R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Arizona
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
Voting Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

VITAL RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.


Birth Look this term up in the glossary.and DeathLook this term up in the glossary. Records

Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1909 and was generally complied with by 1926. To obtain copies of the records write to the state office at:

Vital Records Section
Arizona Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 3887
Phoenix, AZ 85030
Telephone: 602-255-3260
The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; FHL book 973 V24wv). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers. Or you can write to the Arizona Department of Health Services (above) for current information.

Some earlier records for 1887 to 1909 consist of births and deaths recorded by the individual counties where the events occurred. The counties that participated sent copies to the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the records are available at both places. The Family History Library has copies of some of these birth and death records.


Marriage RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

There is no statewide registration of marriages. An 1864 territorial law required county recorders to keep marriage and divorce records. From 1891 to 1912, clerks of probate courts issued marriage licenses. Marriage records are presently kept by the superior court of the county in which the event occurred. The Family History Library has marriage records on microfilm for some counties.


Divorce RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

The earliest divorce records were granted by the territorial legislature and are found in the published Territorial Statutes. Later divorce proceedings were kept by the district court of each county until 1912, when the superior court was given this jurisdiction. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records.


Guide to Vital Records

To learn more about vital records in Arizona see Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Arizona (Phoenix: Arizona Historical Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 979.1 A1 no. 5; film 908046 item 3).


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VOTING RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

The county recorders' offices have voting registers kept since the 1870s. These are sometimes called “Great Registers” and include residence, naturalization, and place of origin. The Family History Library has copies from some counties, such as 41 microfilms from Maricopa County from 1876 to 1932.


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FOR FURTHER READING

More detailed information about research and records of Arizona can be found in:

Beers, Henry Putney. Spanish and Mexican Records of the American Southwest: A Bibliographical Guide to Archive and Manuscript Sources. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1979. (FHL book 973 A3bh.)

Spiros, Joyce V. Hawley. Genealogical Guide to Arizona and Nevada. Gallup, N.M.: Verlene Publishing, 1983. (FHL book 979 D23s; fiche 6049613.)

Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.


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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:

Publications Coordination
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400
USA
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.

Paper publication: Second edition July 1997. English approval: 7/97

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