So You Want to Cite an Obituary? You Rebel, You!
Let's face it, citing sources is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, especially if you're referencing that fascinating obituary you found about Uncle Norbert's legendary pie-throwing skills (RIP, Uncle Norbert).
Now, you might be thinking, "Chicago Style? Isn't that for fancy academic papers and stuff?" Well, technically, yes. But fear not, fellow history buff (or maybe just someone who needs a good grade), because citing an obituary in Chicago style is, dare I say, almost fun!
Breaking it Down: The Fun Part (Kinda)
Here's the gist: Chicago Style treats obituaries like newspaper articles, which means you need the following:
- The Deceased's Name (RIP): This one's pretty straightforward. Unless Uncle Norbert went by a secret spy alias (because let's be honest, the pie-throwing skills were a dead giveaway), this should be easy.
- The Headline (Which May or May Not Mention Pie): Let's hope it mentions the pie. But seriously, this is usually the name of the deceased followed by something like "Passes Away" or "Succumbs to Pie-Related Mishap" (one can dream).
- The Newspaper Name (Assuming It's Not the "National Pie-Nabber Gazette"): City and state might be helpful too, especially if you're referencing a smaller publication.
- The Date of Publication: This is important for, you know, not accidentally citing Uncle Norbert's obituary from the 19th century (although, pie-throwing skills were probably more impressive back then).
Here's an example of how it might look in a footnote:
- John Smith, "Norbert Smith Passes Away," Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL), April 1, 2024.
See? Not too scary, right?
Now for the Not-So-Fun Part (But Still Manageable)
There are a couple of extra tidbits to consider:
- Online vs. Print: If you found the obituary online, you might need a URL (web address) to complete the citation.
- Page Numbers (Probably Not Applicable): Newspapers don't usually have page numbers for obituaries, so you can skip that part.
- Author (Unless Uncle Norbert Wrote His Own Obituary): Since obituaries aren't usually written by the deceased (unless Uncle Norbert was a ghostwriter in his spare time), you can leave this blank.
There you have it! Now you can confidently cite that obituary and impress everyone with your knowledge of...well, death notices and Chicago Style. But hey, at least you'll be the coolest person at the funeral (besides Uncle Norbert, of course).
