Birmingham Obituary Research Guidelines

The library provides a fee-based copying service for obituaries that appeared in selected Birmingham area newspapers.  The guidelines below will help you determine if we may be able to assist you. 

Obituaries from 1977 to present 

The library has annual indexes to obituaries that appeared in the following newspapers:

• The Birmingham News – 1977 to present

• Birmingham Post Herald – 1978 to 2001

Please submit name of deceased and date of death through Ask A Librarian.  You will be notified of the availability of the obituary as well as instructions for submitting your request and fee. 

Obituaries from 1943-1976 

The library has a cumulative index to obituaries that appeared in the following newspapers:

• The Birmingham News

• Birmingham World

• Methodist Christian Advocate

This index is available from the library’s website at:  http://bpldb.bplonline.org/db/obituaries 

Instructions for submitting your request are available from the website. 

Obituaries from 1920-1949 

Although pre-1943 obituaries will eventually be added to the library’s online Obituary Index, there are presently no indexes for Birmingham area newspapers during this period.  If you have the exact date of death, the library staff will look for obituaries in The Birmingham News within 3-5 days of the date of death.  Please submit name of deceased and exact date of death through Ask A Librarian.  You will be notified of the availability of the obituary as well as instructions for submitting your request and fee.