This paper deals with the topic of subject-based repositories, shown on the example of the digital repository of the Croatian Emigrant Press. As an introduction to the topic, the operation of digital repositories in general was explained and different types of digital repositories were discussed and compared, one type of which is subject-based repositories, and their role was explained using examples of existing repositories. The paper is focused on the analysis of the digital repository of the Croatian Emigrant Press as an example of a subject-based repository. Various parameters present in this repository were taken as elements of observation, such as: the total number of objects and the number of individual types of objects, languages and the reason for choosing Australia and New Zealand as the area of material collection. The collected data will be used for the purpose of presenting the task and goals of the Croatian Emigrant Press repository and as an example of the appearance and purpose of subject-based repositories in general. Furthermore, the issue of digitalization, a process necessary for the existence of digital repositories, will be considered. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of digital thematic repositories, and to emphasize their purpose in the academic environment, but also in the wider social field.