Digging for Death Records: The Date, Place, and Story

In the evening, below the sandstone cliffs of Zion, my grandmother, recited “The Legend of Henoakled and Evaletta.” Years later, my interest in the true story of Evaletta’s (Eva Vilate Durfey) death began. This session we will delve beyond the vital statics to explore the story of an ancestor’s death. We will search alternative death records such as newspapers, court records, county histories, published books, coroner’s inquests, and state archives. A case study of Eva Vilate death will demonstrate how these alternative records can recreate the circumstances, weather from tragedy, illness, or mystery, and bring your ancestor’s story to life. Learn strategies to uncover narratives, add emotional depth, and provide context to the date and place of death. This session will allow you to add the story to the date and place of your ancestor’s death.

Participants will benefit from bringing a laptop or mobile device.