Jewish Independent Obituary Index

The Jewish Independent was an English-language weekly newspaper published in Cleveland from 1906 to 1964. Maurice Weidenthal, of the Plain Dealer, became its editor a few weeks after it was established. When he died in 1917, he was succeeded by his brother, Leo, who managed the paper for nearly 50 years.

This database is mainly composed of extracts of vital information from obituaries. Pre 1906 information mostly comes from the Jewish Review & Observer, another weekly, which began publication in 1899. Post 1964 information was extracted from The Cleveland Jewish News. This database covers about 1898-1982. It evolved as it grew - therefore not every single entry coincides with an obituary.

To get a copy of the obituary you're interested in, contact the Cleveland Public Library Microform Center, 325 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (216) 623-2910. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery

Abbreviations

BHH = Fir or Lansing Cemetery
CSE = Chesed Shel Emeth
MOH = Montefiore Old Home
KI = Kneseth Israel
OOH = Orthodox Old Home

The Cleveland Necrology File was produced from a microfilmed copy of an alphabetical card file containing local cemetery records and newspaper death notices gathered by the staff of the Cleveland Public Library.

The database includes paid death notices published in the following newspapers:

	The Cleveland Plain Dealer - 1850-1975
	The Cleveland Herald - 1833, 1847-1848, 1876, 1878-1879
	The Cleveland Press - 1941-1975

For necrology information after 1975, use the Cleveland News Index.

For the full text of current year obituaries, see the Death Notices from The Plain Dealer.

Cleveland Area Congregations

A listing of Jewish Congregations in the Cleveland area. Every attempt has been made to make this list as complete and accurate as possible. Another list is maintained at The Cleveland Jewish News.

Cleveland Area Jewish Cemeteries

A list of Jewish Cemeteries in the Cleveland area. The Cleveland JGS maintains a stone by stone enumeration of many of these cemeteries. 

The Cleveland Jewish News has been published in Cleveland since 1964. It is an excellent source for Birth, Marriage, Death & B'nai Mitzvah notices. For an index to obituaries from 1964 - 2008, see this section of JewishGen. 

Search this database for an index to marriages performed in Cuyahoga County from 1810 - April 1998.

The Cleveland Jewish Archives collects and makes available for research print and non-print material that documents the history of the Jewish community of Greater Cleveland. It houses more than 200 manuscript collections consisting of personal papers of individuals and families, Holocaust testimonies, and institutional records including those of businesses, congregations, and educational, political, social, charitable, and welfare organizations.

A great place to find those elusive living relatives.

1818-1931 (mostly Common Pleas Court). An index of more than 50,000 cards became an online resource, thanks to volunteers from CAGG, the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group (Northeast Ohio).

Two Cleveland area groups, East and West side, can help you learn more about computer assisted genealogy methods. The Northeast Ohio Computer-Aided Genealogy Society meets on the second Saturday morning of each month in Mayfield Village. The Computer Assisted Genealogy Group meets on the third Saturday morning of each month at the Fairview Park Library.