Why does the New York Times online archive only go back to 1981?

Question

How long has that been the limit? And in the opening up of the site and elimination of the paywalls, has there been any discussion of extending the searchable index?

Answer 1

25 years is a lot of storage capacity. If you need the NY Times for an earlier time it's on microfiche at most large public libraries, through the Federal Repository Program. That microfiche collection goes back to 1856.

Answer 2

After careful study the New York Slimes, realized there was not enough of their self promotion and lies in articles 1980 and older. They found the earlier years actually had truthful non editoralizing articles and decided they had to go.