United States Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This index covers events from 1770 through 1961.

Collection 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 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 Collection
Use this index 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.

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

Collection 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 marriages and deaths throughout the United States. The index is not necessarily complete for any particular place or region.

Why This Collection Was Created
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored this index to help individuals find information about their ancestors.

Collection Reliability
Church records and civil registration were official records and are some of the most reliable sources of information available for those who were married or died in the United States.

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

Related Wiki Articles
United States Vital Records

Sources of Information for this Collection
"United States Births and Christenings, 1867-1931," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

"United States Marriages, 1733-1990," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

"United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

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
"United States Births and Christenings, 1867-1931." index, FamilySearch : accessed April 8, 2011. Entry for Nellie Carolina Louise Anderson, baptised 12 April 1900; citing Church Records, FHL microfilm 543546; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

"United States Marriages 1733-1990." index, FamilySearch: : Accessed April 8, 2011. Entry for Henry Brigham and Anna Phillips, married 5 June 1781; FHL microfilm 892249; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

"United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961." index, FamilySearch : Accessed April 8, 2011. Entry for Alphonso Taylor, buried 18 July 1872; citing Burial Records, FHL microfilm 194343; Index entries derived from digital copied of original and compiled records.