jim...i live in plainfield just 9 miles west of indianapolis and i work for
fedex...when i wrote them a letter (county health department) they wrote
back the following: the state law of indiana states that you must be able
to give certain information (such as name, date of birth, parents names
incuding mothers maiden name, etc.) before a birth record can be issued to
an "IMMEDIATE" family member (mother, father, brother, sister or
grandparent), therefore we cannot look up any birth records for genealogy
purposes. i hope this will change...i hope someone out there can help
us...thanks stephanie
-----Original Message-----
From: James Maki [SMTP:jwmaki@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 1998 10:23 AM
To: INSTJOSE-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: RE: [INSTJOSE-L] Ability to access Vital Records
Stephanie,
Ain't that the truth! My great grandfather's birth certificate lists
his mother as SWEENEY, while on his Social Security Application, my
great grandfather entered SWEAZEY (His wife was the
informant). The death certificate for my great grandmother had her
name listed as GARAY while here social security application showed it
spelled GAREY. Her death certificate stated Michigan as place of
birth (REAL HELPFUL) and listed NO parents names. I wasted time and
money searching GARAY with the State of Michigan (at $13 unrefundable
dollars a search!). To me, death certificates are fine for supporting
information, but I will no longer use them to set a focus for my
search.
Well, good luck with your searching and I hope we can find out why
St. Joseph County is so protective of their records!
Jim
P.S. Where do you live in Indianapolis. I used to live off Georgetown
road north of Lafayette Square on the near northwest side of town. I
worked for Eli Lilly.
James...i too had the same problem with south bend...i live in
indianapolis...they told me that the death certificate has more
information
than the birth certificate...but that only depends on if the
informant
knows the correct information...stephanie
Jim Maki
jwmaki(a)worldnet.att.net