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obituary image OBITUARIES (includes obituary index and direct links to newspapers)

Whether searching for a loved one, doing genealogy research, looking into local history, or shoring up family records, obituaries are invaluable resources to use. They provide windows into the lives of people, and many times add context to family narratives. As a service to patrons doing genealogical research, the Calcasieu Parish Public Library offers free access to obituaries found in newspapers and maintains an obituary index.

Choose one of the options below to begin your search. If assistance is needed, contact the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library directly. Contact the staff at (337) 721-7110 or complete this online form. Hours are 9 AM - 6 PM, Mondays through Fridays, and 10 AM - 2 PM on Saturdays. 

OBITUARY INDEX SPREADSHEETS

Choose the year (s) below for a list of surnames, ages, dates of death, and source information.

Data from spreadsheets are being uploaded to the Index Search Form, and any necessary corrections are being made during the upload process.

OBITUARY INDEX SEARCH FORM

  • Search by the deceased's surname, first name, middle name and date of death by using a search form.
  • With the advanced search option, you may also search by cause of death, date of birth, etc.

SEARCH FORM

NEWSPAPERS

Access obituaries from newspapers using the following resources. The American Press is currently migrating archived issues. The Sunday and Monday papers are no longer being printed. For archives in text format for the years 2002 to current, use the American Press Collection resource.

American Press collection
Access text and digitized copies - coverage for the text edition includes issues from 2002 through the current year, while the digital edition starts with the year 2022. Available remotely 24/7 on any device. A library card is required for remote access. NOTE: Current issues of the Southwest Daily News can be found under the digitized copy of American Press issues.
Browse the collection
American Press ePaper
Read current/weekly issues & archives - choose daily or archive, then tap/click Log In.
Jan. 2022: Currently migrating its archived issues into a new system, so there are missing issues.
Inside library link
Newsbank
Includes local, regional, and national sources such as Acadiana Advocate Collection, America's News, Southwest Daily News, Louisiana News Sources, New Orleans Advocate Collection, The Advocate Collection, Times-Picayune Collection, and USA Today. BONUS: Access Heritage Hub, the largest and most comprehensive collection of newspaper obituaries and death notices. NOTE: A library card is required for remote access.
Browse
Newspapers.com
Browse millions of pages of historical newspapers from 1,000+ newspapers from around the United States and beyond. NOTE: The library's subscription covers up to year 1922. Powered by Newspapers.com™ by Ancestry® - ProQuest. NOTE: Access outside the library requires a library card.
Browse (inside/outside link)
Southwest Daily News
Access text archives dating back to 2001. For current issues, use the American Press collection. Choose the image format. See specific paper near the end of the American Press paper. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Browse (inside/outside link)


yearbook logo YEARBOOK DIGITIZATION PROJECT

NOTE: We are currently not accepting any yearbooks. 

Search for yourself, friends, old high school sweethearts, etc. You really did wear that outfit and hairstyle. Yes, your parents were once that young.

About the Service
Yearbooks are accessible through the Louisiana Digital Library.
Yearbooks were loaned to the library for a period of 6–8 weeks, during which time we shipped them to our digitization vendor. They were (are) scanned and returned to the library.
The library has digitized high school yearbooks only. (9-12 or K-12 schools). Middle/junior high or elementary school yearbooks are not being accepted at this time.
This is an ongoing project and from time to time a patron may come in asking about the project or wanting to donate a yearbook for digitization. We are currently not accepting yearbooks.
Here's a list of the current yearbook collection (Update: August 2018)
Adding Yearbooks
UPDATE: We are not accepting yearbooks at this time.

The Genealogy Library accepted high school yearbooks (NO COLLEGE OR ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE) on loan for digitization.
Patrons may either contact the Genealogy library at 337-721-7110, email genstaff@calcasieulibrary.org, or bring any yearbooks to a branch and fill out a yearbook loan form.
Our staff will check the current list of yearbooks that have been digitized to see if we need the yearbook.
If we do not have the yearbook, you'll need to complete a loan form.
You will receive a receipt; the branch staff will route the yearbook and form to the Genealogy library.
View and Search
Use the Louisiana Digital Library's Yearbook collection. See link below.

Use the Advanced Search option to search the yearbook collection and other digital images within this resource, or choose a specific yearbook to begin browsing.
Hover over the thumbnail image in the center of the screen.
Click on Open Image Viewer.
Use the toolbar above the image to search within the yearbook, move between pages, zoom in, print, download, etc.
Use this handout of step-by-step instructions.
ACCESS THE COLLECTION
Bonus Collection
This website memorializes the accomplishments of our schools, emboldened by fierce competition to survive and prosper, coupled with the realization that we cannot save one of them without saving all of them.
"Our heritage is a tribute to our schools and their students, the founders, our principals, teachers, parents, boosters, and communities."
African American High School Heritage