09 January 2013

Ira Sargent Breaks His Hip in 1911

Even seemingly meaningless clippings like this reference to a broken hip can be useful.

The Quincy Daily Journal; Date: Jul 25, 1911; Section: None; Page: 7;digital 
 image Quincy [Illinois] Public Library website, http://www.quincylibrary.org, obtained 9 January 2013.
This item tells me several things--that my ancestor was institutionalized at the Bartonville Hospital and that he was alive on 25 July 1911. If this event had happened before vital registration, the date may have been more significant. And, if these hospital records are closed, sealed, or not extant, this clipping provides evidence of Ira's institutionalization.

Newspaper clippings may make mention of items that are in closed "public" records. Is there a chance that something that's in a closed or non-extant record is mentioned in a newspaper that you can access?