Some of these records are available to be downloaded, I've begun my collection for personal use. http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bvs/registra/index.htm : As of March 2000, Birth indexes from 1926-1995 and death indexes from 1964-1998 are available on the internet (free), microfiche ($) or CD-ROM ($$). Birth indexes from 1903-1925 and death indexes from 1903-1963 are available on microfiche only. Indexes for open records years are referred to as general indexes and indexes for years which are not yet open to the public are called summery indexes. The SUMMARY death index is delayed six months, the SUMMARY birth index is delayed 42 months. The time lag for the birth index is necessary in order to protect the confidentiality of adoptions and paternity determinations. The Summary Birth Index includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, of the registrant, date of birth, county of birth, and sex of registrant. The Summary Death Index includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, of the decedent, date of death, county of death, and sex of registrant. All indexes are sorted in alphabetical order by surname within each year. Birth records do not become OPEN public records until they are fifty years old, and death records become OPEN after twenty-five years. All indexes are sorted in alphabetical order by surname within each year. The GENERAL BIRTH INDEX includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, of the registrant, date of birth, county of birth, and sex of registrant, and may also include father's name and mother's maiden name. All indexes are sorted in alphabetical order by surname within each year. If the record falls into the open record category, a general index may be made available for public use [later?]. The GENERAL DEATH INDEX includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, of the registrant, date of death, county of death, and sex of registrant, and may also include social security number, marital status, and the spouse's name. All indexes are sorted in alphabetical order by surname within each year. If the record falls into the open record category, a general index may be made available for public use [later?]. These are files you can download, some quite large [File size: 9 - 13 MB File type: ASCII, tab delimited], but it beats reading microfiche at the library. They promise they will put them in HTML "soon." Marriage indexes are available on microfiche or CD-ROM from 1966-present and divorce indexes are available from 1968-present. They may be available on the internet in the future (depends on customer demand). So DEMAND! The Marriage Index includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, the county of issue, the date of marriage, the spouse's name, and state file number. The Divorce Index includes the last, first, and middle name, if any, the county of issue, the date of divorce, the spouse's name, and state file number.