Thames (NZ): Searching the Thames Star Newspaper for Death Notices

 September already, and a note to self to get 'blogging' as I have a few amazing new photographs to share.

But, first I have to share a search tip that I got from Emerson at Papers Past, that is a must use for searching our local papers.

Background:

Over recent months I have been searching for hundreds of death notices, as I upgraded memorials at Findagrave Shortland Cemetery.

To narrow the search down I usually use seven newspapers: Auckland Star, Daily Southern Cross, New Zealand Herald, The Thames Advertiser, Thames Guardian and Mining Record,  The Thames Star and The Waihi Daily Telegraph.

The newspapers are ticked in far left column, indicating which newspapers will be searched for the chosen keyword/s

Search Examples:

Example 1: Lets find a death notice for Walter Henry Adams, who passed away 24 May 1920 at Thames.

I have selected my seven newspapers and put the start date as 24 May 1920. Normally I would go backwards a couple of days, eg to 22nd. Reason? I find that many deaths actually occurred earlier than what was stated in family histories or even on headstones. I believe that in these cases people may have mistaken the burial date for the actual death date.

Here is the search for Walter's death notice. CLICK HERE Keyword ADAMS

No obvious results! Look what happens when we add the wildcard symbol *. CLICK HERE Keyword ADAMS* Yeah, the sixth result is the one I am after.

Example 2: Lets find the death notice for Muriel Ellen Brien who passed away 17 March 1926.

Here is the search for Muriel's death notice. CLICK HERE Keyword BRIEN.

There are no obvious results, so lets again use the wildcard option. CLICK HERE Keyword BRIEN* Below, the first result is the death notice we were looking for.

Why did the WILDCARD * give the different results?

Here is where the staff at Papers Past solved my search problems.

Take a look at the wording below. Can you see how the search becomes complicated?

The typesetters format was to write the surname / add a full stop / then an em dash.

While other papers use this format, for some reason the Thames Star notices are often more sensitive.

The help section at Papers Past has a list of search tips - it will soon include this example.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

Next time you are having problems with a Death notice search, try adding the wildcard option. Fingers crossed it will lead to a higher rate of success. You can add other keywords if desired eg. First names, death, deaths, town and so on.

 

Then & Now: 1962 & 2020. The Thames Star Office, Sealey Street Thames. 

The service lane runs along the west wall.

Hauraki Publishers constructed a new building, which they have since vacated.