The posting below is correct, but it bears some annotation before anyone gets
too excited:
>The Department of Health has transferred a copy of its genealogical indexes to
vital records to the >New York State Archives (SARA) where they are available
for public use. The indexes contain the >following information: name, place,
date certificate number. They cover the following time periods:
Index to births, 1881-1921
Index to marriages, 1881-1946
Index to deaths, 1881-1946
True, but after the passage of the state law requiring keeping records,
compliance was erratic for a decade or more. The 1881 index, for example, takes
up only half of one fiche! Each year there is a bit more, but absence of a name
inthe index means nothing.
>There are no indexes for NYCity vital records and none for Albany, Buffalo and
Yonkers prior to 1914.
>NEW YORK STATE DOES NOT HAVE VITAL RECORDS PRIOR TO 1881<
Not exactly true; they just aren't at the State Archives. The indices (indexes,
if you prefer) for NYC are in the New York City Municipal Archives on Chambers
Street, not at the State Archives. NYC required the filing of births, deaths,
and marriages much earlier than the state did, and compliance was much better.
Other NY cities also began recording vitals before 1880. They are: Albany,
Bufflao, Elmira, Newburgh, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Yonkers. You must
contact the local registrars to access them instead of the State Archives.
>The indexes are on microfiche. Access to the indexes is unrestricted.
While unrestricted, the Archives are in a secure area. You must ring a doorbell
to be admitted and cannot bring any overcoats, briefcases, binders, canvas bags,
or pens into the Library--there are lockers nearby for a quarter. Upon your
first visit you must "register" as a user (no fee) and then re-register once a
year if you make return visits.
>The Archives does NOT have the original vital record certificates. They remain
in the custody of the >Dept. of Health.
The New York Dept. of Health is NOTORIOUS about making access to the actual
records very difficult. Although it is in the same Empire State Plaza state
office complex, they do not even access orders for certificates in person, much
less fulfill those orders "while you wait." Requests for certificates are
accepted by mail only and take up to six months to fill if you give the
certificate number that you find on the microfiche index (longer if you live too
far to visit the Archives to find the number and so can give only the name,
date, and city)!! The state at the Archives are used to explaining this to
visitors, and while they are helpful, some staff give the impression they would
rather be working with the scholars who come to the Archives for "serious"
research as opposed to the genealogical hobbyist.
>A directory of local registrars is available at the Archives along with order
forms.<
Sometimes you can get faster service by requesting a certificate from the local
registrar rather than from the State Dept. of Health. The directory will help
you do that, but it is really up to the individual registrar how cooperative
they want to be. Apparently (although I have not experienced this) they can
refuse to issue the certificate because the State Health Dept. does it.
Just a couple floors down from the Archives is the New York State Library, which
is roomy, has a huge collection, and very helpful staff. Visit its WebSite and
on-line catalog at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov
Andrew Searle
Groton, Massachusetts
73712.3451@compuserve.com