Tennessee Vital Records: Difference between revisions

| align="center" valign="middle" height="35" bgcolor="#ffffcc" | '''Death Records Pre-1908'''

Chattanooga from 1872 {{FHL|182373|item|disp=FHL film 1303220}}  

Knoxville from 1881 {{FHL|195349|item|disp=FHL film 1276602}}  

[http://register.shelby.tn.us/ Memphis from 1848] {{FHL|1347285|item|disp=FHL film 1465227}}  

Nashville from 1881 {{FHL|193840|item|disp=FHL film 1303216}}  

Tennessee State Board of Health. Deaths (Enumerator Record Series), 1908–1912 ({{FHL|121490|titleno}} Film 338140.) These records are arranged by enumerator record number. An index to these early death records is found at the [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/vital/death2.htm Tennessee State Library and Archives ] listing 98,000 deaths. An index to the deaths is also found in filmed record collection. Copies of certificates can be orderd from the [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/mailstat.htm#Deaths State Library and Archives] or accessed in the Family History Library collection.  

Tennessee began registration of deaths after 1914. Originally, deaths were reported by the local undertaker. If a family buried their dead without the use of an undertaker, often the death was not recorded in state records. Some deaths were unreported as late as 1936. Also check vital records on the county level. Occasionally deaths recorded at the county level were not returned to the state. Certificates more than 50 years old are housed at the [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/mailstat.htm#Deaths Tennessee State Library and Archives].   

The Family History Library collection includes death certificates 1914-1950 {{FHL|126512|item|disp=FHL film 1299605 (first of 527 films}} and 1951-1958 {{FHL|1282029|item|disp=FHL film 2372443 (first of 229 films)}}. If you cannot access the free online indexes described in the following paragraph, you may use the yearly indexes included in this film collection. Some years are indexed by [[Soundex|soundex]]. Convert the surname to its soundex equivalent; search the index first by surname, then by given name.  Note the certificate number. Then, locate the appropriate film for the death year and certificate number.  

The Tennesse State Library and Archives has a free online [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/vital/tndeath.htm statewide index to deaths 1914-1931]. In addition, {{RecordSearch|1417505|Tennessee Deaths 1914-1955}} are abstracted and indexed at RecordSearch.  In the near future, free access to images will be linked to this index. The Shelby County Clerk website has an online statewide [http://register.shelby.tn.us/ death index 1949-2009]. This index includes certificate numbers.  Note the certificate number on this index, then locate the appropriate FHL (pre-1958)  or TSLA (pre-1960) film for the death year and certificate number. If the record you find is after 1960, you will need to contact the [http://health.state.tn.us/vr/index.htm Tennesse Department of Health] for copies.  

You may also want to search {{RecordSearch|1681020|Tennessee Death Records Index 1874-1955}}, which includes abstracted information from death certificates. This is a pilot program which does not allow searches for variant name spellings at this time.  Browsing all results for a surname within a specific county often yields the best results. Always search for variant name spellings if you do not find your expected record. Both death indexes at RecordSearch should be consulted when searching for a death record.  Some information is shared between the indexes, but not all information is exactly the same.  

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