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The term rag linen, as used in the web address raglinen.ning.com, has significant meaning in newspaper history. Prior to 1870, newspapers were printed on very durable rag linen paper - made from the linen in clothes and ship sails. So newspapers from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars are often in better condition than yesterday’s newspaper, which is probably already yellow and brittle because it was printed on wood pulp.

The durability of rag linen newspapers from the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s makes them an excellent collectible and primary source of historic research. After all, these are history's first drafts.

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