District of Columbia Birth Returns - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States District of Columbia 

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of images of birth returns and birth index registers from the Health Department in Washington, D.C. for the years 1874 to 1897. The Return of the Birth records name the parents but do not name the child. Also included in the collection are Supplemental Report of Birth records which later adds the official name given to a child.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
The records usually include the following information:


 * Birth date of child
 * Birth place of child
 * Number of children born to the mother
 * Race or Color
 * Gender
 * Mother's maiden name
 * Mother's residence
 * Mother's birthplace
 * Full name of father
 * Father's occupation
 * Father's birthplace

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians.

These images can be viewed online by members of the supporting organization(s), at a family history center near you, or the Family History Library.

For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

How Do I Search the Collection
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * Name of the child
 * The birth place and approximate birth date

View the Images
You will be able to search this collection once it is published.

View images in this collection by visiting the 
 * 1) Select Record Type, Number, and Year Range

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.

For more tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Copy the citation below, in case you need to find this record again later.
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other church and vital records such as baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses. Witnesses were usually family members.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.
 * Church Records were kept years before counties began keeping records. They are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

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.


 * Collection Citation:

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