Palmetto Leader

Let's talk a little about the Palmetto Leader. This was a Columbia, SC African American newspaper that published from 1925-1966. The paper published news from all around South Carolina and is a good resource for death information.
Generally the death information is little more than a notice of death (Cochran obit)
For more prominent members of black society there were in-depth obituaries (Rev. Bythewood).
Death information also chronicled the migration of blacks to the north as seen in the Ferguson obit.
At Richland County Public Library we are indexing any deaths that are published in this paper. We have completed 1925-1930. The link to this database is listed to the right.
There is an excellent article written about the Palmetto Leader in the October 2006 South Carolina Historical Magazine by Kerstyn M. Haram (volume 107 number 4).

New full-text items

The Georgia Archives is digitizing death certificate images. Currently available are 1919-1927. It is very nice. http://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/gadeaths.php

The New York Times has also opened up their digital vault. Articles are available for free from 1851-1922 and 1987-present. These are PDF's so they look just like the original paper. www.nytimes.com

The Everton's Genealogical editor had an interesting observation in January/February 2008. With so much material being digitized family historians are able to do more and more original research online. I agree whole heartedly! It is very convenient but I sure will miss the surly courthouse employees!