Searching And Publishing The Morning Call Newspaper Obituaries: Lehigh Valley’s 2026 Guide

The Morning Call has served as the primary newspaper of record for Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley—including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the surrounding townships—since its founding in 1883. For families honoring a loved one or genealogists tracing ancestry in Lehigh and Northampton counties, navigating the obituary archives requires an understanding of both physical print traditions and modern digital database configurations.

This guide provides technical instructions, accurate pricing metrics, and research strategies for finding historical records and publishing new memorial notices in The Morning Call in 2026.

Navigating the Digital Archives: How to Find Historical and Recent Death Notices

Locating an obituary in The Morning Call depends heavily on the date of publication. The newspaper’s archives are divided into two distinct retrieval systems: modern digital listings and historical microform or digitized databases.

Accessing Recent Obituaries (Post-2000 to 2026)

For individuals who passed away within the last two decades, records are highly accessible online. The Morning Call integrates its obituary department with the Legacy platform.

• Search Parameters: Searches can be filtered by first and last name, publication date range, and specific keywords (such as the name of a high school, employer, or town like Whitehall or Emmaus).
• Interactive Features: Modern listings include digital guest books, which allow visitors to leave condolences, upload photos, and send memorial flowers directly to local Lehigh Valley funeral homes.
• Retention: Digital obituaries published under standard packages remain indexed online indefinitely, allowing search engines to retrieve them via targeted searches.

Researching Historical Obituaries (1883–1999)

Tracing ancestral lineages in the Lehigh Valley—known for its deep German heritage and industrial history—requires accessing older editions of the newspaper. If you are looking for an obituary published before the internet era, utilize the following specialized repositories:

• The Allentown Public Library (1210 W Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18102): Holds comprehensive microfilm collections of The Morning Call dating back to its origin. Researchers can use physical microfilm readers to scan, print, or save obituary images to USB drives.
• The Lehigh County Historical Society (432 W Walnut St, Allentown, PA 18102): Located at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, this archive provides expert genealogical assistance. Their collection includes indexed local obituary files, scrapbooks, and family Bibles that supplement newspaper records.
• Digital Subscription Databases: For remote research, digitized versions of historical editions of the newspaper are hosted on platforms like Newspapers.com and Ancestry.com. Accessing these requires either a personal subscription or a library card from a participating Pennsylvania library system (such as the Access Pennsylvania initiative).

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Submit an Obituary in The Morning Call

Placing an obituary notice requires coordination with the newspaper's advertising and editorial staff. While most families coordinate this through a licensed funeral director, individuals may also submit notices directly.

Step 1: Draft the Text and Select Imagery

Begin by gathering essential biographical details. A standard obituary contains the decedent's full name, age, city of residence, date of passing, educational background, military service, career highlights, surviving family members, and funeral service arrangements. If desired, select a clear portrait photograph.

Step 2: Establish Verification and Legitimacy

To prevent unauthorized or fraudulent submissions, the newspaper enforces strict verification protocols.

Submission Verification Requirement

All self-submitted obituaries must be verified before publication. The Morning Call requires the contact information of the licensed funeral home, crematory, or anatomical donor service handling the arrangements.

If no professional service is being used, you must submit a certified copy of the death certificate along with a government-issued photo ID of the individual paying for the notice to the newspaper’s obituary desk.

Step 3: Choose Print and Digital Packages

Decide whether you require print placement, digital-only hosting, or a multi-day bundle. Print submissions are charged per line, meaning concise writing can significantly reduce overall costs.

Step 4: Review and Approve Proofs

The obituary department will provide a digital proof showing exactly how the notice will appear in print and online. Carefully check the spelling of names, dates, and times of services. Once approved, payment must be processed before the daily publication deadline (typically 2:00 PM EST on the day prior to publication).

Publishing Costs and Packages: Print vs. Digital Obituary Formats

The cost of publishing an obituary in The Morning Call varies based on the length of the text, inclusion of a photograph, and the number of days the notice runs in the physical newspaper. The following pricing structures and features are active for 2026:

Genealogy Research in the Lehigh Valley: Leveraging Newspaper Records

For historians and genealogists, obituary records in The Morning Call are highly valuable primary sources. They frequently clarify complex family networks common in the region's historic Pennsylvania Dutch, Slavic, Italian, and Irish immigrant communities.

Decoding Regional Terminology

Older obituaries in the Lehigh Valley contain specific cultural markers that researchers should recognize:

• "Reformed and Lutheran": Historically, many local families belonged to "union churches" where both Reformed (now United Church of Christ) and Lutheran congregations shared the same physical building.
• Local Cemeteries: Mentions of historic burial grounds like West End Cemetery in Allentown, Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem, or Easton Cemetery help trace family plots back to the 19th century.
• Fraternal and Civic Organizations: Obituaries often highlight memberships in groups like the Knights of Columbus, the Order of Owls, or local volunteer fire companies, which may hold separate historical archives.

Verifying Spelling Variations

Due to historical transitions from German to English, surnames in older editions of the newspaper may have multiple spellings (e.g., Jaeger becoming Yeger or Yager). When searching digital databases, use wildcard symbols (like asterisks) to capture phonetic spellings of family names.

Frequently Asked Questions About Morning Call Obituaries

How do I find recent obituaries in The Morning Call?

To find recent obituaries, visit the official obituaries section of mcall.com, which redirects to their integrated partner search engine. Enter the decedent's first and last name, and select a custom date range to locate the complete text, funeral details, and digital guest book.

Can I search historical Morning Call obituaries for free?

Yes, local residents can search historical obituaries for free by visiting public libraries within the Lehigh Valley, such as the Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton public libraries. These institutions provide free onsite access to microfilm archives and premium databases like Ancestry or Newspapers.com via library computers.

What is the deadline to submit an obituary for print publication?

The standard deadline for submitting an obituary for the next day's print edition is 2:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday. For Sunday and Monday editions, deadlines are adjusted to Friday afternoon. It is highly recommended to submit drafts at least 24 hours in advance to allow time for proofing and price estimation.

How do I verify the cost of an obituary before it goes to print?

Before any obituary is published, the obituary department or your funeral director will generate an exact price quote based on the final line count, photo size, and selected run dates. You must review, approve, and pay for this quote before the publication deadline to secure print placement.

Does The Morning Call offer guest books for online obituaries?

Yes, online obituaries include an interactive guest book hosted in partnership with Legacy. This feature allows family and friends from around the world to write messages of condolence, share memories, upload photographs, and send symbolic virtual gifts to the family’s memorial profile.

Authoritative Support for Grieving Families and Researchers

Whether you are preparing a tribute for a family member or gathering historical records for a family tree, managing these details requires accuracy and care. For those coordinating current funeral arrangements, work directly with a licensed Lehigh Valley funeral director. They maintain direct transmission lines to the newspaper's advertising desk, ensuring your submission meets all formatting and verification requirements.

If you are conducting genealogical research, consider visiting the Lehigh County Historical Society or the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society (Sigal Museum in Easton). These local institutions offer invaluable physical archives, local knowledge, and regional directories that fill in the gaps left by newspaper records alone.