Tennessee, Birth Records, Enumerator Record Series - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of birth records from the "Enumerator Record Series" in the Tennessee Division of Vital Records from 1908-1912. These births were reported yearly by the Board of School Directors in each county; the enumeration was not taken in 1913. The documents are housed at the Tennessee Division of Vital Records in Nashville, which acquired them from the Tennessee State Library and Archives in 1980. Not all records reached the state. If the person you are searching for cannot be found in this collection, try searching county records.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name of person reporting birth
 * School District
 * City Ward
 * Name of child
 * Birth date
 * Sex
 * color
 * Birth place


 * Name of father
 * Father's birthplace
 * Father's occupation
 * Name of mother
 * Mother's birthplace
 * Name of physician
 * Name of midwife


 * Date recorded
 * Name of county court clerk

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of birth
 * The place where your ancestor was born
 * The names of the child's parents

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s birth record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the location and parents' names to find family in census and church records
 * Use the county and the certificate number to obtain a copy of the original birth certificate from the county
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify siblings and other relatives who may have been born in the same area

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * A boundary change could have occurred and the record of your ancestor is now in a neighboring locality

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Tennessee.
 * Tennessee Guided Research
 * Tennessee Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.