Deborah, Are you aware of the database on the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library system already? Using the THOR system you can search for obit references in the Tampa Tribune [from around 1905 to about 1978] on TRAILS. The later years are indexed in books and files in the Library reference collections. Earlier years, are also in books in the Library reference collection, these were done by Julius J. Gordon. Gordon's indexes 1893-1904 are available at the Florida Heritage Collection: http://susdl.fcla.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~fdl/fdlcgi?SF45165245%2Fpdf Lok under deaths. The Florida Heritage Center also has Gordon's "Florida Peninsula 1855-1871" and "Sunland Tribune 1877-1883". Check the Florida Heritage Collection: http://susdl.fcla.edu/fh/ For THOR go to: http://scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us/thpl/eresources/thor/ for directions and links. If there were other papers in Hillsborough, the problem is finding copies of them. "Deborah Byrd" <dbyrd@lightcom.net> wrote: > > I have received some email for people volunteering to help get Florida data > on the internet. I have thought about this for a while and have a couple of > suggestions. I will coordinate efforts from Idaho if anyone wants to help. > > Since we have so many wanting to know when their relative's obit appeared in > the newspaper, I think an index by the deceased's name, newspaper, issue and > date would be a valuable resource. Those seeking obits would know the > information they need to get a copy of the obit. I could keep track of who > is doing what month, and year, and paper so others wouldn't do the same > paper. The volunteer would have to arrange their schedule to visit the > paper of their choice to review the obits. This information would be > transcribed into a computer file. Those that would work best are an excel > compatible spread sheet, or Notepad/Wordpad or other Microsoft Word > compatible program with a txt, rtf, or doc file extension. Let me know if > any of you want to participate. > > Deborah Byrd