1959 Newspapers

Read about the most shocking 1959 headlines with an authentic newspaper from the largest collection of original newspapers in the world. Our range of newspaper articles feature fascinating reports and investigations into the events that shocked the country. Featuring original copies from some of the nation’s most trusted news sources, such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, you can get a better understanding of what it was like to be present in a time so vastly different to the modern day. As the 1950s drew to a close, find out which events were going to shape the path of society into the swinging 60s.

FROM $64.99
1959 Newspapers

1959 Newspaper Headlines

Newspaper articles from 1959 tell tales of adversity, innovation, and discovery. Memorable 1959 events include the tragic death of Buddy Holly in a plane crash, the first ever photographs of the far side of the moon sent from ‘Luna 3’, and 12 countries signing the Antarctic Treaty, which marked Antarctica as a scientific reserve and banned military activity.

It was a great year in cinematic history too! Walt Disney released ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and MGM’s Ben Hur is a huge hit. An authentic 1959 newspaper is a fantastic way to gain deeper insight into this year in history, and to understand the mentality of those living at the time.

January 1, 1959
Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin.

January 3, 1959
Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state.

January 29, 1959
Walt Disney releases Sleeping Beauty.

February 3, 1959
Buddy Holly, American rock singer (b. 1936) is killed in a plane crash.

February 6, 1969 
The first successful test firing of a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile is accomplished at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

February 16, 1959
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba.

March 9, 1959
The Barbie doll, created by U.S. business woman Ruth Handler, debuts at the American International Toy Fair.

July 8, 1959 
Charles Ovnand and Dale R. Buis become the first Americans killed in action in Vietnam.

July 25, 1959
The ‘SR-N1’ hovercraft crosses the English Channel in just over two hours. The flight occurs on the 50th anniversary of Louis Bleriot’s first crossing of the Channel by the heavier-than-air craft.

August 7, 1959 
The Roseburg Oregon Blast kills 14 and causes $12 million worth of damage.

August 21, 1959
Hawaii is admitted as the 50th U.S. state.

September 14, 1959
‘Luna 2’ becomes the first man-made object to crash on the Moon.

October 7, 1959
Luna 3’ , the U.S.S.R. probe, sends back the first ever photographs of the far side of the Moon.

November 18, 1959
MGM’s widescreen, multi-million dollar version of Ben-Hur is released, becoming the studio’s greatest hit up to that time. It is highly acclaimed by critics and eventually wins eleven Academy Awards – a record held until 1998, when 1997’s Titanic became the first film to equal this tally.

December 1, 1959
Twelve countries – including the United States and the Soviet Union – sign the landmark Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on that continent. This is the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War.

More from this Decade

ReviewsReviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5

based on 109 reviews

Paula G September 19 2023

Very unique, interesting to see what happens 70 years ago.

Deeanna Franklin Campbell September 19 2023

It was an 80th birthday gift for my dad. He loved it. Wonderful trip down memory lane. The paper is very fragile and turning the dry pages takes great care, but that just helped with the authenticity and magic of the look into the past. Thanks!

Benjamin W August 17 2023

This is a great product and is the perfect gift for a loved one

Kenneth Robinson August 11 2023

For a newspaper that’s 80+ years old and almost perfect, can’t go wrong.

Francis Fornara August 4 2023

No complaints except for received package crushed

Richard July 31 2023

The product was excellent, and the service outstanding…n

Maryflorence Cox July 21 2023

The best choice for gifts

B. Fisher July 19 2023

Well preserved and presented newspaper.

ProSurveyTaker July 14 2023

The communication as far as tracking was great. The site doesn't show you exactly what the paper you selected looks like, so that makes the whole thing a guessing game of sorts. My mother received her newspaper from 1945. She appreciated the ability to "touch" history, but the smell of the paper was almost unbearable. Be warned; sensitive noses may not be able to stand the smell of this product!

  • July 17 2023

    Thank you for your review.

    We are sorry to hear of your disappointment.

    The newspaper you have received is the original newspaper from that day in 1945, we do advertise that we sell original newspapers therefore due to the nature of the product and the storage process they will not arrive as a new newspaper would from today.

    As your product is over 78 years old, over time newspapers will age as they are genuine originals from that time and as part of the aging process they become fragile and dis-coloured thus giving it a tea stained effect, they also become brittle which is why we use archive tape where we can to reinforce the spine, the middle of the newspaper where it is folded and on areas which may deteriorate from excessive use but as you can appreciate, we cannot prevent deterioration we can only keep it in a humid environment which is why there maybe a musky smell.

    Please accept our apologies for any inconvenienced caused.

    Kindest Regards
    The Historic Newspapers Team

Craig July 11 2023

A wonderful well preserved and presented item