Twitter aficionados, history buffs and internet creepers are rejoicing over the news that topsy.com has made public their archive of every public tweet since 2006. Its leaps ahead of the Library of Congress’ own Twitter archive, which reportedly takes days to search.
It was certainly a different time back then, a digital Wild West without hashtags or convenient replies, an era where you could post whatever you wanted, caution to the wind!, and automated headline postings seemed like an okay thing to do. How far we’ve come!
Pro-tip: to find an account’s earliest tweets, toss in a simple “from:@” then click ‘All Time,’ like so:
Here is a quick look at some of the earliest tweets from different Chicago personalities.
A man is facing jail after admitting he stole 1,613 pairs of panties and bras from laundry rooms. http://tinyurl.com/yu38o9
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 29, 2008
@redeyechicago is just getting started ... Please help spread the word and help us grow on Twitter the way we've grown in Chicago. Thanks!
— Chicago Things to Do (@redeyechicago) September 22, 2008
This is the unofficial Twitter account for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Follow me for your daily dose of news!
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 7, 2007
WGN is broadcasting a killer episode of Maury.
— WGNTV (@WGNTV) October 19, 2007
This twitter feed will deliver all stories produced by the WBEZ news team, as well as special programming announcements and breaking news.
— WBEZ (@WBEZ) March 4, 2008
Discovering some interesting people on Twitter.
— Chicago magazine (@ChicagoMag) October 31, 2008
Thinking we're only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 29, 2007
Learn more at http://www.barackobama.com
One of the surprises you get when growing older is that the people you knew when you were young are young forever
— Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) October 4, 2009
Hi everyone! Just learning Twitter...patience with me! More soon!
— MarkSuppelsa (@MarkSuppelsa) October 31, 2008
@bmeyerson @storm72 @Walldo @kallen068 thanks for the mention thanks for the Retweet.
— Skilling (@Skilling) July 9, 2009
New Twitter handle, Same Twitter feed! Please RT. #ChicagoforRahm #chicagomayor #rahm
— Rahm Emanuel (@RahmEmanuel) October 13, 2010
this is my twitter feed. the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 27, 2008
In full swing now. Luol, Kirk, Gooden, Gordon, Noah, Hughes...
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 30, 2008
Welcome to the Friendly Confines of Twitter! This will be the Official Twitter of the Cubs going forward. Follow us and let's get some runs!
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 19, 2009
That's a new record for Mark Buehrle--43 straight batters retired. To be honest, Minnesota really hasn't come close tonight.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 29, 2009
Welcome to ChicagoBears.com on Twitter ... by following us, you'll receive info directly from training camp you can't get anywhere else.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 22, 2009
hmm what to say on my very first tweet... I'll probably say something stupid like... Leather Cats! or... electric socks! hope not.
— Benny (@bennythebull) August 14, 2009
