Delaware, State Birth Records, 1861-1922

What is in This Collection?

The collection "Delaware, State Birth Records, 1861-1922" consists of an index & images to birth records. Some images have one record, and others have two records. It is arranged in alphabetical order.

Birth records were turned into the State by county clerks from 1861 until statewide registration began to be enforced. Returns and birth certificates were recorded on pre-printed forms. Statewide birth records were collected by the State sporadically from 1861, with the majority of the State collection beginning after 1920.

Statewide registration of births began in 1861, was discontinued in 1863 and resumed in 1881 when physicians and midwives were required to register births with the county Recorder of Deeds. By 1901 returns and certificates began to be reported to the State Board of Health, but that process was not generally complied with until 1921. In 1913 the Bureau of Vital Statistics was created as an agency of the State Board of Health. It houses some birth records but others have been transferred to the State Archives. Records housed at the Delaware Bureau of Vital Statistics are restricted to those with an interest or a need to prove ownership rights.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

• Child’s full name
• Date and place of child's birth
• Child's gender and race
• Whether living or stillborn
• Father's name, age, occupation and place of birth
• Mother's maiden name, age and place of birth
• Child's place of order in family
• Parents place of residence

Collection Content

Sample Image

• 

  State Birth Record 1909

Digital Folder Number List

This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. The list does not contain any description of the DGS folder's content. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Delaware State Birth Records Digital Folder Number List.