Birth and Death Records

Birth and Death records are important sources of genealogical information. Unfortunately most states did not begin keeping official records until the twentieth century. The State of Kansas began recording births and deaths on July 1, 1911. Copies of these records are available through the Office of Vital Statistics, Curtis State Office Building, Room 120, 1000 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1221; 785-296-1400.

Before 1911 births and deaths may have been recorded in the town/city or county clerk's office where the event occurred. Most vital records that have survived are in the counties in which they were created. They may be found in the office in which they were recorded or in the local historical or genealogical society. The information contained in these early records varies from place to place. Additional information may be gathered from church records, newspapers, cemetery records, and other materials. Another source of dates of birth can be the county superintendent of public instruction scholastic records.

The Kansas Historical Society has a few original vital records, primarily on microfilm. Please consult the local records and vital records card catalogs, or the Local Government Records on Microfilm notebooks, or the Local Government Records not on Microfilm in the research room for a list of our holdings. The local records catalog is arranged by county and creator, the notebooks by county. Due to changes in county boundaries or mergers, patrons may need to consult more than one county listing. Staff is happy to help patrons with vital records research.

Information that May be Found in:

Birth records

• Child's name
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Parent's names (and sometimes mother's maiden name)
• Place of residence if different from place of birth

Death records

• Name of deceased
• Death date
• Place of death
• Cause of death
• Age at time of death
• Occupation
• Place of birth
• Names of parents and their places of birth
• Name of spouse
• Name of person giving the information and the informant's relationship to the deceased
• Race is listed in some records