Obituaries: Getting all the clues
Thomas Jay Kemp Director, Genealogy Products NewsBank, inc. 28 March 2012
◦ Over 1 billion names ◦ Over 5,850 newspapers All 50 states 1690 to today ◦ Over 263,000 rare books & documents ◦ 210 million obituaries & death records
Newspapers 5,850 & Growing! 1690-Today
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Obituaries -
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives
• Name of cemetery
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives
• Name of cemetery • Name of clergy and their denomination
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives • Date, place and cause of death
• Name of cemetery • Name of clergy and their denomination
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives • Date, place and cause of death • Date and place of birth
• Name of cemetery • Name of clergy and their denomination
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives • Date, place and cause of death • Date and place of birth • Date and place of marriage
• Name of cemetery • Name of clergy and their denomination
Obituaries • Full name • Names of relatives • Date, place and cause of death • Date and place of birth • Date and place of marriage
• Name of cemetery • Name of clergy and their denomination • Occupation • Education • Social groups
Let’s see a typical obituary -
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) 30 November 1920, page 13.
Let’s see a typical obituary -
Let’s see a typical obituary -
Let’s see a typical obituary -
Find the ancestral home town -
Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) 26 April 1893, page 4.
Can be printed across the country -
San Francisco Bulletin (California) 23 October 1874, page 2.
Printed in another language
El Continental (El Paso, Texas) 20 January 1959, page 3.
Or in long lost styles & syntax -
Boston News Letter (Massachusetts) 30 April 1705, page 2
Or in long lost styles & syntax -
Providence Patriot (Rhode Island) 18 September 1822, page 3
Or in long lost styles & syntax -
Providence Patriot (Rhode Island) 18 September 1822, page 3
Or in long lost styles & syntax -
Providence Patriot (Rhode Island) 18 September 1822, page 3
Or in long lost styles & syntax -
Providence Patriot (Rhode Island) 18 September 1822, page 3
‌. Papers Please Copy -
‌. Papers Please Copy -
Typical Search -
Typical Search
Typical Search -
Typical Search -
Typical Search -
Typical Search -
Typical Search -
GenealogyBank.com
What do you have on Grace (Toms) Stewart – who was born and married in Stamford, CT? What do we know about her? Her maiden name: Born: Spouse: Other:
Grace Toms abt1896 in Stamford, CT Charles Stewart “Toms” family lived/died in Stamford area.
Search for Grace Stewart = Over 3,500 hits
Search for Grace Stewart = Over 3,500 hits Just Recent Obituaries = 167 hits
Search for Grace Stewart = Over 3,500 hits Just Recent Obituaries = 167 hits Limit to CT only = None
Search for Charles Stewart = Over 700 hits Just CT Obituaries = 1 hit
Not him
New Search for Grace Stewart Adding “Stamford” to the Extra search terms box Just One Obituary
It was her:
Grace M. Stewart, 93, …. died of pneumonia Feb. 1 at the Collingswood Nursing …Center, Rockville, MD “…a native of Stamford, Conn. …” “Her husband, Charles Stewart, died in 1920.” Washington Post – 4 Feb 1992
Some Practical Tips
Some Practical Tips
Can You Read This? i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr theiproamtnt ltteres in a wrod are, the olny tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Some Practical Tips
◦ Over 1 billion names ◦ Over 5,850 newspapers All 50 states 1690 to today ◦ Over 263,000 rare books & documents ◦ 210 million obituaries & death records
GenealogyBank.com
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