Marcia, Don't assume that Calvin died before 1939 just because he is not listed in the SSDI. This only means that no payments were ever made under his name. Also, I want to let you know that you have to sometimes wade through the SSDI just like any other database. How did you perform the search? Did you put in every piece of info that you knew about him? Was is a simple search? Did you use just his name? I ask, because when I first tried finding my father in the SSDI, he did not appear. I had filled in every piece of info that I knew. Full name, where he died, when he died, and I got no hits at all. This was not possible. I collected SS under him because I was only 13 when he died, and I collected until I got married. I started minimizing the info. I took off the death place, then I took his residence. Still no hits. I took everything out and just searched on the surname (too many to search through). I added his first name back on, and finally found him. I knew he was there. What I'm saying is that sometimes less is more. sometimes, you don't have to or need to fill in every blank. Also, what we knew them by, may not be their legal or first name. Also, I just wanted you to know that, if he was old enough to pay into SS, you may still be able to get a copy of his application. Not every man or woman who paid into this, had payments made under them. He could have died at a time in his life where his children were grown (therefore, they would not collect benefits), he and/or surviving spouse were not quite old enough to collect their retirement benefits. Keep this in mind when searching the SSDI. It's also possible that he missed getting in on SS. I hope that this has been informative and helpful. happy hunting, Tina Hall