District of Columbia Birth Returns - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of birth returns and birth index registers from the Health Department in Washington, D.C. for the years 1874 to 1897. Also included in the collection are supplemental reports of birth records which later adds the official name given to a child.

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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 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.

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * 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

How Do I Search This Collection
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the child
 * The birth place and approximate birth date

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Record Type, Number, and Year Range to view the images.

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.

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

 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other vital records such as baptism, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for the family in church, probate, and land and property

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 relative
 * 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

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of District of Columbia.
 * District of Columbia Guided Research
 * District of Columbia Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.