Finding a specific tribute in the st louis post obits section can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack if you aren't familiar with how the archives actually work. Most people assume they can just type a name into a search bar and everything from 1920 will pop up.
It doesn't work that way. Honestly, the way the St. Louis Post-Dispatch handles its death notices is a mix of high-tech modern databases and old-school microfilm that requires a bit of "detective work."
If you’re looking for a recent passing, you’re likely heading to Legacy.com or the stltoday website. But if you’re doing genealogy? You’ve got a much different path ahead of you.
Why Searching St Louis Post Obits Isn't Always Simple
The biggest hurdle is the "digital gap."
For anything published from roughly 1992 to the present, you're in luck. These records are largely digitized and searchable. However, if you are looking for an ancestor who passed away in, say, 1955, you can't just Google it.
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The St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) and the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) have spent years indexing these names, but they often provide an index rather than the full text. This means you find the name and the date, but then you have to track down the microfilm to actually read the story.
The Missing Years
It's kinda weird, but there are specific gaps in the digital indexes. While the SLPL index covers 1880–1931, 1942–1945, and 1960–present, there are chunks of time where the indexing just... stops.
If your relative died in 1935, you might have to manually scroll through microfilm at the Central Library downtown. It's a rite of passage for St. Louis researchers.
How to Actually Find a Recent Obituary
If you need to find someone who passed away in the last few weeks, the process is pretty straightforward. Most st louis post obits are hosted via a partnership with Legacy.com.
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- Go to the Source: Visit the obituaries section of stltoday.com.
- Use Filters: Don't just search the name. Filter by the last 30 days or a specific year.
- Check the Guestbook: Often, the most valuable "human" information isn't in the obit itself, but in the messages left by friends and coworkers in the digital guestbook.
One thing to keep in mind: Obituaries are not death certificates. Families write them. Sometimes they forget to mention a cousin. Sometimes they get the birth year wrong because they're grieving. If you're doing serious research, use the obit as a clue, not the final word.
Placing an Obituary: The Costs and the "Hidden" Deadlines
Placing a notice in the st louis post obits section isn't cheap. In 2025 and 2026, prices have generally started around $153, but that's for a very basic, short notice.
If you want a photo—and you probably do—the price jumps. If you want to tell a long story about their love for the Cardinals or their legendary toasted ravioli recipe, you'll be paying by the line.
Submission Tips
- The 2 PM Rule: Generally, the deadline for the next day's paper is early afternoon. If you miss it, you're waiting another 24 hours.
- Verification is Mandatory: You can't just submit an obit for anyone. The newspaper or Legacy.com will verify the death with the funeral home or a medical examiner. This prevents "prank" obituaries, which, believe it or not, used to be a real problem.
- Digital Forever: When you pay for a print obit in the Post-Dispatch, it almost always includes a permanent digital memorial on Legacy.com.
For the History Buffs: The Genealogy Goldmine
The st louis post obits archives are a treasure trove for anyone trying to trace their Missouri roots. Before the 1950s, obituaries for "average" people were often just two lines: the name and the funeral home.
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But for prominent St. Louisans, these write-ups were practically biographies. You'll find details about their involvement in the 1904 World's Fair, their business on Washington Avenue, or their service in the Civil War (in the very old issues).
Where to Look for Old Records
- Ancestry.com: They have a specific database called "Web: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., St. Louis Post-Dispatch Obituary Index, 1880-2009."
- GenealogyBank: This is a paid service, but it’s one of the few places that has actual images of the old newspaper pages, not just typed indexes.
- The Missouri Historical Society: Their library and research center on Skinker Blvd is a phenomenal resource if you're stuck.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are starting a search today, here is the most efficient way to do it:
- Start with the SLPL Index: Check the St. Louis Public Library's online obituary index first. It’s free and covers a massive range of years.
- Note the Citation: If you find a match, write down the Date, Page, and Column. You'll need this to find the microfilm.
- Request a Lookup: If you don't live in St. Louis, the St. Louis County Library's "History & Genealogy" department offers a lookup service. They will often scan an obituary and email it to you for a small fee or even for free if you have a library card.
- Check Alternative Papers: If you can't find them in the Post-Dispatch, try the St. Louis Argus (historically serving the African American community) or the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (which was the city's other major daily until 1986).
Don't give up if the first search fails. Names were often misspelled, or people were listed under their husband's name (e.g., "Mrs. John Smith" instead of "Mary Smith"). Vary your search terms and check the days surrounding the death date—sometimes it took a few days for the notice to actually hit the printer.