* Early Forms:
* Broadsides: These were single sheets of paper printed with news, often including death notices. These were common in England and America in the 17th and 18th centuries.
* "Deaths" sections: Newspapers began dedicating sections to "Deaths" or "Obituary" sometime in the late 17th century. These were usually brief announcements, sometimes listing only the name of the deceased and their cause of death.
* 18th Century:
* Obituaries started becoming more elaborate, providing basic biographical information like age, occupation, and family details.
* "The Gentleman's Magazine" (published in England) is credited with popularizing longer, more detailed obituaries in the 1730s.
* 19th Century and Beyond:
* Obituaries became more common in newspapers, especially in the United States, as literacy and newspaper readership increased.
* They started including more personal details, anecdotes, and eulogies.
* Newspapers also began using obituaries to promote local businesses and individuals.
Therefore, we can say that obituaries have been a feature of newspapers since the late 17th century, evolving from simple death notices to more detailed and personalized accounts.