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Louisiana Research Outline |
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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
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Notarial Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
VITAL RECORDS
Pre-1914 birth and death records exist for some Louisiana parishes. These are generally more complete after the 1860s.
Orleans Parish began keeping birth records in 1790 and deaths on records in 1804. Copies are available at the Office of Public Health (see address below). Copies of the death records from 1804 to 1914 are also at the New Orleans Public Library where they can only be used in person (the public library cannot provide photocopies).
The Family History Library has an extensive collection of Orleans Parish death records for 1815 to 1915 and an index from 1804 to 1916. The library also has copies of coroner's inquests A few other parishes also began keeping vital records in the early 1800s. These records can be obtained by contacting the parish clerk of court. The Family History Library has copies of a few pre-1914 birth and death records of some parishes. For example, from Lafourche Parish, the library has the register of births and deaths for 1818 to 1895 and a register of births from 1810 to 1875.
Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1914. Delayed registration of births
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.
There is no statewide registration of marriages. Marriages were recorded by each parish. The original parish records are at the offices of the clerks of the court in each parish, except for Orleans Parish, where the records are at the Office of Public Health.
The Family History Library has an extensive collection of Louisiana marriage records. For example, for Orleans Parish the library has 86 microfilms of marriage licenses Many colonial marriages are recorded in the judicial records of the French Superior Council Many colonial marriage records have also been published in the sources listed below. These sources also provide descriptions of some of the unique marriage customs practiced during the French and Spanish colonial periods.
Bourguard, Shirley Chaisson. Marriage Dispensations in the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas, 1786-1803. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1980. (FHL book 973 A1 no. 323.)
Forsyth, Alice Daly. Louisiana Marriage Contracts: A Compilation of Abstracts From Records of the Superior Council of Louisiana During the French Regime, 1725-1769; 2 vols. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1980. (FHL book 976.3 V2f.)
DeVille, Winston. The New Orleans French, 1720-1733: A Collection of Marriage Records Relating to the First Colonists of the Louisiana Province. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973. (FHL book 976.3 V25d.)
The Louisiana Legislature granted divorces from 1805 to 1846. These records are currently found in printed copies of the Legislative Calendar and Official Journal. These volumes are available at most of the university libraries and larger public libraries in Louisiana. A few records after 1846 are also included.
In 1827 the district courts in the Louisiana parishes and the parish court of Orleans Parish were given jurisdiction over divorce cases. To locate parish divorce records, contact the clerk of the court in each parish. The New Orleans Public Library has some clerk of court records for many parishes.
The Family History Library has divorce records for some Louisiana parishes. For example, the library has divorce records from Orleans Parish from 1813 to 1924. Divorce records in the Family History Library Center are listed under LOUISIANA, [COUNTY], - COURT, PUBLIC, or VITAL RECORDS.
Records of birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial, and probate have been transcribed and published in the following series. Many of the names of the individuals in these publications are listed in the International Genealogical Index Hebert, Donald J. South Louisiana Records. 12 vols. Cecilia, La.: D.J. Hebert, 1978-1985. (FHL book 976.3 K2he; fiche 6010588, vols. 1-12.) This includes records of 1794 to 1905.
Hebert, Donald J. Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records. 40 vols. Eunice, La.: D.J. Hebert, 1974-1985. (FHL book 976.35 V2h; fiche 6010598, vols. 1-34). This includes records from 1756 to 1908.
Church records in Louisiana are often an excellent source of vital information, especially the Roman Catholic Church records (which often include marriage records of Protestants). See the “Church Records” section of this outline for more information.
For further information on the history and availability of records, refer to Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Louisiana (New Orleans: Historical Records Survey, 1942; FHL book 976.3 V2h; film 1036701, item 7; fiche 6046989).
Voting registers The Family History Library does not have registers from most of the other parishes, but they are available at the various parish offices.
For more detailed information about research and records of Louisiana, see Yvette G. Boling, A Guide to Printed Sources for Genealogical and Historical Research in the Louisiana Parishes (Jefferson, La.: Y. Boling, 1985; FHL book 976.3 D23b).
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.
The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:
Paper publication: Second Edition, July 1997. English approval: 7/97.
©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Parish Records of Births and Deaths
from 1844 to 1916 and New Orleans Charity Hospital records of deaths from 1835 to 1904 and admission records from 1829 to 1899.
State Records of Births and Deaths
for the years 1939 to the present are also available. To obtain copies of state vital records write to:
Vital Records Registry
These records are not open for public searches. Copies can be obtained only by an individual named in the record or a relative.
Office of Public Health
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Telephone: 504-568-5152
Marriage Records
and certificates from 1834 to 1888. Another set of Orleans Parish records includes 185 films of marriage licenses from 1870 to 1915. The library has similar records for most parishes.
and the Spanish Cabildo (originals at the Louisiana Historical Center of the Louisiana State Museum), and the royal notaries (originals with the Custodian of Notarial Records). Microfilm copies of these records are at the Family History Library.
Divorce Records
Additional Sources
(at the Family History Library and all Family History Centers).
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VOTING REGISTERS
generally give information on a person's name, age, birthplace, and citizenship. The Family History Library has a large collection of voting registers of Orleans Parish from 1891 to 1952. The registers are arranged on 293 microfilms by date, ward, and precinct in New Orleans. Indexes are available for the years 1920 to 1948.
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FOR FURTHER READING
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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Publications Coordination
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400
USA
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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]