Thomas Danicki wrote: >I've just had my first experience trying to learn more about distant >relatives by requesting their birth certificates from the Commonwealth >of Pennsylvania's Dept. of Health. My efforts were unsuccessful (and >frustrating!) because I did not (and still do not) know their precise >dates of birth. After this disappointing experience, it makes me wonder >if there is really any point in trying the birth certificate route? If >I knew all of the information about the person requested on >Pennsylvania's "Application For ... >Copy Of Birth Or Death Record", I don't see why I would want the birth >certificate. Hi Thomas, As someone doing genealogy in PA for over 20 years I can appriciate your frustration. I too also felt that if I knew all this information that the form requires I wouldn't be asking for a copy!!! Also keep in mind the state doesn't have records before 1905 (they are at the county court house) and even after this date there was no big rush for doctors and midwives to fill out those forms. My dad was born in 1916 and there is no state birth form for him but there is a church baptismal. So you may want to try writing the church....and to further frustrate you many times these requests also go unanswered. But I may add I have used the state for death certificates when all other sources failed (the best source I have found is just to write to the funeral home as they have all this information and then some!) and it seems that if you get the "wrong" clerk or the "right clerk" on the "wrong" day you won't get any information. Sometimes I have had very few questions done and gotten a response and other times I may only have one line not filled in and they send it back. Who knows???!!???!!! Joanne Central PA