Family connections are a critical component of one’s mental health. They support emotional stability and help mitigate intergenerational misunderstandings. Obituary searches are a vital tool for finding new information about your relatives. It would help if you searched for obituaries in various sources to maximize your chances of finding important clues.
Obituary Searches
Obituary searches can provide a wealth of information about our ancestors. They are a rich source of clues that can steer our research in new directions and help us break through brick walls. When searching obituaries, be as specific as possible. The more detail you can provide, the more likely you will find what you need.
When seeking information about departed loved ones or researching family history, initiating an obituary search becomes a valuable and common practice, providing insights and commemorating the lives of those who have passed away
If you need help locating an obituary, try other sources. For example, if you know the person’s occupation, search for their work history in historical records. Searching historical records can reveal valuable information such as the company they worked for, the years they worked at the job, and even the names of coworkers.
Another option is to check with local libraries in the area where your ancestors lived. Many regional libraries subscribe to newspapers and may have older issues on microfilm. They can search for you and send you copies of what they find.
In addition to the person’s name, obituaries often include details such as current and previous residences. This information can be helpful when searching for other records such as deeds, city directories, public databases, and voting lists. Obituaries also list relatives, including spouses and children. Knowing their relationships can help you build a family tree. Sometimes, obituaries even mention grandchildren. This can be a great way to locate missing family members.
Newspapers
Newspaper articles are a key source for family historians. They can complement vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death notices, by revealing relationships, names, occupations, addresses, religious affiliations, and other information not indexed or otherwise recorded in official records.
Searching local newspapers can reveal a wealth of information, particularly in obituaries. These typically report the name and residence of the deceased and often indicate close family or friends who attended the funeral. They can also provide clues that lead researchers to locate the official record for a particular event.
Local news stories and social columns can also hold many gems of genealogical significance. These articles can share the juiciest gossip, tell stories about significant events or accomplishments in an ancestor’s life, or highlight interesting aspects of their personality. They can also provide clues to locations where more information about an ancestor may be found, such as their hometown or the homes of relatives who lived in other places.
While searching for information in a newspaper article is not an alternative to finding the original document that records a particular event, it can be a helpful resource for researchers when no other sources are available. For instance, when searching for a date of death, a newspaper obituary may offer a more precise death date than the official record from the state office.
Trade Journals
In addition to local newspapers, many websites and organizations publish obituaries. Often, these will include an entire obituary, photos, and other information about the deceased. In addition to the name of the dead, these obituaries will often list other family members, such as spouses, children, and siblings. The naming of family members can provide important clues for genealogy researchers, especially when identifying relationships between people.
In some cases, the obituary may also include a residence. This can lead to other searches for land records, city directories and voting lists. It can also be helpful to understand the social history of the era in which an obituary was written. An obituary from the 1800s might have spoken more about the person’s character and virtuosity, while those from the 20th century tended to highlight accomplishments and societal status.
Whether you are searching online or in the pages of a newspaper, remember to be as specific as possible. A search by last name will yield more results than a broad search. The more precise you are in your search, the more likely you will find the obituary you seek.
Church or Religious Publications
Funeral homes and other religious institutions often provide obituaries to local news outlets. These obituaries may include details about the deceased’s life, family members, and occupation. They can also point researchers to other sources of information, such as gravestones and cemetery records.
The obituaries also list survivors, pallbearers, and those sending flowers—names of relatives who might be able to help in the search for more information about the deceased. These are clues that can steer research in new and unexpected directions. However, they should be evaluated according to what researchers already know because the obituary could contain misinformation or inaccuracies.
In addition to searching newspapers, look for obituaries in other publications, such as trade journals and school or religious publications based on the deceased’s profession. Some obituaries have been compiled into books or published on microfilm, and some have been indexed in historical or genealogical publications.
To find obituaries in these different sources, use the search box on the homepage to enter your ancestor’s name and select the appropriate collection. Then check the website to see if the publication is available at your local Family History Center or nearby family history centers. If it isn’t, you can request the publication library. Also, you can search for an obituary index on a genealogy website.
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