Looking for an obituary? Print copies of local newspapers are kept at library branches for 6 months, after which they can be viewed on microfilm.
Butte County Library also maintains microfilm collections of historic Butte County Newspapers back to 1854.

Unable to come into a branch? Fill out our Obituary/Newspaper Article Request form. (PDF version of this form is also available for download if you prefer to mail it in.)

Butte County Vital Records Index (1854-1897)

The Butte County Library maintains a vital records index to local newspapers from 1854 through approximately 1897 at the Oroville Branch. Library volunteers can copy newspaper articles once the date of an event is known. To request an article, please fill out the request form.

Last names beginning with A B C D-E F-G H I-J-K L M N-O-P Q-R S T-U-V W-X-Y-Z

Newspaper abbreviations:
WBR - Weekly Butte Record
OM - Oroville Mercury
WOR - Weekly Oroville Register
DOR - Daily Oroville Register
CE - Chico Enterprise
WCR - Weekly Chronicle-Record
WCRC - Weekly Chico Record-Chronicle
NE - Northern Enterprise
BR - Butte Record
WOM - Weekly Oroville Mercury
GH - Gridley Herald

Additional Resources

• Visit the Butte County Clerk Recorder for copies of vital records.
• For deaths between 1940 and 1997, please check California Death Records.
• The Social Security Death Index is also available online.
• The Butte County Library collection also contains numerous local histories. Some of these books include biographies of prominent local residents. Due to the fragile condition of these books, articles will sometimes need to be typed rather than photocopied. Contact the library for details.
• Lahontan Images has compiled a death index for the Butte Weekly Democrat, 1859-1862
• Pre-1905 Butte County Death Index on Rootsweb
• Paradise Genealogical Society Obituary Index