Series 20947

DESCRIPTION: These records contain birth registers recorded during the years 1898 through 1905. Each entry has the date of birth, sex, race, color, parents' names, residence, name of informant making the report, and an assigned number.

Beginning in 1898, physicians and midwives were required to keep record of each birth at which they assisted professionally. In their absence, parents were required to make a report. They then reported quarterly to the county clerk or in the case of incorporated cities, to the local board of health and they would in turn report to the county clerk. (Revised Statutes of Utah 1898, Title 57, p. 474-475)

In 1905, the state passed a law requiring each county to file a uniform certificate with the State Bureau of Vital Statistics.

ARRANGEMENT: These records are loosely chronological by year but not by month. Entries were recorded in order of report, not by date of birth.

RELATED RECORDS: Series 81443, Birth certificates of the Bureau of Vital Records, record this information after 1904 but do not become public until 100 years after birth. The researcher should contact the agency.

FINDING AIDS: The register is preceded by an index which is alphabetical based on the first letter of the surname. An electronic index has also been created.

PROCESSING NOTE: Processed by M. Call in December 1998.