Available Records & Where to Obtain Them
Researcher Vanessa Fleming reports, "I had written a letter to the pastor of the First Baptist Church in
Rector [which he later] called me and spoke to me about.
I had asked him if there where any records of the 1930's for members
of the church which may help me in my family search. When he called he
told me of a fire that destroyed all the church and its records in the
1940s."
Researcher Larry Young shares, "[Divorce records] [f]or eastern Clay County ... are in the Piggott Courthouse in
dusty and dirty old file cabinets. I had a heck of a time finding what I
was looking for from the 1940s because it was misfiled. The cases all
have numbers and there is a log book with names cross referenced to the
case number."
STATE BIRTH & DEATH RECORDS
Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881.
To obtain an Arkansas Death or Birth certificate write or call:
Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records
4815 West Markham St., Slot 44
Little Rock, AR 72205
(800) 637-9314 toll free or (501) 661-2336
Additional information for obtaining Arkansas Birth and Death Certificates, as well as some marriage and divorce records, can be found at the Arkansas Health Department web site.
You may also order these records online. Click HERE for more information.
MARRIAGE RECORDS
Some marriage records are on file at the county level. Please note that at the present time (2006) Clay County is experiencing serious financial difficulties and hours and operations at the courthouses may be affected. Your best bet is to call the County Clerks before attempting a visit or requesting a copy of a record.
(Western District)
Clay County Clerk's Office
Western District
800 W 2nd St
Corning AR 72422
Phone: 870-857-3480
Marriages back to 1881
(Eastern District)
Office of the County Clerk
P O Box 306
Piggott, AR 72454-0306
Phone: 870-598-2813
Marriages back to 1893
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