First, I'm assuming you're interesting in Charleston newspapers. I haven't had much luck finding newspapers pre-1873. The Charleston Gazette wasn't established until 1873, so you won't find an obituary with them from 1871. The Charleston Daily Mail started in the late 1800s, but I don't know of the exact year, but if you live in Charleston, you can go directly to their library in the newspaper building to search their archives. If you don't, you might be able to find some kind soul who would make the trip for you to search their archives, or at least call them and find out how far their archives go back. Their number is (304) 348-4888. The WV Archives has old newspapers, but I don't know how far back they go. You could call them at (304) 558-0230, ext. 168. Again, it's going to depend on the availability of the newspapers. I've already tried the LDS Family History Center for old newspapers and they only have newspapers on microfilm back to 1891 and that was The Daily Gazette. Good luck on your search! Let us all know what you find about newspapers dating back that far. I'm sure we could all benefit from it. -- Cara Showers Anchorage, Alaska [email protected] ---------- From: Dan Campbell <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 07:10:03 -0700 (PDT) To: [email protected] Subject: Re: FW: [WVKANAWH] COPIES OF OBITS Resent-From: [email protected] Resent-Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 07:10:02 -0700 Would anyone venture a guess what my chances would be of getting a copy of an obit or death certificate from Kanawha County dating back to 1871 by contacting a library, archives or Vital registration office? --- Cara Showers <[email protected]> wrote: > You can get a copy of obituaries from the Kanawha > County Public Library. > This is an excerpt from a letter I got from them > that explains the process" > > ----------- > The obituaries (newspapers) are on film and we make > copies. If you send us a > self addressed stamped envelope with your request, > we can make copies from > the paper. We have only the Charleston Gazette from > 1924 to date and the > Charleston Daily Mail from 1914 to date. If you need > other cities you will > need to contact the WV Archives. We charge 25 > cents per copy. Our address > is: > > Kanawha County Public Library > attn: Reference/ WV Librarian > 123 Capital > Charleston WV 25301 > ----------- > > I got a response from them in just a couple of > weeks. They are very helpful. > > If you're relative didn't die in Charleston, try the > WV Archives. Here's > what they recommend if you would like to request > copies of stuff via mail: > > ----------- > Research Requests: > A non-refundable fee of $10 must accompany each > out-of-state research > request. The fee covers up to $2.50 in copies and > postage. Additional costs > will be billed. There is no advance research fee for > in-state patron > requests. In-state patrons will be billed for copies > and postage, with a > minimum charge of $2.50. > > The Archives will not answer e-mail research > requests. All research requests > must be submitted in writing to the Archives and > History Library; The > Cultural Center: 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; > Charleston, WV 25305-0300. > > Current fees are subject to change. A listing of all > Library fees is > available upon request. > > The Library staff is unable to do more than limited > research through > correspondence. Inquiries must be limited to two > SPECIFIC requests. > Inquiries should provide full name, county of > residence, approximate dates > and documents requested. For example, "Send me > anything on the Smith family" > is not a serviceable request. Requests requiring > more extensive research > will be sent names of individuals who perform this > service for a fee. > ----------- > > Good Luck! > -- > Cara Showers > Anchorage, Alaska > [email protected] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ============================== Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp