United States, Panama Canal Zone, Index to the Gorgas Hospital Mortuary Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1906-1991

This collection contains a partial index to the mortuary's registers of military personnel, canal employees and canal zone civilians processed through the Gorgas Hospital Mortuary. Acquired from the National Archives "Access to Archival Databases" (AAD). The records are from Record Group 185 Records of the Panama Canal. See also ARC Identifier 570981. Additional information about this collection may be found on the National Archives website.

The following seven years are not included in this collection: 1912, 1917, 1918, 1955, 1960, 1965, and 1980. Gorgas Hospital, located in the Panama Canal Zone, was run by the U.S. Army, but is now under Panamanian control.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Facts found in this collection may include:


 * Full name
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Date and place of death
 * Burial place
 * Estimated birth year

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The birth date and birth place of your ancestor
 * The death date and death place of your ancestor

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.

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

 * Use the age and the estimated birth year to calculate an approximate birth date
 * Use the date and place of death to find the family in census records
 * Not each record contains the same data. For example, some records may be missing the place of death, age, or date of place

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

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.