Kansas Vital Records: Difference between revisions

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United States > Kansas > Kansas Vital Records

Kansas Birth, Marriage and Death Records[edit | edit source]

Introduction to Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. United States Vital Records has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Kansas Vital Records State Department of Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Kansas Statewide Indexes and Collections at the Family History Library.

Birth Records	Marriage Records	Death/Will Records

Kansas Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online[edit | edit source]

The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Kansas Vital Records which consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Most online resources for Kansas Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.

Kansas Links from fhlfavorites.info - Free
Kansas Databases listed on Rootsweb.com - Free
USGenWeb.org Kansas Site - Free
Search for Kansas Collections on FamilySearch.org under Canada, USA, and Mexico - Free
The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for Kansas - Free/$
Wee Monster Links for Kansas Birth & Marriage and Death Records - Free/$
Linkpendium Links for Kansas Genealogy and History, including individual Counties - Free/$
Progenealogists Links for the United States. Press Ctrl + F on the keyboard to search for Kansas or IA - Free/$
Search the Kansas Birth, Marriage & Death Records at Ancestry.com - $
Order Kansas Certificates online - $
The Kansas Department of Public Health has copies of marriage records from July 1880. They have an index to records after 1916.

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

Early - 1911

City and County Records of Births

A few counties in Kansas began keeping records of births in 1885. These records may be obtained from the office of the county clerk.

Birth records are also available from many of the cities in the state. The beginning dates of these records vary from about 1910 to 1940. You can write to the city clerk for further information.

The Family History Library is presently acquiring copies of pre-1912 birth records at the county courthouses in southeastern Kansas. The library also has a few files from mortuaries and funeral homes.

1911 - Present

State Records of Births

Statewide registration of births and deaths began in July 1911. Delayed registrations of births started in 1937. Copies of the state records may be obtained from:

Office of Vital Statistics
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
900 Jackson Street
Topeka, KS 66612-1290
Telephone: 913-296-1400
Internet: Kansas Vital Records

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records can be found in the following resources:

VitalRecords.com
Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces. ^[1]Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers.
You can also write to the Office of Vital Statistics (address above) for current information.

**Information in Kansas Birth Records**
Types of Information	early - 1911	1911 - present
Name of Child
Sex
Race
Parents' Names
Midwife/Doctor
Date & Place of Birth
Residence

Kansas Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Adoption[edit | edit source]

open/closed/state statutes

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Early - 1913

County clerks and clerks of probate courts have been keeping records of marriages since the creation of each county in the state. Some date from the mid-1850s. You can write to the clerk's office in the county where the license was issued. The Family History Library is presently acquiring copies of pre-1920 Kansas marriage records. Kansas Historical Society has copies of some county and city vital records on microfilm. Check their website for what is available for each county.

Kansas Marriage Index, 1854-1861 is an ongoing voluteer effort by the Kansas State Historical Society to index early Kansas marriages. The searchable database includes only part of the counties so far.

1913 - Present

Marriage records since July 1913 have also been kept by the state. These may be obtained from the Office of Vital Statistics (see address above).

**Information in Kansas Marriage Records**
Types of Information	early - 1913	1913 - present
Name of Bride/Groom
Date of Marriage
Location of Marriage
Presiding Official
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Residence at Time of Marriage

Kansas County Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

The district court in each county has had jurisdiction over divorces. Divorce information is interfiled with other court records. You can write to the clerk of the court for information. Since July 1951 a copy of the proceedings has been filed with the Bureau of Registration and Health Statistics.

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Death Records[edit | edit source]

A few counties in Kansas began keeping records of deaths in 1885. These records may be obtained from the office of the county clerk.

Death records are also available from many of the cities in the state. The beginning dates of these records vary from about 1910 to 1940. You can write to the city clerk for further information.

The Family History Library is presently acquiring copies of pre-1912 death records at the county courthouses in southeastern Kansas. The library also has a few files from mortuaries and funeral homes.

**Information in Kansas Death Records**
Types of Information	before - 1911	1911 - present
Name of Deceased
Date of Death
Place of Death
Date of Birth/Age
Place of Birth
Place of Burial
Parents' Names/Maiden
Occupation of Deceased
Marital Status

Lost or Missing Records[edit | edit source]

When record loss occurs often records are reconstructed; land records are reconstructed to establish clear or legal title and for taxation purposes.

Counties with records loss:

Douglas (1863 Quantril's raid), and Elk (1906),

Substitute Records[edit | edit source]

Tips[edit | edit source]

Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) to the subject(s) for the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by government, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages, and deaths.
Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
Search for Vital Records in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records. Search for Kansas to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Archives, Libraries and Societies[edit | edit source]

Miscellaneous Records[edit | edit source]

1879--On the Lineage website there is an Index to Kansas Settlers living in 1879. Many of the records give birth date and place.

Guide to Vital Records[edit | edit source]

A description of the history and availability of Kansas records is Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Kansas. ^[2]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Hyattsville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; Family History Library book 973 V24wv).
↑ Topeka, Kansas: Historical Records Survey, 1942; Family History Library book 978.1 V2h; film 874348.

[1] Hyattsville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; Family History Library book 973 V24wv).

[2] Topeka, Kansas: Historical Records Survey, 1942; Family History Library book 978.1 V2h; film 874348.

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