This blog post features Casey Orr, one of the Serial and Government Publications Division interns from the 2025 Library of Congress Internship (LOCI) program. This summer, Orr researched Native American newspapers and created a guide covering those collections: Native American Newspapers. In this interview, Orr shares her research interests and background, her internship experience, and more about her project.
Tell us a little about your background. What led you to apply for the Library of Congress Internship (LOCI) program?
I’m halfway through my Master of Science in Library and Information Science at Syracuse University. I will graduate next year, in 2026, and I hope to work as a research or reference librarian. I knew I wanted to pursue a related summer internship to increase my experience in the field, and the LOCI program was the perfect opportunity. They matched me with a project that engaged my background and passion for research while challenging me to work with newspapers and serials, mediums I have not worked with in depth before now.
What project did you work on this summer?
I created a Research Guide on Native American newspapers. The guide provides an overview of the holdings of Native American newspapers held at the Library of Congress and those available freely online. In the end, I was able to locate over 250 individual titles published across 40 U.S. States, two territories (Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory), and the District of Columbia. The guide also includes reference materials, newspaper and image highlights, and resources to help users locate, access, and research Native American newspapers.
Masthead, Adahooniłigii (Phoenix, AZ), August 2, 1943. Chronicling America.
Why did you choose to research this topic?
One of my passions in librarianship is increasing access to information. Before this guide, there were few lists or indexes of Native American newspapers, and most of them are several decades old. Additionally, while some included institutional holding information, none included current holdings information, online accessible locations, and contemporary newspapers published in the 21st Century. By working on this guide, I was able to expand on previous scholarship and create an updated repository of Native American newspapers for public access.
What was the most interesting thing you found?
I’m most excited about the historical coverage of the guide, as well as the inclusion of several bilingual newspapers. The first paper published by a Native American Tribe was the “Cherokee Phoenix,” which started in 1828. Since the Serial and Government Publications Division has several print and microfilm issues, I was able to include the “Cherokee Phoenix” in the Guide. Because of this, the guide contains coverage from the full history of the Native Press, from the first paper to those still publishing today.
Masthead, Cherokee Phoenix (New Echota, GA), March 6, 1828. Chronicling America.
Additionally, the “Cherokee Phoenix” was written in English and Cherokee syllabary, making it the first paper printed in an Indigenous American language. Along with the “Cherokee Phoenix,” the guide covers other bilingual papers, like “The Oglala Light” written in Dakhóta and English and “Adahooniłigii” written in Diné Bizaad and English.
Is there anything else you would like to share about the newspapers or about your research?
This summer, I learned a lot about newspapers and the uniqueness of serial publications. Before this summer, I had minimal experience with newspapers; I used articles as primary or historical sources but never did deep dives into specific titles and their publishing histories. When working on the Guide, I had to use various reference sources to track newspapers as they changed names, editors, and publishing locations. I also learned a lot about various policies or social factors that impact the writing, editing, and publishing practices of newspapers, especially those within the Native American Press.
Masthead, Dakota Tawaxitku Kin, or, The Dakota Friend (Saint Paul, MN), March 1, 1852. Chronicling America.
Overall, I had an incredible summer at the Library of Congress. I look forward to taking what I learned this summer and incorporating it into my future work in research and librarianship.
Additional Resources
Native American Newspapers: a guide to Native American newspapers held at the Library of Congress and available online.
Searching Native American Newspapers in Chronicling America, Headlines and Heroes.
Native American and Indigenous News and Comics, Headlines and Heroes.
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