California Vital Records: Difference between revisions

= Introduction to Vital Records =

The church records in [[Portal:California|California]] provide the earliest evidences of births and deaths. County recorders eventually kept vital statistics. Monterey County, for example, recorded a few births as early as 1824. Most clerks kept better records in the decades following the Gold Rush. The Family History Library has been acquiring microfilmed copies of the original records from many counties. For example, the Family History Library has 81 microfilms of births from Los Angeles (1905-19, indexed 1905-23), and deaths (1877-1905, indexed 1873-1920). You can also write to each county clerk for information.  

Delayed registration of births began in 1943. These records are kept by each county. You can write to the county clerk for information. The Family History Library has copies of delayed births for many counties, such as Los Angeles, for the years 1943 to 1964.  

The birth index includes the following information: Full name, birthdate, gender, mother's maiden name, and&nbsp;birth county.<br>

The first law that required the recording of marriages was passed in 1850. Each county usually kept these records as soon as it was organized. The Family History Library has copies of the marriages for many counties. For example, Los Angeles County marriage applications (1850-1905) and certificates (1851-1919) are available on 120 microfilms.  

The statewide registration of marriages began in 1905. The state records are indexed. The index for 1960 to 1985 is available at the Family History Library (fiche [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=216166&disp=California+marriage+records+indexes%2C+1%20%20&columns=*,0,0 6332554—]). The Family History Library has not obtained copies of the actual certificates from the state office. Write to the Office of Vital Records and Statistics for further information.  

&nbsp;  

= Analyzing Records =