My research asks: How have obituary practices in Indianapolis evolved between 1927, 1968, and 2020, and what do these changes reveal about larger societal shifts in memorialization, cultural values, and collective memory? 

This research highlights how obituaries reflect broader societal changes, offering insight into evolving views on death, identity, and public remembrance. It also fills gaps by connecting traditional and digital memorial practices across major historical events.

I was drawn to this topic because of my interest in how communities preserve memory and history. Studying obituaries allowed me to explore the intersection of culture, storytelling, and social change, while strengthening my passion for public history and cultural research.