New Mexico, Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection of death certificates for New Mexico covers the years 1889-1945.

Record History
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.

Why This Record was Created
The state required counties to begin recording deaths to track public health issues.

Record Reliability
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.

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

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


 * 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 Record
The records usually contain clues for further research, including the birth date and birthplace of the individual, the spouse’s name, parents’ names, residence, occupation, marital status, and name of an informant. Death records contain information about a person's death, including the date of death, place of death, sometimes the names of the mother and father, and even the physician who attended the death. Death certificates issued by state and local governments will often include the place of residence, and the mother's maiden name.

Related Websites
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Related articles
New Mexico Vital Records

Sources of This Collection
"New Mexico Statewide Death Records," database FamilySearch; from New Mexico Dept. of Health. "New Mexico death certificates, 1927-1945," FHL microfilm, 46 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

How To Cite Your Sources
An example of citing these records is: Bureau of Vital Records &amp; Health, Department of Health, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Death record. From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), April 23, 2010. Pearlie D. Smith, 15 Mar 1924, Lovington, Lea, New Mexico, film number 2032890, record number 6.

Instructions for citing your sources can be found at: How_to_Cite_FamilySearch_Collections