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Guide to the Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County (Calif.)
GovRec8
GovRec8
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Table of contents
Title: Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County (Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: GovRec8
Contributing Institution:
San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
26.0 Linear feet
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1851-1924
Date (inclusive): 1850-1950
Abstract: This collection of 39 bound government volumes with 14 boxes holds some of the earliest life records of the pioneers and settlers
of San Joaquin County, California. It spans the years of 1850-1950 and includes birth, death, marriage, and divorce registers
and marriage certificates.
Collection is open for research by appointment
No copyright or access restrictions
[Item number], Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County, California, GovRec8, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum,
Lodi, California
Vital statistics are used by government entities to aid in the recognition of public health trends and to identify needs in
the population. They also allow for the issuance of official government certificates for identification and statistical use.
The California State Legislature in 1850 tasked County Recorders with maintaining records of all marriage contracts and certificates,
and later added the birth and death registers of county residents.
An 1872 statute designated County Recorders as local registrars of births and deaths under the State Board of Health. The
local registrar sent original birth and death certificates to the State Registrar and shared a quarterly abstract of his records
with the Secretary of the State Board. In 1905, the Legislature established the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The County Recorder
continued to act as registrar; he maintained indexes of births and deaths and continued to send original birth certificates
to the State Registrar. The County Recorder maintains this role today with records dating back to 1851.
This collection of thirty-nine bound government volumes with fourteen boxes spans the years 1850-1950 and includes birth,
death, marriage, and divorce registers and marriage licenses. It is divided into five series: Series 1, Birth Records, 1856-1906;
Series 2, Death Records, 1858-1907; Series 3, Marriage Records, 1850-1944, including three subseries: Series 3a, Indexes to
Marriages Men, Series 3b, Indexes to Marriages Women, and Series 3c, Records Book “M” Marriages; Series 4, Marriage Licenses,
1851-1950; Series 5, Divorces, 1859.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Joaquin County (Calif.)
San Joaquin County (Calif.)--Statistics, Vital