### Using the Search Tool The official obituaries page features a search bar where you can input the details of the deceased. To get the best results: * **Full Name Search:** If you know the exact spelling of the first and last name, enter both to narrow down the results immediately. * **Partial Name Search:** If you are unsure of the spelling, or if the name might have been abbreviated (such as "Alex" instead of "Alexander"), enter just the last name or a partial first name. * **Keyword Search:** Some search tools allow you to enter keywords, such as the town of residence (e.g., "Pottsville" or "Tamaqua") or a workplace, to help filter the results. ### Filtering by Date and Location If a name search returns too many results, you can use the built-in filters to narrow your search. You can filter listings by the publication date, ranging from the past 24 hours to several years ago. Additionally, you can filter by the location of the funeral home or the city where the individual resided. ## Accessing Historical Pottsville Obituaries If you are looking for an older obituary—particularly those published before the late 1990s—the search tool on the newspaper's current website will likely not return results. For historical research, you will need to access digitized newspaper archives.
### Online Newspaper Databases Several subscription-based and free genealogical databases digitize historical runs of the *Pottsville Republican* (the newspaper's historical name). * **Newspapers.com:** This platform hosts a vast archive of the *Pottsville Republican*, with pages dating back to the late 19th century. A subscription allows you to search the actual printed pages of the newspaper for obituaries, death notices, and estate listings. * **GenealogyBank:** Another excellent resource for historical research, GenealogyBank features digitized editions of Pennsylvania newspapers, including historical issues from Pottsville. * **Find a Grave:** While not a newspaper archive, this free database often features transcribed obituaries or photos of clipped newspaper notices uploaded by volunteers. ### Local Library and Historical Society Resources If you cannot find a digitized version of an older obituary online, local institutions in Schuylkill County can assist you. * **Pottsville Free Public Library:** The library maintains microfilm archives of the *Republican Herald* and its predecessor publications. Their website provides information on how to request an obituary search if you live out of town, often for a small fee. * **Schuylkill County Historical Society:** Located in Pottsville, the historical society holds extensive local records, including newspapers, family histories, and cemetery records that can supplement your online search. ## Tips for a Successful Obituary Search Locating historical records can sometimes be challenging due to spelling variations, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) errors in digital scans, or incomplete information. Use these tips to improve your search success:
* **Search by Maiden Names:** If you are looking for a married woman, try searching for both her married surname and her maiden name. * **Broaden the Date Range:** Death notices were not always published the day after a passing. Expand your search window to at least a week or two after the estimated date of death. * **Look for Common Misspellings:** Historical typesetting errors or digital scanning glitches can misread letters (such as mistaking an "o" for an "e"). Try searching with wildcards or alternative spellings of the surname. * **Check Neighboring Publications:** If the obituary does not appear in the *Republican Herald*, check neighboring regional papers, such as the *Reading Eagle* or the *Hazleton Standard-Speaker*, as families often published notices in multiple local papers.
