This presentation will explore the history of vital records in the U.S. and North Carolina and share strategies for locating these important records of life events.

Birth, death, and marriage records - as well as other records of major life events - were first documented by religious organizations or by private individuals, if at all. With the public health movement of the mid-1800s, the U.S. government took note of their importance and began an effort to register deaths. Official documentation of births and deaths finally gained traction in the 20th century when all state and local governments adhered to a more consistent system. In North Carolina, birth and death certificates were kept on a statewide basis beginning in 1913.

Today, we look to vital records as a valuable source of information for researchers studying genealogy, history, sociology, public health, and more.

In this webinar, we will include a demonstration of online search
strategies for locating vital records, with special emphasis on North
Carolina records. Techniques for finding vital information when traditional documents are unavailable will also be examined.

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