Nancy and others,
I sent (again) for a birth informtion from St. Joseph County, which
had been "ignored" previously. This is an update. While it appears
that they did search, but not find, the birth record I was looking
for, they included a memo that read:
[Brackets and arrows my addition to highlight a section]
The records of the St. Joseph County Health Department began in 1882,
but it was not a state law that records be recorded until October
1907. [--> We do not search for birth records for genealogy research,
only death records. <--] There is not a fee for the actual search,
but if a record is found and a copy desired, there is a fee of six
dollars ($6.00) per person/record request.
Personal checks are accepted with picture identification.
We search for these records as time allows and will notify you of our
findings by mail. Thank you.
If you have any questions regarding our policy, please phone (219)
235-9638 or (219) 235-9639.
A handwritten note reads : I find no birth record on Harry Roof.
Perhaps it was not recorded.
So, in regards to the letter you received from Anne O'Connor (copy
below), I am not sure that St. Joseph County is yet in compliance, at
least in spirit, with the what is spelled out in letter below
indicating that at least the INFORMATION from the birth
record would still be available. The memo would seem to say that they
only provide death certificates for genealogical research and NOT
birth records.
I am still confused by my personal situation because Charlevoix
County, Michigan, has a notation at their county courthouse of a
birth record being available in South Bend for this individual, but
with a notation that it must be purchases from South Bend. This is
not an important piece of information for me so I am not going to
pursue it further, but I feel it does not yet bode well for those
searching Indiana records, or at least St. Joseph County Records. It
still amazes me that I have been able to get more information from
Charlevoix County Michigan about a St. Joseph County, Indiana birth
than I can from St. Joseph County.
So in closing, I think they did do the search, did not cash the check
I sent, and even returned my SASE. I sent the request on Sept 17,
they received it Sept 21, and I received it back Sept. 24. That is a
great turn-around time. Have others been more successful in their
findings?
Jim
From: Waynanc(a)aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 11:15:20 EDT
Subject: [INSTJOSE-L] RE:ST JOSEPH COUNTY BIRTH CERTIFICATES
To: INSTJOSE-L(a)rootsweb.com
Reply-to: INSTJOSE-L(a)rootsweb.com
Below is a copy of the letter I recieved from Indianapolis when I
wrote
questioning why people have such a hard time getting birth certificates for
St. Joseph County when doing research. If this is not what you were told when
you requested information let me know as I need to get back in touch with her
and let her know.
Nancy Conrad
Subj: Re:RE: St Joseph County Birth Certificates
Date: 8/27/98 8:51:58 AM EST
From: ao'connor(a)icprlan.state.in.us (ANNE O'CONNOR)
To: Waynanc(a)aol.com
Nancy,
Thank you for contacting me. You have asked about getting copies of birth
certificates from the St. Joseph County Health Department. I spoke to Tina
Farr
in that office this morning and she provide me with the following information.
As you may know, the requirement to keep birth certificates in Indiana was
effective in 1907, and some researchers are disappointed to find that records
predating that time are not always available. Tina indicated that they do
their
best to find records for those researching births in their county, but that
often people do not have enough information for them to locate the record. In
such cases, Tina often refers the requestor to indices located in the public
library--that index the births up to 1920. Often, people are able to come
back
and get the record they want.
With respect to copies of birth "certificates," the county follows the state
guidelines for providing certified copies of birth records. Under Indiana
Code
16-37-1-8, the bases for providing certificates include that the health
officer
has to be satisfied that the requestor has a direct interest in the matter,
i.e., is a parent, child, or other close blood relative. As you know,
sometimes
the requestor is doing research for another person, so they would not be able
to
get a copy of the birth certificate. Tina assured me, however, that birth
record information is provided to those who request it--even if they are not
entitled to a copy of the certificate.
If you have any other questions, please let me know. I am keeping track of
the
cities from which I am hearing (for my report to the Governor) and would
appreciate it if you could email back to my your city. Thank you.
Jim Maki
jwmaki(a)worldnet.att.net