Great Resources.

• American Antiquarian Society. A national research library covering American history from the first European settlers to 1876
• Boston Athenaeum.
• The Brooklyn Daily Eagle online (1841-1902).
• Brooklyn Historical Society.
• Craigslist.
• The Geography of Slavery in Virginia. A digital collection of advertisements for runaway and captured slaves and servants in Virginia
• Information Wanted. A database of advertisements for Irish immigrants published in the Boston Pilot
• Kennebec Historical Society.
• The Library Company of Philadelphia.
• The Library of Congress.
• Maryland State Archives.
• Massachusetts Historical Society.
• Museum of the City of New York.
• The National Archives.
• New York Historical Society.

Submit An Ad.

Do you have a curious, historically relevant posting that you'd like to share? Did your grandfather place a personal ad back in his bachelor days? Did your great-great Aunt, just off the boat and new to America, search for her sister through the notice columns? The Classified Archive welcomes submissions! If you've come across a want ad worth preserving, we'd love to hear about it. Please e-mail the text of the ad (or, even better, a .jpg scan, 300 dpi at 100 percent) and any background information you might know about the posting, along with the name of the publication in which it ran, the date it appeared, and your contact information. If we post your classified on the site, we'll send you an autographed copy of Strange Red Cow: And Other Curious Classified Ads from the Past.

Submit An Ad.

Strange Red Cow by Sara Bader.

A Few Favorite Ads.

Selections From Strange Red Cow.

• 

  Courtesy of the Kennebec Historical Society

  —September 7, 1832, Kennebec Journal

  «ABSCONDED from his lodgings a male pig seven or eight weeks old, of the Newbury white breed. Whoever may have taken him into custody, or seen him in his wanderings, and will give information thereof at this office, will be compensated. He was last seen at full speed taking an air line for Vassalborough the place of his nativity.»

• 

  —December 18, 1865, New York Herald

  «J.A.R. —SARCASM AND INDIFFERENCE HAVE driven me from you. I sail in next steamer for Europe. Shall I purchase tickets for two, or do you prefer to remain to wound some other loving heart? Answer quick, or all is lost. EMELIE.»

• 

  Courtesy American Antiquarian Society

  —April 19, 1865, New York Herald

  «A REWARD OF $75 WILL BE PAID, IN ADDITION to the sum already offered, for the arrest of the villian J. Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, at Ford's theatre, Washington, D.C., on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865. GEORGE WM. MATTHEWS, Williamsburg, L.I., N.Y.»

• 

  —March 21, 1866, New York Herald

  «IF THE LADY WHO, FROM AN OMNIBUS, SMILED on a gentleman with a bunch of bananas in his hand, as he crossed Wall street, corner of Broadway, will address X., box 6,735 Post office, she will confer a favor.»

• 

  —January 2, 1892, New York World

  «WANTED—A young lady of German parentage; must be a 36 bust and understand bookkeeping on a small scale. Apply Milbauer & Bleiweiss, ladies' and misses' cloaks, 419 Broadway.»