Maryland Vital Records: Birth: Difference between revisions

= Maryland Birth Records  =

{| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"

| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | [[#Colonial_Period_.28Up_to_1800.29|Colonial (1654 to 1776)]]  

|  

[[An overview of the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Library]]   

| None  

|  

| Not all births were recorded.

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| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | [[#County_Circuit_Court.2C_1865-1884|1865-1884]]  

| None  

| No  

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| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | [[#Maryland_County.C2.A0Birth.C2.A0Records.2C.C2.A01898-1972|1898-1972, County Records]]  

| Birth records are restricted for 100 years.  

| NO

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| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | [[#Maryland_Births.2C_1973_to_Present.C2.A0|1973 to Present]]  

| Birth records are restricted for 100 years. Can only provide individual’s certificate for parent, guardian, or legal representative.  

| No  

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<br>  

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| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | [[#Baltimore_City.2C_1875_to_1972|1875 to 1972]]  

| None for births occurring over 100 years ago.  

| No  

== Content  ==

Beginning in 1654, the Maryland General Assembly required the recording all births by the clerk of the county court. Later, the responsibility was assigned to the Clerks of the Protestant Episcopal Vestry.  The Protestant Episcopal Church was required to register all births that occurred – regardless of the parents' religion – until 1776. Other churches also recorded births of their congregation members, thus creating a second recording of some individual's birth.  

:*Names of parents (sometimes the mother's name was not recorded).

During 1800 to 1864, Maryland did not require the recording of any birth information.  Only local churches were recording births occurring during this time period.  

Registration of births was reestablished in 1865 and assigned to the county circuit courts by the Maryland General Assembly. Most people did not comply with the new law, which resulted in a small number of births actually being recorded. Church records continue to be a primary source of birth information.  

:*Usually sex and race of child

Baltimore City had different laws regarding the recording of births compared to the rest of Maryland. In 1874, the Mayor and City Council required registration of all births that occurred in Baltimore City. This registration requirement lasted until 1972, when the state Division of Vital Records became responsible for all 23 counties and the city of Baltimore. The Maryland State Archives has an 1875 - 1941 index for the Baltimore City births. The index is public even though the birth records are restricted for 100 years.  

:*After 1910, residence, race, age and occupation of both parents<br>

A new law by the General Assembly in 1898 required birth registration in Maryland’s 23 counties. Baltimore City was excused from the new law because it had required registration since 1875. The citizens and counties were slow to comply with the registration requirement. A high compliance rate did not occur until approximately 1914.  

:*Medical attendant’s name and address

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records became the only agency to register births for all 23 counties and Baltimore City beginning in July 1972.  

== Locating Records  ==

:'''INDEXES to births '''  

:'''Birth Records '''  

:'''INDEXES to Birth Records: '''<br>  

:'''INDEX to Delayed Birth Records:<br>'''  

''There are no indexes from 1951-1972 at the Maryland State Archives''  

:'''INDEXES to Balitmore City Birth Records'''  

''There are no indexes from 1941-1972 at the Maryland State Archives'' <br>  

:'''Baltimore City Birth Records:'''  

Birth indexes and records are available from 1875 to 1941 for Baltimore City, although actual birth records have restrictions within the last 100 years.  

There are some Maryland Colonial birth records available at the FamilySearch Library. The following are links to topics in the [[Introduction_to_the_FamilySearch_Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] that list sources that can be viewed at the FamilySearch Library.  Each source has either a book call number or microfilm number assigned to it. Microfilm records and books can be viewed at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] in Salt Lake City, Utah. Microfilms and microfiche can be loaned and viewed at local [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch Centers].  Although books from the FamilySearch Library do not circulate, you may be able to find the same title at your local public library, or order it through interlibrary loan (ILL).  Below are links that contain birth record sources for different counties in Maryland:  

:*{{FSC|490203|subject-id|disp=Worcester County Church Records}}

'''Records are restricted for 100 years after the date of birth unless you are:'''  

:*Requesting your own birth certificate  

:*Representative of the individual named on certificate, parent, or guardian

<br>  

:To mail in a request:

:To order for same day service with an additional fee, go to [http://www.vitalchek.com/maryland-express-vital-records.aspx Vitalchek.com].

Information provided here was taken from the following sources:  

Eichholz, Alice. ''Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.'' (Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, c2004).  

''Maryland: Research Outline. (Salt Lake City, Utah : Corp. of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c1988). <br>''  

[[Category:Maryland Vital Records|Birth]]