The Cherokee Regional Library System has announced a major expansion of the Walker County Messenger digital archive, giving the public online access to decades of local history through the Digital Library of Georgia as part of the Georgia Historic Newspapers collection.
The expanded archive now includes keyword-searchable editions of the Walker County Messenger from 1889 through 1997 — a significant increase from the collection’s previous endpoint of 1924.
The digitized newspapers are available free to the public through the Digital Library of Georgia’s Georgia Historic Newspapers collection.
Library officials say the archive provides a detailed look into the daily lives of Walker County residents over more than a century, preserving everything from major news events to wedding announcements, school honor rolls, local business openings, letters to the editor and military dispatches.
Because the collection is fully keyword searchable, researchers can quickly locate names, events and topics from past editions. Officials say the archive will benefit genealogists, students, teachers, historians, veterans’ families and local business owners seeking information about the community’s past.
“This expansion of the Walker County Messenger archive is a tremendous milestone for our community,” said Lecia Eubanks, director of the Cherokee Regional Library System. “History shouldn’t be locked away — it should be one search term away.”
The project was funded through SPLOST funds from Walker County Government and the City of LaFayette. Additional funding was provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Library Services and Technology Act Program, administered by the Georgia Public Library Service.
More information about the program is available at Georgia Public Library Service LSTA Program.
Library officials said plans are already underway to continue digitizing additional editions in an effort to complete the full Walker County Messenger collection next year.
The Cherokee Regional Library System operates four branch libraries serving Northwest Georgia communities in Chickamauga, LaFayette, Rossville and Trenton.