How do I Find Information About a Dead Person?
We mortals come and go in this world, but our online records can survive for decades, maybe even centuries. The Internet contains information on countless people who are no longer with us. To find it, you just have to know where to look. Information is available in death records, historical census files, old telephone directories, newspaper obituaries and more. Records are scattered all over the Internet, but there are a few major places to begin your search for information.
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Instructions
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Check the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). This online database contains the records of almost all Americans who have died since the 1960s. The information in SSDI includes name, dates of birth and death, Social Security number and states of residence.
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Visit FamilySearch.org. This website contains records compiled by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and is one of the Internet's most widely used genealogy resources. Records here include census data, church records and vital records. The information extends back centuries, and covers many countries.
To begin your search, enter a name in the search fields. You can narrow results by country of birth, dates of birth or death or other information, such as spouse's name.
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Check grave records. Search at findagrave.com for the name of the person you're looking for. The site has millions of grave records, and often includes photos of gravestones. Sometimes, photos of the deceased are also available.
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Search Google News Archives. This large collection of old newspapers extends back hundreds of years. Search for the name you're looking for to find obituaries, as well as news articles about the person. Use the "advanced search" features to narrow down results to a range of dates or a particular newspaper.
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Search historical directories. Old town and county directories were the predecessors of the modern telephone book. You can search many online directories for information on people from past generations.
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References
- Photo Credit thai coffin image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
