Dear Fellow Researchers; Lately there have been inquires on the Jackson Co. list in regard to Southern Illinois newspaper archives and how to access obits, and I have been asked to share my fees for these lookups. I hope this will not seem inappropriate on the lists, and that it will prove to be helpful information. Morris Library on the campus of SIU Carbondale has an extensive collection of newspapers on microfilm from the entire Southern IL region, many from the earliest issues and in some cases, such as The Southern Illinoisan, to the present day. They also have the major IL papers such as the Chicago papers, which are indexed. Unfortunately, the staff will not do look ups for those who cannot visit the library themselves. I am trying to obtain an updated list of these newspaper holdings, and when I do I will share it on these lists. Their catalog is at http://www.lib.siu.edu/hp/ . My fees for searching the newspaper archives are a little higher than I would like them to be, simply because parking on campus is so difficult and it takes so long just to get in the building! For newspaper searches (articles and obits) with a date or narrow date range: 1st search, $10; each additional, $5. I will digitally photograph the item for you in most cases, which can then be sent to you immediately via email. I have a copy of the Index of Obituaries Printed in The Southern Illinois Herald Newspaper, 1893-1922, which I will check for you if applicable, before searching at the library. There are other wonderful resources at Morris, including most of the Germans to America volumes, the Passenger and Immigration Lists Bibliography series, Death Records for Carbondale, Illinois, 1877-1952 (taken from funeral home and burial records), Cemeteries of Jackson County, Illinois volumes and early county history books of the region. There is even a collection of early atlases and plat maps for IL counties, many of which provide the property owner's names. Digital photos of these work well. I am available to do look-ups in any of these books (with a date or narrow range of years for an individual or family group in the ship passenger volumes): 1st search, $10; each additional, $3. Searches at the area courthouses, the Jackson County Historical Society Library, at IRAD on the SIU campus (if you would like a more extensive search than they are able to do for free) are available at very reasonable rates. And I am always willing to negotiate on large projects or swap research time. As an RAOGK volunteer I provide at no charge cemetery and old home site photos, lookups in my personal collection of early Jackson County resources, and similar requests as I have time. Thank you, Juli Claussen Search & Genealogy Services Carbondale, IL http://sgservices.bravepages.com