Virginia Vital Records: Difference between revisions

From 1853 to 1896, the state required the counties to record births and deaths. Microfilm copies of these are at the Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia has indexes of the birth records to 1896 but does not have indexes of death records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many of the county birth and death records at the Library of Virginia. The statewide birth record index from 1853 to 1896 is available on FHL films 2026327-52, with birth records from 1853 to 1896 (on films beginning with 2046907).  

Registration of births and deaths was not required between 1896 and 14 June 1912, but the health departments of some cities kept birth and death records during that period. Delayed birth registrations for the years 1896-1912 are available at the Division of Vital Records (see address below), and an index is on FHL films 2026352-3.  

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage bonds and marriage registers for most counties to about 1935 (and some to the 1960s). They can be found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under VIRGINIA - VITAL RECORDS, or VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS. The Family History Library does not have copies of the marriage indexes at the Library of Virginia but has the Marriage Registers, 1853-1935, on 53 FHL films beginning with 2056971 item 4.  

''Marriage Records: Early to 1850'', ''Southern States.'' [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1995. (FHL compact disc #9 part 229 [does not circulate to Family History Centers].) Indexes tens of thousands of Virginia county marriage records from 1735 to 1850 on microfilms at the Family History Library  

''Marriage Records'' ''[Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina].'' [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1994. (FHL compact disc #9 part 4 [does not circulate to Family History Centers].) Also called “Hunting for Bears” collection Indexes tens of thousands of original county marriage records from the late 1700s to 1880.  

''Virginia Marriage Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1982. (FHL book 975.5 V2v.) This is especially useful for finding marriage information from the 1700s. It is based on various sources for 41 counties.  

Vogt, John, and T., William Kethley. ''Marriage Records in the Virginia State Library: A Researcher's Guide''. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co. 1988. (FHL book 975.5 V23v 1988.) Describes the available microfilmed and published records and has helpful background information.  

Clay, Robert Young. ''Virginia Genealogical Resources''. Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Society of Genealogical Research, 1980. (FHL book 975.5 D27c.) Explains Virginia geography and the usefulness and availability of civil, church, and personal record types in Virginia, especially at the Library of Virginia.  

Eichholtz, Alice, ed. ''Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources''. Revised edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.  

McGinnis, Carol. ''Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources.'' Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publication Company, 1993. (FHL book 975.5 A3m.)