Alabama Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
| Alabama, United States | |
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| Flag of Alabama | |
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| Location of Alabama | |
| Record Description | |
| Record Type | Death |
| Collection years | 1908-1974 |
| FamilySearch Resources | |
| Related Websites | |
| Archive | |
| Alabama Department of Public Health | |
What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
This collection consists of an index to death certificates from the state of Alabama for the years 1908 to 1974. 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. The information pertaining to death is reliable; including cause of death, name of the attending physician or medical professional, name and address of the funeral home used, and the exact date and place of burial. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.
The trend of keeping state-wide death records throughout the United States expanded in the early 20th century after Congress passed a resolution in 1901 asking each state to gather information about births and deaths on a statewide basis. Because Congress did not fund it, it took several more years before it happened in every state. Death certificates were usually filled out by a mortician or medical professional. They filled in the information concerning the death and then obtained personal information on the deceased from an informant, usually a relative. Then, they sent the information to the county, who sent a copy to the state.
The state of Alabama has recorded deaths from 1 January 1908. Be aware that although recording of deaths was mandatory, the state did not achieve 90 percent compliance of death registration until 1925.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
Index and Image Visibility[edit | edit source]
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
The following information may be found in these records:
Records[edit | edit source]
- Dates of death and burial
- Frequently, birth date of the deceased
- City, county, and state of death
- Name and location of the cemetery where buried
- Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
- Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the parents
- Name of the deceased
- Married name of spouse
- Names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
- Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
- Age of the deceased usually in years, months, and days
- Sex of the deceased
- Residence or address of the deceased, often including length of residence at that place or in the United States, if foreign-born
- Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
- Occupation of the deceased
Index[edit | edit source]
- Name of deceased
- Death date and place
- Last residence
- Burial date and place
- Birth date and place
- Names of parents
- Name of spouse
Collection Content[edit | edit source]
Sample Image[edit | edit source]
1945 Death Certificate
How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of the individual
- The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse
Search the Index[edit | edit source]
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.
What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]
I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Add any new information to your records
- Use the information found in the death index to locate funeral home, obituary or cemetery records
- Use the information to find other records such as birth, christening, marriage, census, land and probate records
- Use the information to find additional family members
I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
- Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
- If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
- Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
- Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
Research Helps[edit | edit source]
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Alabama.
- Alabama Guided Research
- Alabama Record Finder
- Alabama Research Tips and Strategies
- Step-by-Step Alabama Research, 1880-Present
Other FamilySearch Collections[edit | edit source]
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
Relate FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]
- Alabama Genealogical Society magazine Birmingham, Alabama : Alabama Genealogical Society, 1967- FS Library 976.1 B2ag
- LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, Research in Alabama Falls Church, Virginia : National Genealogical Society, 2021 FS Library 976.1 D27ngs
- Robert Scott Davis, Tracing your Alabama Past Jackson, Mississippi : University Press of Mississippi, 2003 FS Library 976.1 D27d
- Department of Health. Alabama deaths, 1908-1974; index to deaths, 1908-1959
FamilySearch Historical Records[edit | edit source]
- Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952
- Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976
- Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985
FamilySearch Digital Library[edit | edit source]
Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
| Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection. |
| Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information. |