Maine has recently made some changes to the availability of their vital records. Vital records are records related to the birth, marriage and death (BMD) of a person. Maine has recently restricted all BMD vital records less than 100 years old.
You must be the person on the record, parents of the person or a direct descendant to receive a certified copy of a BMD record. Luckily, Genealogy Researchers who posses a Maine Genealogy Research Card, issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control can receive un-certified copies of all BMD records.
The records can be procured through different locations based on the time frame.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records; located in Augusta has all BMD records from 1923 to present. They also have Divorce records from 1892 to present.
The Maine State Archives, also located in Augusta have all BMD records from 1892-1922.
Records for all dates may also be located at the local level as another option for procuring the records.
I posses a Maine CDC Genealogy Research Card and I would be happy to locate those BMD & D records for you in Maine.
For more information see my section on ordering Maine records.
Showing posts with label Family History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family History. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Family History Library Look Ups; Using All Available Records!
One of the best ways to locate genealogy records is through the use microfilms from familysearch.org
Many genealogy records have been microfilmed and they are available for ordering from the Family Search website. These can be valuable because it allows you to research and locate a record that you might otherwise not be able to access.
For example I was researching a family in Michigan and I was trying to verify a birth year of the Great Grandmother in the family. "Betty" is listed in the 1930 and 1940 US Census as being 9 and 20 respectively. So we know she was born about 1921.
Preliminary research results in the SSDI determines their are two Betty's born in that county in Michigan. One Betty was born in 1920 and the other in 1921.
Here is the link to the Family Search Catalog - It will open in a new window.
I went to Family Search, clicked on "Catalog" and entered the search term of Michigan, Alcona (Alcona is the county) and then searched. I scrolled to the vital records and found that the birth records from 1869 - 1953 have been filmed from the county courthouse located in Harrisonville, Michigan.
If you will recall the Betty I am looking for was born in 1920 or 1921. Film 963959 would contain those years.
At that point I would order the correct film online from the website and then wait for it to be delivered to my local Family History Center. I would then go there when they are open and view the record and photograph it or whatever for recovering the correct image.
I have about a week to ten days to wait for delivery of the film. I have to pay $7.50 for a short term loan or $18.50 for a long term loan. I then have to take the time and gasoline to get to my local FHC which is 20 miles each way from my home. In this part of MA if I locate the record as soon as I view the film, then I am looking at about 2 hours of my time and maybe more if the weather or traffic isn't cooperating.
Plan B?
I have affiliated researchers in SLC at the FHL that will assist in doing lookups right from the film in the library.
Many genealogy records have been microfilmed and they are available for ordering from the Family Search website. These can be valuable because it allows you to research and locate a record that you might otherwise not be able to access.
For example I was researching a family in Michigan and I was trying to verify a birth year of the Great Grandmother in the family. "Betty" is listed in the 1930 and 1940 US Census as being 9 and 20 respectively. So we know she was born about 1921.
Preliminary research results in the SSDI determines their are two Betty's born in that county in Michigan. One Betty was born in 1920 and the other in 1921.
Here is the link to the Family Search Catalog - It will open in a new window.
I went to Family Search, clicked on "Catalog" and entered the search term of Michigan, Alcona (Alcona is the county) and then searched. I scrolled to the vital records and found that the birth records from 1869 - 1953 have been filmed from the county courthouse located in Harrisonville, Michigan.
If you will recall the Betty I am looking for was born in 1920 or 1921. Film 963959 would contain those years.
At that point I would order the correct film online from the website and then wait for it to be delivered to my local Family History Center. I would then go there when they are open and view the record and photograph it or whatever for recovering the correct image.
I have about a week to ten days to wait for delivery of the film. I have to pay $7.50 for a short term loan or $18.50 for a long term loan. I then have to take the time and gasoline to get to my local FHC which is 20 miles each way from my home. In this part of MA if I locate the record as soon as I view the film, then I am looking at about 2 hours of my time and maybe more if the weather or traffic isn't cooperating.
Plan B?
I have affiliated researchers in SLC at the FHL that will assist in doing lookups right from the film in the library.
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