Iowa Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This index covers events from 1830 through 1990.

Record Description
This index is an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the IGI along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as:
 * Family Records
 * Church Records
 * Civil Registration

It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by the LDS Church.

There may be entries that cite a specific source such as the following:
 * "Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850: a Family Register for the People" by James Arnold
 * "Paul Dingwell Genealogical Collection" by Paul Dingwell
 * A county or state vital record registration

These entries are in this collection for one of the following reasons:
 * They were submitted by private individuals to the LDS Church and as such are part of the IGI resulting in their inclusion in this index.
 * They have been indexed through the internet indexing project sponsored by the LDS Church. If this is the case, the index they are a part of has been included as part of this database.

The Vital Record Index databases are not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records although some sub-indexes (an index to a set of records within the database) have been found. When we identify a sub-index, we remove it from the database and post it separately on FamilySearch under its appropriate title.

This index is not complete for any particular place or region.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in birth index entries may include:


 * Name of the child
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Christening date (if the source is a church record)
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

Coverage Table
This collection is a partial index of records for the localities listed below as of April 2010. The table below shows the number of records by locality. Localities not listed may not have any records in this collection.

Most of these records date from the time period indicated in the columns below; however, there may be records before and after these dates. Record counts where the locality information was incomplete are included below under the country name. Because of this, you may wish to search only by state.

As this is an index of records compiled from various sources, it is strongly recommended that you verify the information in original records. Due to privacy laws not all records may be displayed.

How to Use the Record
Use this file to help you learn more about your ancestors. The information could help you identify family relationships and lineages as well as direct you to original records of your ancestors, which may contain additional information.

Depending on the time period and place there may not be a surname listed in the original records. When that happened, the indexer often assigned a surname based on the father's surname which may not be correct. So if you are looking for a birth/christening, search by the given name of the child, adding parents' names and as much locality information as is permitted.

Finding the Original Source for an Entry in This Collection
Each entry in this index has a source listed which includes a batch number. You will need to trace the batch number for the individual entry to learn its source. Please see the following wiki articles for more information on batch numbers:


 * IGI
 * IGI Batch Number Descriptions
 * IGI Batch Numbers for the British Isles and North America

If an FHL film number is given in the entry for your ancestor, search for it in the Family History Library Catalog.

Record History
For over 30 years, volunteer indexers extracted this information from microfilm copies of the original records. In 1998, a few of the entries were published on 7 CDs by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the "North America Vital Records Index." This is an index of some births and christenings throughout Iowa. The index is not necessarily complete for any particular place or region.

Why This Record Was Created
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored the indexing to accomplish its program of identifying the ancestry of mankind.

Record Reliability
Church records and civil registration were official sources and are some of the most reliable sources of information available on those who were born, married, or died in Iowa.

Known Issues with This Collection
The Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950 contains a display anomoly. When you click onto the name of the person for whom you are searching, the record details do NOT include a birth date.

Workaround: If you click on the Show Preview icon (gray arrow to the right on search results page), you will see the entire record detail, which sometimes includes the birth date. However, be aware that most of the time no birth date can be found.

Related Web Sites
Iowa History

Iowa Genealogy Search

Related Wiki Articles
Iowa Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection
"Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950." Index, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org): accessed 11 March, 2011; entry for Carwel Hardg Gustafson, born 1 February 1884; citing Birth Records, FHL microfilm 0,969,374; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

Sources of Information for This Collection
"Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950," Index, "FamilySearch" (https://familysearch.org). Index includes the IGI, digital copies of original records, and compiled records. FHL digital and microfilm copies. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.