You need a death notice, a family connection or context between the dates on your timeline.
Put the protocol to work.
Find the newspaper before the article.
Use a newspaper directory to identify titles published in or near the place during your period. Consider neighboring towns and religious or language newspapers.
Check surviving issues and access.
Compare the run’s dates with your event. Look for digitized copies or library microfilm; a title may survive in several repositories with different gaps.
Vary the search.
Try initials, spelling variants, a spouse’s name, an address or an occupation. Optical character recognition can miss damaged print and unusual typefaces.
Browse around the event.
If searching fails, read issues near the date. Expand the window for delayed notices or weekly papers. Look at local columns as well as obituary headings.
Save the whole reference.
Keep the newspaper title, publication place, date, page and column, plus the database or holding library. Compare factual claims with other records before accepting them.
Don’t mistake a clue for a conclusion.
A newspaper report may repeat hearsay or contain mistakes. Separate a contemporary notice from a later reminiscence, and verify important claims.
Your research checklist
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