Transcript History of Vital Records

History of Vital Records
Presented by
Deborah Little-Bowser
March 5, 2008
What are Vital Records?
 Birth
 Death
 Fetal
Deaths
 Abortions
 Marriage
 Divorce
History of Vital Records
The registration of births, marriages,
and deaths has a long history in the
United States, beginning with a
registration law enacted by Virginia
in 1632 and a modification of this
law enacted by Massachusetts in
1639.
History of Vital Records (con’t)
– 1902- U.S. Census Bureau permanent agency
of the federal government-authorized to obtain
death data.
– Jan 1, 1900- registration areas began
– 1915-national birth-registration areas were
established
– 1933- all states were registering live births and
deaths
– 1946- responsibility to the US Public Health
Service
– 1960- NCHS
– 1987-NCHS became part of CDC
– Vital Record offices are governed by state laws
not federal laws. There are 57
jurisdictions/registration areas.
Model Act & Regulations
The Model Act and Regulations-provide
detailed guidance to state registrars of
vital statistics and legislators considering
revision to their own state laws.
 www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/mvsact92b.
pdf
 1907-First Model Act
 1955-revision
 1973-revision
 1977-revision
 1992-revision
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Some California Facts
 Vital
events were recorded beginning
in 1777-1855, by the Mission Santa
Clara de Asis. These records are
baptismal records.
 As early as 1851, statues required
that the recorder keep a record of
marriages and contracts.
 The Act of April 26, 1858,attempt to
record other vital records.
California 1851-1919
County & State Level
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1851-recorder to keep a
record of marriage &
contracts.
Act of April 26,1858, attempt
to keep records of other vital
statistics.
The Act provided for the
registration of
marriages,births,divorces,&
deaths.
Office of the State Registrar
was created.
Recorder to enter every
record for events per the
state registrar.
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Political Code in 1872marriages to be recorded in
30 days, births & deaths at
the end of each quarter.
Cost to file births & deaths
.25¢ per name, paid by the
parent or next of kin.
No fee paid-still reported.
Fee paid by the supervisor of
the county.
Failure to report-$50 fine
3/18/1905-Marriage- 3 days
after the event & State
Bureau of VS, supervision of
death records.
California History-(con’t)
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1905,forward records in
excellent shape in nearly
all of the state.
1889 provision in the
Political Code requiring
burial permits to be filed
with the recorder.
1913-Superintendents of
cemeteries, boards of
health,& health officers to
report weekly to the
recorder the names of all
persons interred the
preceding week.
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California’s first legislature,
meeting in 1849-50,
charged the Secretary of
State to receive “…all
public records, registered
maps, books, papers, rolls,
documents and other
writings…which appertain
to or are in any way
connected with the political
history and past
administration of the
government of California…”
A bit more of history
The Early California Population Project (ECPP) provides public
access to all the information contained in California's historic
mission registers, records that are of unique and vital
importance to the study of California, the American Southwest,
and colonial America.
Within the baptism, marriage, and burial records of each of the
California missions sits an extraordinary wealth of unique
information on the Indians, soldiers, and settlers of Alta
California from 1769 - 1850.
http://www.huntington.org/Information/ECPPmain.htm
Issuance & Entitlement
Vital Records across America
Issued by 57 Jurisdictions
13 states are open record states
District of Columbia
Restricted State
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http://app.doh.dc.gov/services/vital_records/index.
shtm
You may order copies of D.C. birth certificates for yourself, your child, your
mother or father, your current spouse, or an adult sibling. Legal guardians
and legal representatives must submit proof of entitlement. Must include
copy of photo identification.
Persons entitled to purchase a vital record include:
The registrant
An immediate nuclear family member
A legal guardian
A legal representative
Birth and death records become public after 100 years have
elapsed from the date of birth and 50 years have elapsed
from the date of death. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and
other relatives not part of the immediate family cannot
obtain a birth or death certificate from Vital Records prior to
the record becoming open to the public.
Tennessee
Open Record State
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http://health.state.tn.us/vr/
One item from the following list:
Current drivers license, including the issue
and expiration date.
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Current passport
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Military I.D. card
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Two items from the following list:
Current pay stub or W2
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Vehicle registration with name and current
address
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Voter Registration card
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Military Discharge (DD214)
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Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip
with name and current address
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Alien, temporary or permanent resident card
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Employment authorization card
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U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
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Health care coverage card
Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D.
card
OR
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Medical record
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Application page of an insurance policy
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Signed Social Security Card
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For those person who have had their I.D.
stolen, a copy a police report or other official
documents which support the theft
Thank you
Questions???
Contact Information:
[email protected]