Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1908-1949.

Collection Time Period
This collection includes records from 1848 to 1908.

Collection History
In 1847, death records were first recorded in the membership records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later in 1851, the State of Deseret authorized the Church to register deaths on behalf of the government. Then in 1860, the Territorial Government of Utah authorized Ogden and Salt Lake City to keep a record of deaths in their cities which was later extended to all cities in 1888. Beginning in 1898, the State of Utah required all medical personnel as well as clergymen, sextons, and parents to register deaths with the county. In 1905 the State of Utah had the county clerks forward the original death record to the State Board of Health, making a second copy for their own county death register. All counties began reporting deaths to the state in 1905, when the Department of Health created the Division of Vital Statistics. A death certificate was required for burial in Utah, so compliance was high.

Why This Collection Was Created
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.

Collection Reliability
The information recorded about the death is usually reliable, including the cause of death, the name of the attending physician or medical professional, the name and address of the funeral home, and the date and place of burial. The accuracy of other information depends on the reliability of the informant, often a family member.

Collection Description
Each death was recorded on a one-page, preprinted form. The same forms were often used by both Salt Lake County and State of Utah.

Record Content
Death entries include the following genealogical information:


 * Death and burial date
 * Birth date (frequently included)
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery
 * Country or state and sometimes town and county of birth for the deceased (frequently included)
 * Country or state and sometimes town and county of birth for the parents (frequently included)
 * Name of the deceased, spouse’s married name, and parents’ names (frequently includes maiden surname of the mother)
 * Name of the informant (often a son or daughter or other family member)
 * Age (frequently listed in years, months, and days)
 * Sex
 * Residence or address (frequently includes how long at that residence or length of time in the United States if foreign born)
 * Marital status (single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death)
 * Occupation

How To Use The Collection
Death certificates at the best source of death information. Information on the birth date and birthplace of the individual and names of parents with their places of nativity may lead to more information about the parents. The informant may be a child of the deceased.

Bibliographical Information
Salt Lake City (Utah). Office of Vital Statistics. Death records of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1848-1950. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 2006.

Related Articles
Utah Vital Records