Little Rock Obituaries
Little Rock obituary records span nearly two centuries of Arkansas history, making the city one of the most resource-rich locations in the state for death record research. Whether you are searching for a recent death notice or trying to trace a family line back to the 1800s, Little Rock holds unique collections you cannot find anywhere else in Arkansas. The city maintained its own death records starting in 1881, more than thirty years before the state required registration, and those early records are now preserved at the Arkansas State Archives just steps from the State Capitol.
Little Rock Death Records History
Little Rock and Fort Smith are the only two cities in Arkansas where death records were kept before the state began mandatory registration on February 1, 1914. The city records run from 1881 through 1914. If you are looking for someone who died in Little Rock during that window, the Arkansas State Archives is the right place to start. The Archives holds these early city records and has indexed many of them into searchable databases.
After 1914, death certificates moved to state control. The Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office maintains records from 1914 through the present. The office is located at 4815 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205 and can be reached at 800-637-9314. Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
The online death index covers 1935 to 1961. Deaths before 1935 or after 1961 require a formal request form. Under Arkansas Code Ann. § 20-18-304, death certificates remain restricted for 50 years. After that period, they become public records accessible to anyone.
CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies
For obituary research in Little Rock, the CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies is one of the most valuable resources in the state. It sits at the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History and Art, 401 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201. The phone number is (501) 320-5700 and hours run Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday noon to 4pm.
The Butler Center holds the full run of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Historical Archive with searchable image editions. Collections include the Arkansas Gazette from 1867 through 1991, the Arkansas Democrat from 1947 through 1992, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette from 1992 through 1994. The Arkansas Gazette Obituaries Index covering 1819 to 1879 alone contains 14,329 entries. That is a deep well for anyone researching early Little Rock families.
Beyond newspapers, the Center maintains genealogy reference books, microfilm for all Arkansas counties, and in-library access to Ancestry and Newspapers.com. FamilySearch Affiliate Library access is also available on site. Staff are familiar with Arkansas research and can help you find the right collection for your needs.
The screenshot below shows the CALS Butler Center website, which serves as the main access point for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette archive and other genealogy collections in Little Rock.
The Butler Center also provides access to African American Heritage, Fold3 for military records, HeritageQuest Online, and the Newspapers.com World Collection at its library locations.
Arkansas State Archives Collections
The Arkansas State Archives, located at One Capitol Mall, 2nd Floor, Little Rock, AR 72201, is the state's primary repository for historical death records and obituary materials. The phone is (501) 682-6900 and email is state.archives@arkansas.gov.
The Archives maintains the "In Remembrance" Database covering deaths from 1819 to 1920. This electronic index was designed to fill the gap before state registration began in 1914. It pulls from church publications, cemetery records, mortality censuses, newspaper obituaries, and county records held in the Archives' collections. The database shows the name, the source where the record can be found, and the date. For obituaries that date is the publication date, not necessarily the death date.
Other death-related materials at the Archives include the Arkansas Gazette Obituaries Index covering 1819 to 1879 with 14,329 named entries, printed death certificate indexes covering 1914 to 1948 and 1967 to 1971, the Gross Mortuary funeral records from 1874 to 1922, city death records from Little Rock and Hot Springs, and mortality census schedules from 1850 through 1880. About 3,000 newspaper titles are also held here, many available only on microfilm.
The screenshot below shows the Arkansas State Archives website, which provides access to the In Remembrance database and other statewide historical death record indexes.
The Archives accepts research requests by mail and email. If you cannot visit in person, submitting a written request with as much detail as possible will help staff locate the right records.
Old State House Museum and Historical Resources
The Old State House Museum in Little Rock holds materials related to Arkansas history that can provide context for obituary research. Historical photographs, documents, and local records housed there can help identify time periods and place names that appear in older obituaries.
The screenshot below shows the Old State House Museum, a key Little Rock institution for Arkansas historical research.
The museum's collections complement the Archives and library resources nearby. If you are researching a prominent Little Rock family from the 1800s or early 1900s, the museum may hold materials that help connect the dots.
Online Obituary Databases for Little Rock
Several free databases cover Little Rock and Pulaski County obituary records. FamilySearch holds the Arkansas Death Index 1914 to 1950 with roughly 594,000 deaths indexed. It also holds Arkansas Deaths and Burials 1882 to 1929 and 1945 to 1963, and actual digitized death certificates from 1914 to 1969. All FamilySearch collections are free to search.
The Arkansas Digital Archives provides access to digitized historical newspapers and the In Remembrance database. Obituary columns from historic Little Rock papers appear in this collection. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a CALS project that provides context for families, places, and events that appear in older obituaries.
CourtConnect, the Arkansas judiciary's public access portal, lets you search probate filings by name. When someone died with property in Pulaski County, an estate case was typically opened. Those probate records name the deceased, note the date of death, and list heirs. They are a strong secondary source when a published obituary cannot be found.
Note: The Arkansas Genealogical Society at agsgenealogy.org maintains statewide resources and can connect you with county-level volunteers who know Little Rock research well.
Pulaski County Records
Little Rock is the county seat of Pulaski County. Probate records, estate filings, and court records for Little Rock residents are held at the Pulaski County Courthouse. The county circuit clerk handles filings that often tie directly to obituary research. Probate petitions and estate cases list the deceased, date of death, and heirs, giving you information that published obituaries often leave out.
The Pulaski County Clerk maintains older vital records including marriage records dating back to the county's early years. Land records and deed books can also help trace family connections when obituary records are incomplete.
Local Genealogy Resources
Several local organizations support genealogy research in Little Rock. The Arkansas Genealogical Society is based in Little Rock at P.O. Box 17653, Little Rock, AR 72222. The society publishes the Arkansas Family Historian quarterly, in print since 1962. Membership gives you access to their library, research guides, and a network of researchers who know the state well.
The Arkansas State Library at One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 682-2053, maintains a genealogy collection with online databases including GenealogyBank, in-library Ancestry, HeritageQuest, and NewspaperArchive. Access to some databases requires a library card. The library is part of the Traveler Statewide Resource project, which provides access to tens of millions of newspaper pages.
For death certificate orders, VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com provides online ordering with additional service fees. Phone orders can be placed at 866-209-9482 with credit card. Walk-in service at the Vital Records office on W. Markham provides same-day issuance Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Note: Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, death certificates are exempt from FOIA requests. Only family members, legal representatives, and those with direct and tangible interest may obtain copies of recent certificates.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Little Rock metro area and across Arkansas that have dedicated obituary pages on this site include:
For county-level records, start with the Pulaski County page which covers courthouse resources, the circuit clerk, and local genealogy organizations serving the greater Little Rock area.