Arkansas Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This index covers events from 1837 through 1944.

Record Description
This index is an electronic database of information compiled from a variety of sources including the following:


 * Family Records
 * Church Records
 * Civil Registration

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

The key genealogical facts found in marriage index entries may include:


 * Name of the bride and groom
 * Names of the parents
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

The key genealogical facts found in death or burial index entries may include:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Name of the spouse (if married)
 * Death or burial date
 * Death or burial place
 * 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. 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

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 index is an index of the births, marriages, and deaths throughout Arkansas. 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 Arkansas.

Related Web Sites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.


 * Online Arkansas Death Records and Indexes. Free.
 * Death Records Search. A guide for finding death records on the internet.

Related Wiki Articles
Arkansas Vital Records

Sources of Information for This Collection
"Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1880-1893," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout Arkansas.

"Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout Arkansas.

"Arkansas Deaths and Burials, 1882-1929; 1945-1963," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout Arkansas.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from the record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find th record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you do 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 in found in the Wiki Article: How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * Arkansas Birth and Christenings, 1880-1893.Database and imagesFamilySearch (www.familysearch.org: accessed March 3,2011). entry for Nealsey M. Andersonborn 16 Oct,1893, referemce yr 1881-1908 p. 27 FHL 1034198, Sebastian County Courthouse, Fort Smith,, Arkansas.
 * Arkansas Marriages, 1837-1944. Database and images, FamilySearch  (www.familysearch.org: accessed March 3, 2011), entry for George Smithand Laura Owens, married  17 Jul 1913,reference Book P #278, FHL film 1004497, Lafayette County Courthouse, Lewisville, Arkansas.
 * Arkansas Deaths and Burials, 1882-1929; 1945-1963. Database and images FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org: accessed March 3, 2011). entry for Martha Laura Baker, died 30 Jul 1945, reference cn 13 FHL film 1034199. Sabastian County Courthouse, Fort Smith Arkansas.