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Biographical Research: Time Period & Obituaries

Trustworthy biographical data is a cornerstone of research, whether one needs to place a person in historical and cultural context, verify birth date and place, or introduce a speaker to an audience.

Time Period

Obituaries & Necrologies

Obituaries , or public death notices, are an excellent source for biographical information on an individual.  Obituaries of very famous people may include anecdotes and quotations, and provide a cultural perspective on an individuals’ life.  Obituaries of less well known people will only contain a minimal amount of information.  

  • Search local newspapers and magazines for obituaries of less well known individuals. 
  • Search the library catalog with the keywords (necrology or obituaries) to find specialized indexes of people who have died.

Reference & Instruction Department

Reference & Instruction Department
Fordham University Libraries


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