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Archiver > ILFRANKL > 2002-01 > 1010175432


From: "Carla Pulliam" <>
Subject: obits and explanations and corrections
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 14:17:12 -0600


It has been questioned in the past week or so whether to believe an obit that someone in the family has, or what has been posted as being in one of my books.. Please believe the original obit that the family has. When I get microfilm in to do the Obits and Tidbit books, I am allowed to have them for TWO weeks only. Unlike other records that can be checked and rechecked, speed is of the essence in this case. Many days I work 18 hours a day in order to finish by the time the film has to go back... So of course there are mistakes.. Also many times the paper on microfilm is torn.. blurry, or the ink is so thick it is hard to read, even using the enlarger.. Often I will write (blurry) or (hard to read) to try and let the reader know he should check the original file. At other times it seemed the newspaper would keep putting out paper til the ink was all gone, it would get dimmer and dimmer over several days time.
I have many of my old family obits, saved by the family, they are clear and crisp and a delight to read. I just wish the microfilm was that easy.
Today I found a mistake for those of you who read in the Obits and Tidbits 1930 (Benton Evening News), that " George GAHM, 62, of Johnston City, Illinois, a well known real estate dealer, was shot to death by his son-in-law, Owen STILLEY, aged 26. Owen and his wife, Mary, were separated." As I am now working on the Daily American for that time period, it was STILLEY who was shot by his father in law, George GAHM...
another question arises when there is a difference in the article carried on the day of death, and the information carried in the actual obituary. I generally try to point out the discrepancies but for myself I would take the wording of the actual obit as it was generally written by a family member.
Still in all, even with mistakes, I believe the obits are informative and in case of a question, please, as always, check the original.
Carla

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