Hi, Bob -- Not all deaths are included in the SSDI. In 1962, the Social Security Admin started a computer database of the requests for survivor benefits. This lead to a full-scale database of deaths reported to the SSA. Not all deaths were/are reported to the SSA, though. Note that there are very few deaths prior to 1962 listed in the SSDI, although a very few of them date back to 1937 ('very few' being a relative term, there are something over 600 listed for 1937). Also, you may not be able to locate the person you're researching due to an incorrect name (public use of a given name is not necessarily the recorded name - i.e. my own name was incorrect with the SSA until just a few years ago), a data-entry error, an error or omission on the original record, or perhaps as stated above the death was not reported to the SSA. It may also be a question of what you "know" and the facts of an individual's death. For instance, you believe that Madden died in Berkshire Co., but it is possible Madden died at a hospital in a nearby county - or perhaps even in another state. You might be interested in varying your search parameters. Hope this helps you to understand the limitations of the SSDI. It is still a wonderful research for genealogists, despite its short-comings. -- M'Lisa Whitney, Certified Genealogist [log in to unmask] **CG and Certified Genealogist are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board** A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>