Obituaries: Getting all the clues

Thomas Jay KempThomas Jay KempDirector, Genealogy ProductsDirector, Genealogy Products

NewsBank, inc. NewsBank, inc. 28 March 201228 March 2012

◦ Over 1 billion namesOver 1 billion names◦ Over 5,Over 5,850850 newspapers

All 50 statesAll 50 states 1690 to today1690 to today

◦ Over 263,000 rare books Over 263,000 rare books & documents& documents

◦ 210 million 210 million obituaries & & death recordsdeath records

NewspapersNewspapers 5,850 & Growing! 1690-Today5,850 & Growing! 1690-Today

GenealogyBankGenealogyBank

Obituaries - 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: Grace TomsBorn: abt1896 in Stamford, CTSpouse: Charles StewartOther: “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 theExtra 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 namesOver 1 billion names◦ Over 5,850 newspapersOver 5,850 newspapers

All 50 statesAll 50 states 1690 to today1690 to today

◦ Over 263,000 rare books Over 263,000 rare books & documents& documents

◦ 210 million obituaries & 210 million obituaries & death recordsdeath records

GenealogyBank.com

We have never had this level of access before