This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/pBC.2ACE/4227.2 Message Board Post: You can ask the State Library for your obituary lookups instead of paying for them. I think the one for John is only a death notice and not an obituary so it's not worth the price. See message below on how to contact the State Library. Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:12:59 -0700 From: "Muller, Heather" To: PSRoots-L@rootsweb.com Just to let you know, the Washington State Library does free obituary and/or birth announcement look ups from any newspaper we carry. We'll need a death/birth date or a close approximation (we have the Washington State death index we can check). You can search our catalog from http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/ You can request an obit through email at: askalibrarian@secstate.wa.gov Or several other ways to contact us are located online at: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/ask.aspx You can also request any newspaper microfilm from your local library using interlibrary loan. We loan up to 10 reels at a time. Birth and death certificates (for 1907-present) are available from the Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics: http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/CHS/cert.htm Before 1907, you can check with the appropriate Washington State Archive Regional Branch http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/ The State Library has a death index for Washington for 1907-2000 but 1907-1919 for births. State Archives has a birth index through 1929 (our copy is on order along with pre-1907 birth and death records). Your local Family History Center has some birth and death certificates microfilmed as well. They won't have an official certified copy with a seal but they'll be a lot cheaper! The Health Department charges $17 a copy. To locate a Family History Center near you, visit: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp Just let me know if you need anything. I may have to direct your question to our online eReference tool, but you can contact us anytime by email! Sincerely, Heather Muller Washington State Library 360-570-5574