### The Daily Times Website and Legacy Partnership Like many daily newspapers in the United States, the *Farmington Daily Times* partners with Legacy.com to host its modern obituary database. To access this portal, you can visit the official *Daily Times* website and navigate to the "Obituaries" section, which will redirect you to their co-branded Legacy page. This database generally contains comprehensive records from the early 2000s to the present day. ### Search Functionality and Filters Once on the official obituary search page, you can locate a specific listing using several search parameters: * **First and Last Name:** You can search by full name or enter a partial name if you are unsure of the exact spelling. * **Date Range:** If you know the approximate time of death, you can filter results by the past week, month, year, or a custom date range. * **Keyword Search:** You can enter specific keywords, such as the name of a surviving relative or a specific town in San Juan County (like Aztec or Bloomfield), to narrow down search results for common names. ## Accessing Historical Archives and Older Records If you are searching for an obituary published in the 20th century or earlier, the standard online search tools on the newspaper's current website may not yield results. In these cases, you will need to access digitized historical archives.
### Farmington Public Library Digital Resources The Farmington Public Library is an invaluable resource for local history. The library maintains microfilm records of the *Farmington Daily Times* dating back to its early days of publication. While you may need to visit the library in person to view the physical microfilm, the library's website offers digital catalog search tools, local history indexes, and access to online databases (such as NewsBank) that may be free to use with a library card. ### Subscription Genealogy Databases For deep historical research, subscription-based genealogy websites are highly effective. Platforms like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com have digitized extensive runs of historical New Mexico newspapers. By searching these databases, you can often view scanned PDF images of the actual newspaper pages, allowing you to see the obituary exactly as it was printed, complete with photos and surrounding historical context. ### Free Genealogy Platforms If you do not have a paid subscription to a genealogy service, you can utilize free alternatives: * **FamilySearch:** Operated by the Family Search organization, this free database contains millions of indexed obituary records and historical census data that can lead you to death records. * **Find a Grave:** This volunteer-driven database contains virtual memorial pages for cemeteries across San Juan County. Volunteers frequently upload photos of headstones and transcribe printed obituaries directly onto the memorial pages. ## Tips for a Successful Obituary Search
If your initial search does not return the results you expect, try adjusting your search strategy with these tips: ### Account for Name Variations and Spelling Errors Historical records and digitized OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scans can sometimes contain spelling errors. Try searching for spelling variations of the last name, or search using only a first initial and a last name. Additionally, search for common nicknames (e.g., "Bill" instead of "William") or maiden names. ### Expand Your Search Area If the individual lived in the rural areas surrounding Farmington, their obituary might have been published in a neighboring local publication rather than the *Daily Times*, or it may have listed a different town of residence. Keep your geographic filters broad enough to capture the entire San Juan County or Four Corners region. ## Limitations of Online Obituary Databases
While online databases are highly convenient, researchers should be aware of a few limitations. Not every person who passed away in Farmington will have an online obituary. Publishing an obituary is a voluntary service paid for by the family; if a family chose not to publish a notice, or if they opted for a simple death notice instead of a full biography, online records may be minimal. In these instances, searching for official state death certificates or cemetery records is the best alternative.
