Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County (Calif.), 1850-1950, bulk Bulk, 1851-1924

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Summary

Title:
Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County (Calif.)
Dates:
1850-1950, bulk Bulk, 1851-1924
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.
Extent:
26.0 Linear feet
Language:
and Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item number], Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County, California, GovRec8, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-10-08T20:00-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment

Terms of access:

No copyright or access restrictions

Preferred citation:

[Item number], Vital Statistics of San Joaquin County, California, GovRec8, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California

Location of this collection:
11793 North Micke Grove Road
Lodi, CA 95241, US
Contact:
(209) 331-2055
info@sanjoaquinhistory.org
Website