* **Ocean State Libraries (OSL):** This is the statewide consortium of public libraries. A single OSL library card grants you access to physical materials and digital databases across dozens of member libraries. * **AskRI.org:** Funded by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), AskRI is the state's online portal for reference resources. It provides all Rhode Island residents with free access to premium databases, often accessible from home using a library card. ## Accessing Modern ProJo Obituaries (1980 to Present) For obituaries published from 1980 to the present day, digital databases are the fastest search tool. Most Rhode Island public libraries provide access to these records through NewsBank, a premier information database. ### Using the NewsBank Database NewsBank features a dedicated *Providence Journal* collection. This database provides full-text articles, including obituaries, death notices, and memorials.

To use NewsBank: 1. **Visit your local library's website:** Navigate to their "Digital Resources," "Research," or "Genealogy" page. 2. **Log in with your library card:** If you are accessing the database from home, you will typically need to enter your Ocean State Libraries card number. If you are using a computer terminal inside the library, access is usually automatic. 3. **Search the Providence Journal Collection:** You can search specifically within the *Providence Journal* archives by entering the individual's name, adding keywords like "obituary" or "death notice," and filtering by the approximate year of death. ### Using Legacy and Online Portals For very recent obituaries (typically from the early 2000s to the present), libraries also provide high-speed internet access to browse the *Providence Journal’s* official online obituary listings, which are often hosted in partnership with platforms like Legacy.com. These listings allow you to search by name, date range, and keyword, and often include guestbooks where family members have left condolences. ## Accessing Historical ProJo Obituaries (1829 to 1980) If your research requires finding an obituary from the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century, the search process relies on historical databases and physical archives.

### Historical Newspapers Databases Some Rhode Island libraries subscribe to specialized historical archives, such as the *Providence Journal Historical Archive* (offered by NewsBank or ProQuest). This database contains digitized, searchable pages of the newspaper dating back to its founding in 1829. Unlike modern text-only databases, these historical archives display the actual scanned page of the newspaper, allowing you to see the obituary exactly as it was printed, often alongside photographs. ### Microfilm Collections When digital scans are unavailable, microfilm remains the gold standard for historical research. * **Major Repositories:** The Providence Public Library (PPL) in downtown Providence and the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) maintain extensive microfilm runs of the *Providence Journal* dating back to the 19th century. Many larger municipal libraries, such as those in Cranston, Warwick, and Newport, also keep microfilm archives of local interest. * **Using Microfilm Readers:** Library staff can assist you in loading microfilm reels into reader machines. Modern microfilm readers are connected to computers, allowing you to crop, scan, digitize, and email the obituary directly to yourself or save it to a USB drive. ## Tips for a Successful Obituary Search Obituary searches can sometimes be challenging due to spelling variations, OCR (optical character recognition) errors in digital scans, or incomplete information. Use these strategies to improve your search results:

* **Search by Date of Death:** Obituaries were rarely published on the exact day of death. They typically appeared two to five days later. If you know the date of death, search the newspaper issues published in the week immediately following. * **Use Spelling Variations:** Names were occasionally misspelled in print or incorrectly indexed by digital scanners. Try searching for common variations of the surname, or search using just the first name and a specific date range. * **Search for Relatives:** If searching for the deceased person's name does not yield results, try searching for the names of their surviving relatives (such as a spouse or children), as they are often listed in the body of the obituary. * **Consult a Reference Librarian:** If you hit a dead end, do not hesitate to ask for help. Rhode Island librarians are trained in genealogical research and can often suggest alternative databases, local town registries, or historical directories to help you find the record you need.