27 December
2012
Locating Ohio Obituaries Just Got Easier
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For genealogists, obituaries can sometimes hold the key piece of information needed to track down a new line of descendants or break through a brick wall caused by elusive ancestors. Thanks to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, genealogists researching family in the Columbus, Ohio area are able to locate and request obituaries more quickly than before.
Photo credit: Nadia Szopińska / Stock.Xchng
As part of the library’s Local History and Genealogy online resource center, the Columbus Metropolitan Library provides free access to the Columbus News Index obituary search engine. This database contains obituaries originally printed in The Columbus Dispatch between the years 1931 and 1997. While the search results are handy for locating the publication, date, and page number necessary for proper identification of the obituary you seek, it does not return the full text of the obituary. The CNI contains abstracts only. Never fear! You have several options available for acquiring the full obituary.
Local Cardholders
Those local to the area who have been issued a Discovery Place library card can request up to 4 obituaries per month. Requests can be placed online, and in most cases obituaries will be returned within two business days. Email and local fax requests are free, though there is a nominal charge required for mail delivery.
More Recent Obituaries
Are you looking for a more recent obituary? The Columbus Dispatch Archives Obituaries database is available through CML’s Local History and Genealogy research portal as well. Powered by NewsBank, this online database includes obituaries from 1996 to present. Newspapers available to search include major publications such as The Blade (Toledo, Ohio), The Cincinnati Post, The Columbus Dispatch, The Dayton Daily News, and The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) as well as other smaller newspapers available within the state. Each database is clearly marked indicating the date range available for searching. Any obituary included in the collection will be displayed with full, original text along with all information necessary for proper citation.
Not Local? You can still search the CNI database online without a library card although one will be required for use of the Columbus Dispatch Archives Obituaries. Receive obituaries by contacting a local researcher to perform the search for you. The library provides a listing of local researchers willing to help you in your task. Or, contact me for assistance as well!
This article originally appeared as part of my Columbus Genealogy Examiner column on Examiner.com on 21 June 2012.
© 2012, Stephanie Pitcher Fishman. All rights reserved.
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Linda Jean Limes Ellis
Message **For those who are researching elsewhere in Ohio, they can also check such online resources as:
The Cleveland Public Library’s Necrology File:
http://dxsrv4.cpl.org/WebZ/Authorize?sessionid=0&next=/html/obit_start.html&dbchoice=1:dbname=necr&bad=html/authofail.html&style=noframe
The Rutherford B. Hayes Library’s online Obituary Index:
http://index.rbhayes.org/hayes/index/
I also check with the closest larger library for someone’s obituary. Each library has its own resources and your library card is your key to helping you access many of them. Contacting a librarian via “chat” or even a phone call can help point you in the right direction if you need to learn what library or historical society holds the records you seek because not all records are on Ancestry.com or even FamilySearch.org.
Stephanie Pitcher Fishman
I love the RBH index. It’s been a huge help for me as well. I do admit that I would love to have use of the Necrology File. Maybe one day I’ll end up with a Cleveland client! Thanks for the resources, Linda. You are always a great source for goodies. :)
Linda Jean Limes Ellis
My pleasure Stephanie. Thank you for this opportunity to share!
Stephanie Pitcher Fishman
I appreciate it because you always have wonderful resources! ~ Stephanie
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