
1886 WCM 397 Good Some torn, few light T N NA  Not Indexed  
1887 WCM 247 Good Few torn, few light, few dark corners T   NA  Not Indexed  
1888 WCM 332 Good Few torn, few dark corners T N NA  Not Indexed  
1889 WCM 401 Good Few torn, few dark edges T N NA  Not Indexed  
1890 WCM 380 Good Some torn, some dark background T N NA  Not Indexed  
1891 WCM 380 Fair Some torn, few light, some dark background T N NA  Not Indexed  
1892 WCM 384 Fair Many torn, some dark background T   NA  Not Indexed  
1893 DN 388 Poor Many torn and unmatching half pages, some dark background T      Not Indexed  
WCM 400 Fair Few torn, some dark background, some page parts blurry T   NA  Not Indexed  
1894 DN 418 Poor Few torn, many dark page parts T      Not Indexed  
WCM 426 Poor Many with dark background, some out of focus T   NA  Not Indexed  
1895 DN 413 Poor Dark backgrounds, dark parts of pages T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 404 Poor Many torn with bad edges, some out of focus T   NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1896 DN 385 Fair Many with dark places in pages, some too light T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 423 Fair Dark backgrounds T   NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1897 DN 388 Very Poor Nearly all are half pages, with many halves that don't match T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 289 Fair Ends in Aug with the Daily Messenger, some torn T   NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1898 DN 422 Fair Some dark backgrounds, a few too light T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 417 Fair Some torn, some dark backgrounds T   NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1899 DN 420 Fair Some too light, a few dark corners T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 419 Fair Many torn T   NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1900 DN 412 Poor Many dark corners and fold through center T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 430 Fair Some torn, a few too light T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1901 DN 426 Fair Many split at center fold, some with dark backgrounds Not T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 404 Good A few torn, a few too light T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1902 DN 414 Poor Some faded-out unreadable pages, many dark corners Not T      Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 388 Fair Some torn, a few too light T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1903 WCM 383 Fair Some torn, a few too light T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1904 DN 478 Poor Many torn at center fold, few halves don't match, dark corners Not T      Sally Stokes sstokes1972@hotmail.com
WCM 410 Good A few too light T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1905 DN 400 Poor Torn at center fold, several dark corners Not T      Sally Stokes sstokes1972@hotmail.com
WCM 419 Good A few torn T N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1906 DN 442 Poor Some torn in center, some dark corners Not T      Sally Stokes sstokes1972@hotmail.com
WCM 427 Good A few torn T N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1907 WCM 405 Fair Some torn T N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1908 DN 438 Fair 1 paper from 1907, few torn, some dark corners Not T     Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 408 Poor Some torn, some too dark T N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1909 DN 422 Poor Many torn in center, some halves don't match, some too dark Not T     Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 414 Fair A few torn, some backgrounds are dark T N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1910 WCM 412 Fair Backgrounds are a little dark, a few pages too light T N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1911 DN 388 Poor Some half pages, few too light, some with dark backgrounds       Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 411 Good No microfilm at museum, a few torn, a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1912 WCM 423 Fair Some torn, backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1913 WCM 368 Fair Many torn edges, backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1914 WCM 362 Fair Some torn, backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1915 DN 530 Fair Many dark corners        Sue Tackel  Sue@WiseCountyTexas.info
WCM 390 Fair Some torn, some backgrounds are dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1916 DN 440 Fair A few torn, some dark corners, a few faded        Sue Tackel  Sue@WiseCountyTexas.info
WCM 378 Fair Many torn edges   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1917 DN 354 Poor Many torn and half pages       Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 386 Fair Some backgrounds are too dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1918 DN 488 Fair A few torn, some dark corners, some backgrounds are too dark       Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 380 Fair Several torn edges, backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1919 DN 570 Fair A few torn, a few dark corners       Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 434 Fair Some torn, some backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Dr. David E. Pitts paw281@sbcglobal.net
