Embedded Files
One database utilized in the research
Archival research
Archival research
Archival research was essential in collecting authentic, historical obituary texts from both physical and digital archives. This method allowed for the retrieval and analysis of original materials—such as scanned newspaper pages and online death notices—capturing the language, format, and content as they were originally published.
Archival databases were used, such as:
Hoosier State Chronicles
ProQuest Newspapers
Contemporary Obituary Sources:
Indiana Funeral Care
Newcomer's Funeral Home
Flanner and Buchanan
Search Techniques: Keyword searches such as “obituary”, “death notice”, and “in memoriam” were refined by date and location to retrieve relevant data.
Sampling Strategy:
24 obituaries were collected for each selected year (1927, 1968, and 2020)
Selection spanned across each month—two obituaries per month, ideally from the first and last weeks
Total sample size: 72 obituaries
Example of an obituary (not researched)
DATA ORGANIZING AND CODING
DATA ORGANIZING AND CODING
I employed qualitative and quantitative content analysis with studying obituaries to examine
linguistic patterns
evolution of obituary structures
thematic trends
Each obituary was coded in an Excel spreadsheet based on the variables including, but not limited to:
demographics (e.g. gender and age at death)
familial and community roles (e.g. beloved mother)
religious and occupational affiliations (e.g. active in church)
legacy (e.g 'outstanding impact on -')
language (e.g. 'passed away' vs 'died' )
medium (e.g. newspaper and/or online)
unique elements (e.g. poem included)
There was a mixed-method approach that enabled both a qualitative analysis of the content, and quantitative analysis of figures in frequency of the inclusion of said elements.
Qualitative content
Employing qualitative content analysis allowed for the deciphering of the content itself, such as the way language was used to describe the deceased.
Quantitative data
Using Excel, I organized this data into multiple tables that allowed me to track frequency counts and calculate percentages.
For example, I quantified
how often phrases like “passed away” appeared
how many obituaries included occupational titles or religious affiliations
how family representation evolved across the decades
These metrics revealed broader trends in how cultural values and memorial practices changed over time.
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