The issuing of death certificates was haphazard at best in the first 30-40 years of the requirment to fill out one. It depended on the doctor taking the time to fill it out and file it with the state. My grandfather died at home in 1962, his death was well known and all , but he wasn't attended by a doctor and the funeral home didn't file one, then again his father in law died in 1917 in rural Nevada County and his death certificate was issued and completely filled out. If one exists on the person you are seeking one for, it could be in the old files of a doctor long departed, stuffed in a box in an attic or such. THe funeral home record is the next best bet. Don't give up though, on 5 Feb 2004, a letter written in 1866 by my 2great grandmother in Pontotoc Co MS, was found in that proverbial box hidden in an attic in Clark Co VA. Thank God the lady who found it is a genealogist and got online and searched until she found someone researching the names mentioned, also a letter written by her son in 1908 from Sevier Co Ar, resurfaced in a newspaper in Galveston, Tx published on 7 Sep 1908. Miracles still happen and I wish you as much luck as I have had this year. Gary Hawley Hot Springs, Ar M Ishmael wrote: >Have tried twice to get a death certificate from 1941, at Arkansas Health >Dept. and not found. Where were deaths recorded at that time in Howard, Polk >and Pike counties?I tried several mortuaries, they didn't have records for >those dates. > > > >==== ARHOWARD Mailing List ==== >Remember to change your bookmark for the new URL for Howard Co.: http://www.genealogyshoppe.com/arhoward/index.htm > > > >

Thanks for your reply. In 1940, would there have been a type of directory, city or county that might still be available? I haven't seen any listed. Thanks again.