1920 WCM 373 Fair Some torn, some backgrounds are a little dark   N NA Sue Tackel &
David Pitts
Sue@WiseCountyTexas.info
paw281@sbcglobal.net
1921 DN 422 Fair Some dark corners and fold in center        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 412 Fair Some torn   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1922 WCM 375 Fair Some torn   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1923 DN 418 Fair Some dark corners, background is a little grainy        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 420 Good A few torn, a few a little too light, arsenic in well in Paradise   N NA Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
1924 WCM 381 Good A few torn, a few a little too light   N NA Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
1925 DN 437 Good Some dark corners       Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
WCM 404 Poor Too much contrast in microfilm     NA Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
1926 DN 416 Good Some dark corners       Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
WCM 431 Poor Too much contrast in microfilm     NA Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
1927 DN 419 Good Some dark corners        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 436  Very Poor Too much contrast in microfilm, some too dark or out of focus     NA Donna Weeden dgweeden@yahoo.com
1928 DN 416 Fair Some corners too dark        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 403 Very Poor Too much contrast in microfilm, some out of focus     NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1929 DN 404 Good Some corners a little dark        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 412 Good Pictures are dark   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1930 DN 410 Fair Some too light, background is grainy        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 408 Good A few torn, some a little light   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1931 DN 406 Good Print is a little grainy        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 334 Good Ends in Sept. Dec was on the Decatur News microfilm   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1932 DN 369 Fair Corners a little dark, some torn        Sally Stokes sstokes1972@hotmail.com
WCM 151 Fair No microfilm at museum. Only on newspaperARCHIVES.com     NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1933 DN 384 Good Some corners a little dark, a few pages printed off paper        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 400 Good A few torn corners, some X's written over ads   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1934 DN 380 Poor Many dark corners, some print is off the edge of the pages        Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
WCM 410 Fair Many torn corners, some X's written over items   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1935 WCM 407 Good A few torn, many X's written over ads   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1936 WCM 411 Good Many X's written over ads   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1937 WCM 400 Good Many X's written over ads   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1938 WCM 404 Good A few torn, some X's written over ads   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1939 WCM 404 Good A few torn edges   N NA  Dr. David Pitts  paw281@sbcglobal.net
1940 WCM 440 Good 36 page 60th anniversary issue   N NA    
1941 WCM 398 Good Some a little light   N NA    
1942 WCM 358 Good Some torn   N NA    
1943 WCM 231 Good Some torn, many papers only have 4 pages   N NA    
1944 WCM 365 Good Some torn edges   N NA    
1945 WCM 419 Good A few torn pages   N NA    
1946 WCM 438 Good Some page numbering is off, some a little light   N NA    
1947 WCM 478 Good Some a little light, several magazine sections   N NA    
1948 WCM 488 Good Several magazine sections   N NA    
1949 WCM 540 Good Several magazine sections   N NA    
1950 WCM 491 Good A little light   N NA    
1951 WCM 458 Good A few torn, some a little light   N NA    
1952 WCM 473 Fair A little dark, pictures are dark and a little pixilated   N NA    
1953 WCM 476 Fair A little dark, pictures are dark   N NA    
1954 WCM 502 Fair A little dark, pictures are dark   N NA    
1955 WCM 612 Fair A little dark, pictures are dark   N NA    
1956 WCM 620 Good 58 page County Centennial Issue   N NA    
1957 WCM 630 Good Good   N NA    
1958 WCM 617 Good Some a little light   N NA    
1959 WCM 588 Good Some a little light   N NA    
1960 WCM 412 Good Jan and some other papers missing, a little light and faded   N NA    
1961 WCM 402 Good A little light and faded, some pictures are dark   N NA    
1962 WCM 402 Good A few pictures are dark   N NA    
1963 WCM 436 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1964 WCM 424 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1965 WCM 420 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1966 WCM 428 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1967 WCM 430 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1968 WCM 451 Good Pictures are dark   N NA    
1969 WCM 468 Good Pictures are dark   N NA Sue Tackel Sue@WiseCountyTexas.info
122
Years
  50116
Pages
             

Go to page http://www.tx-genealogy.info/museum/newspapers.htm for finished indexes. -