Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This project was indexed in partnership with the Utah Genealogical Association. The collection consists of an index and images for the years 1849 to 1949. Some records in this collection may be for deaths occurring before 1908 where the remains were re-interred between 1908 and 1949.

In 1847, death records were first recorded in the membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later in 1851, the State of Deseret authorized the Church to register deaths on behalf of the government. Then in 1860, the Territorial Government of Utah authorized Ogden and Salt Lake City to keep a record of deaths in their cities. In 1888, this authorization was extended to all cities. Beginning in 1898, the State of Utah required all medical personnel, clergymen, sextons, and parents to register deaths with the county. In 1905, the State of Utah had the county clerks forward the original death record to the State Board of Health, making a second copy for their own county death register. All counties began reporting deaths to the state in 1905, when the Department of Health created the Division of Vital Statistics. A death certificate was required for burial in Utah, so compliance was high. Deaths from 1908 to 1949 were recorded on certificates.

Deaths for the years 1848 to 1908 are recorded in registers, which are bound into volumes. The volumes are arranged chronologically and the entries are arranged numerically within the volumes. Deaths from 1908 to 1949 were recorded on certificates. They are arranged numerically by registered number then by date of death (month and year).

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

Death registers
 * Full name and gender of deceased
 * Death date and certificate number
 * Age in years, months and days
 * Place of death
 * Race
 * Marital status of deceased
 * Occupation of deceased
 * Birthplace of deceased
 * Parents' names

Death certificates
 * Full name and gender of deceased
 * Residence of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Cause of death
 * Age in years, months and days
 * Race/color of deceased
 * Marital status and occupation of deceased
 * Sometimes, spouse's name, if married
 * Birthplace of deceased
 * Father's name and birthplace
 * Mother's maiden name and birthplace
 * Name and address of attending physician
 * Name of informant
 * Burial information

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The name of a parent or date of the event

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to locate funeral home, obituary or cemetery record
 * Use the information to find other records such as birth, christening, marriage, census, land and probate records
 * Use the information to find additional family members
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can’t Find the Person 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

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Utah.
 * Utah Guided Research
 * Utah Record Finder
 * Utah Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1900-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Utah Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, Guide to public vital statistics of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah : Historical Records Survey, 1941 FS Library 979.2 A3v
 * Register of deaths, Salt Lake County, book A, 1897-1905
 * Death records of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1848 - Sept. 1950
 * Utah, Salt Lake County, obituaries, 1947-1974
 * Obituary card index, some 1928, 1950-1965 : newspaper clippings from the Deseret News and Telegram, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City; and the Arizona Republic, Phoenix

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.