This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Aretha Franklin obituary chronicles a Queen of Soul’s life
Aretha Franklin died at 76 in Detroit after pancreatic cancer. The piece traces her rise from gospel beginnings in Detroit to chart topping hits and landmark civil rights era influence, highlighting her royal status, Motown near-miss, Atlantic breakthrough, and enduring cultural impact.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Aretha Franklin
Franklin
Detroit
Jimi Hendrix
Aretha
Jimi
Elvis
John and Paul
Acowie
Rolling Stone
Time Magazine
John Coltrane
America
Bill Clinton
Jimmy Carter
Rosa Parks
Martin Luther King Jr
Clinton
George W. Bush
Ted White
Jerry Wexler
Smokey Robinson
Motown Records
Columbia
Arista
Atlantic Records
New Bethel Baptist Church
Aretha Louise Franklin
Memphis
Tennessee
Rev
C.L. Franklin
Buffalo
Neena
Peete Paciaarhetoes
Barbara
Marion Williams
Clara Ward
Carolyn
Erma
Sam Cooke
Lou Rawls
Franklin House
Robinson
David Ritz
Columbia Records
John Hammond
Billie Holiday
Motown
Berry Gordy Jr
Russell Gersten
Atlantic
Ray Charles
Wexler
Fame Studios
Muscle Shoals
Alabama
Rolling Stones
Ebony Magazine
Retha
Radio City Music Hall
Charles Sykes
Invision
Dave Pickoff
James Brown
Taboo
Rob Kozloff