Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The format of the records varies:


 * Registration of deaths, Board of Health, 1803–1915, exist in four formats: 1) Cemetery returns, 1803–1860, filed alphabetically by cemetery for each year (1803–1824), for each quarter (1825–1847), and for each week (1848–1860); 2) Death returns, 1860–June 30, 1890, filed alphabetically by cemetery name for each week; 3) Death certificates, July 1890–1903, filed by certificate number; 4) Death certificates, arranged by year and then by certificate number within each year
 * Death registers, Board of Health, 1860–1903, are bound volumes with preprinted pages. The entries are filed chronologically
 * Death records, Department of Public Health, 1834–1860, are bound volumes. The entries are filed by year and then by month
 * Burial records, Department of Public Health, 1807–1840, are loose papers filed by death date
 * Death records, General Hospital, 1866–1902, are bound volumes of preprinted forms and bound volumes of certificates, four to a page. The entries are filed chronologically
 * Death registers, City Hospital, 1840-1896, are bound volumes with entries filed chronologically
 * Death registers, Inspectors of the Jail and Penitentiary House, 1819–1914, are bound volumes

Be aware that not every name in this collection is the name of someone who died. Some of the hospital registers provide date of discharge of living patients and those names are mingled in with the names of those who died.

By Act of April 1, 1803, Philadelphia established its Board of Health, which began to record deaths and burials. In 1860 the city passed a law requiring that all births, marriages, and deaths within the city be recorded in a systematic way. The board became the Bureau of Health in 1899 and was placed under the Department of Public Health in 1903. In accordance with a new state law, the bureau began sending copies of death records to the state in 1906. The various collections cover those buried in the city of Philadelphia, including some out-of-city deaths. The same individual may be found in more than one collection.

Original images for the Philadelphia City Death Certificates are available on Historical Records (free) and also through the Philadelphia City Archives (fee).

Photocopies of Philadelphia death records 1803-1915, are available by writing to:
 * Philadelphia City Archives, 3101 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
 * Enclose $10.00 payment, check or money order, payable to CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, for each death record photocopy requested.

With your request include this information, found on the FamilySearch.org web pages for “Philadelphia City Civil Death and Burial Records.”

If the death occurred:
 * 1803-June 1860 - Name of Deceased and date of death
 * July 1860-June 30, 1890 - Name of Deceased, date of death and cemetery name, if known
 * July 1890–1915 – Name of deceased, date of death, and certificate number (cn number)

You can access Pennsylvania death records, if available, prior to 1906 through the courthouse in the county where the person died. A list of courthouses is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Records Web site. Cemetery and church records are more likely sources to be available for 18th and 19th century deaths and burials.

Deaths were recorded to better serve public health needs. They were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Philadelphia has recorded deaths since 1803.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The information varies by record.

Death registers, prison, 1819–1914


 * Name and age of deceased
 * Death date
 * Prison where died
 * Cause of death

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of death

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to locate funeral home, obituary or cemetery record
 * Use the information to find other vital records such as birth and marriage
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for an obituary in a local newspaper
 * Search church records for additional information
 * Search for land and probate records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Pennsylvania Guided Research
 * Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies

Other FamilySearch Collections
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Citing This Collection
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