On Saturday I was at my local Family History Center trying to find more information on a gentleman who died in July of 1970 in Phoenix. Basically - I need his obituary so I can learn more about his family and where he hails. I thought - check the databases at my local public library (
Phoenix Public Library). It referred me to a local Family History Center (
Mesa Regional Family History Center) which maintains a database called
AZObits. What a wonderful resource! I found the obituary I was researching (well, information that one exists - not the complete obituary), along with the newspaper where it was published. Now - to find that newspaper and see if the July 1970 issue was in an online database.
I searched and searched to no avail. I eventually wound up at
NewspaperArchive.com and they indeed had my newspaper, but I really didn't feel like paying for a membership just yet. And, I am not really interested in making a trip to the Phoenix Public Library to look at microfilm (I want it ALL online NOW! I can dream, can't I?) Well, I gave up for now and left my little Family History Center to save this search for another day. Little did I know that my library had free access to NewspaperArchive.com through another website.
While researching tonight I found an article on the
10 Great Pay Sites - Genealogy Websites. I saw
Godfrey Memorial Library on the list, and I discovered that Godfrey offers access to NewspaperArchive.com (via paid subscription). (Best part is -- Godfrey offers library subscriptions to anyone!) I considered subscribing, then I remembered: Hey! My local Family History Library allows access to Godfrey Memorial Library for free -- AND its link to NewspaperArchive.com (also for free!) -- through its FHC Portal!
Needless to say, I can't wait to return to my local Family History Library to start researching this rich source of material. And, a lesson learned -- learn what is available to you in your own local family history library!
