New Mexico, Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1889 to 1945.

Death entries were recorded in preprinted register books. Earlier records were handwritten, but later the entries were mostly typewritten.

Statewide vital records registration officially began in 1920, although there are some records as early as 1889. Death records prior to 1919 were collected by a variety of institutions which were not health-related, including counties and churches. For the most part these records are not available from New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics.The state achieved 90-percent compliance by the end of the 1920s.

The state required counties to begin recording deaths to track public health issues.

The information recorded about the death is usually reliable; however there is always a chance for errors. The accuracy of the information depended on the memory of the informant, who was often a family member.

Citation for This Collection:
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in most death records include:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Death date and place
 * Cause of death
 * Age in years, months, and days
 * Gender
 * Color or race
 * Marital status
 * Parents’ names
 * Birthplace
 * Occupation
 * Name of the informant (earlier entries list the relationship to the deceased)

How to Use the Records
The records usually contain clues for further research, including:


 * Birth date and birthplace of the individual
 * Spouse’s name
 * Parents’ names
 * Residence
 * Occupation
 * Marital status
 * Name of an informant

Death records contain information about a person's death, including:


 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Sometimes the names of the mother and father
 * Physician who attended the death

Death certificates issued by state and local governments will often include:


 * Place of residence
 * Mother's maiden name

Search the Collection
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips.

Related Web Sites
Online New Mexico Death Records &amp; Indexes

Related Wiki Articles

 * New Mexico
 * New Mexico 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 Cite FamilySearch Collections.