Finding a specific tribute in the Buffalo Evening News obits isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. Honestly, if you're looking for someone from the 1950s versus someone who passed away last Tuesday, you're looking at two completely different worlds of research.
Most people assume that every death in Western New York was automatically recorded in a neat, searchable digital file. It wasn't. For a long time, the Buffalo Evening News (now just The Buffalo News) was the definitive paper of record, but "definitive" doesn't mean "perfectly indexed."
The Archive Gap
If you are hunting for a record from 1920, don't expect to find it on a modern news site. You've got to understand the shift in how these records were kept. Before the late 1990s, everything was physical. Paper. Ink. Microfilm.
Basically, if the death occurred before 1997, you aren't going to find a dedicated "Legacy" page for them by just typing their name into a search bar. You'll likely need to visit the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library or use specialized genealogy databases like Fulton History or GenealogyBank.
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (specifically the Grosvenor Room at 1 Lafayette Square) is the "holy grail" for this stuff. They have the Buffalo Evening News on microfilm dating all the way back to 1881. It's a lot of squinting at flickering screens, but it’s the only way to find those older, narrative-style obituaries that actually tell a story.
Why the "Evening" Part Matters
Older residents still call it the "Evening News." It was the afternoon paper for decades before it swallowed up its morning rival, the Courier-Express, in 1982. This matters because if someone died on a Monday morning, their obituary might have made it into the Tuesday evening edition.
If they died late at night, you might be looking at Wednesday or even Thursday.
- Check the three-day window. Always look at the paper for three days following the date of death.
- Death Notices vs. Obituaries. They aren't the same. A "death notice" is a paid advertisement by the family. An "obituary" is technically a news story written by a staff writer.
- The Sunday Factor. Historically, the Sunday edition was the "big one." Families often waited until Sunday to publish the full, detailed tribute because that’s when the most people were reading.
Digital Searching in 2026
For anything recent, you're likely going through Legacy.com or the official Buffalo News website. It's much easier, but it costs more. A simple death notice in the Buffalo News can start around $38, but once you start adding photos, symbols (like a flag for a veteran), and extra paragraphs, that price jumps fast.
I've seen families spend hundreds of dollars just to ensure their loved one’s story is told properly.
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Common Search Mistakes
Searching for "Grandma Smith" isn't going to cut it.
You've got to use the maiden name. In the mid-20th century, the Buffalo Evening News obits often listed women as "Mrs. John Smith." If you can't find her under her first name, try her husband's name. It sounds outdated because it is, but that’s how the records were printed.
Also, watch for typos. These were typeset by hand or via early computer systems. "Smythe" might be "Smith." "Katherine" might be "Catherine."
Where to Look Right Now
If you are at home and don't want to drive to downtown Buffalo, try these:
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- Fulton History: It’s a bit of a clunky website (looks like it was built in 1995), but it’s free and has millions of scanned New York newspaper pages.
- NY State Historic Newspapers: Another free resource that is more user-friendly than Fulton.
- Find A Grave: It won't give you the full text of the obit usually, but it often gives you the exact death date you need to go find the microfilm.
Real Talk on Accuracy
Not everything you read in an old obit is true. Sometimes families "prettied up" a life story. Sometimes the paper made a mistake. If the obit says someone graduated from Canisius in 1940 but the school records don't match, trust the school records.
Obituaries are a snapshot of how a person was remembered, not necessarily a notarized biography.
What to Do Next
If you are looking for a specific person right now, start by narrowing down the year.
For 1997 to Today: Go to the Buffalo News website or Legacy.com. Use the "advanced search" to filter by month and year.
For 1881 to 1996: You need the library. If you aren't in Buffalo, the librarians at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library are actually super helpful. You can often submit an "Obituary Request" form on their website. They’ll do the digging for a small fee (usually around $5-$10) and email you a scan of the microfilm.
Don't give up if the first search fails. Names were mangled, dates were shifted, and sometimes the notice just didn't run until a week later. Persistence is the only thing that works with historical records.