How to Research Obituaries

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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


GenealogyBank


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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