Norm: There is no simple answer to the question at to how the Archives' index to the vital records was created. They started out with the printed indexes created and sent to them by Vital Records Registry. These are what the NOVA people and Ancestry input from. At some point, I'm not certain of the date, the Archives started indexing the vital records directly from the certificates as they received them from Vital Records. Now, every year when they get a new batch, they index them from scratch. So, there may be some discrepancies with the printed indexes that are available in the Research Room as of whatever that date was. The Louisiana Statewide Death index on microfilm in the Research Room goes up to 1959 even though the Archives has only received deaths through 1957 so far. There's also an Orleans Birth Index through 1914 even though they currently have births only through 1907. [As a side note, there is a little known collection of Statewide and Orleans Death Indexes on microfilm at the Louisiana State Library that goes through 1974. I use this frequently when doing research for heir searching companies.] Added to the Louisiana Death Index is a group of nearly 600 "delayed" deaths. Some of these date back to the 1800s. So the statement that the Louisiana Deaths begin in 1911 is not entirely correct (Note that I say "correct," not "true" because I would never imply that they are lying). Also, the earliest Louisiana Statewide Death is dated 1900, not 1911, and the earliest Orleans Birth is dated 1790 (a delayed recording). I have copied Bill Stafford on my response because he does not subscribe to this list. If he wants, he can post the "official" response. Judy Riffel Baton Rouge ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norm Hellmers" <n_d_hellmers@yahoo.com> To: <laorlean@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 1:08 PM Subject: Re: [LAORLEAN] LA Archives, Search Vital Records > List, > > The site was also inoperative last night. At the > moment, it appears that the "Basic Search" is not > working (at least not for me), so use the "Advanced > Search." The URL for the marriage and death indexes is > here: > http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/638/Default.aspx > > Here are a few thoughts on these new indexes. > > The Orleans Parish marriage index covers 1870-1957 and > apparently some late-registered marriages prior to > 1870. Ancestry covers 1870 to 1925; the Louisiana > Archives index additionally covers 1926-1957, a period > not fully indexed by anyone else. However, Ancestry > offers the use of wildcards, a feature apparently not > available at the Louisiana Archives site, although the > search engine will apparently give all names from the > first letter on. (Adding one letter at a time will > narrow your search.) > > The Louisiana death index covers 1911-1956. This > Louisiana-wide index is apparently available nowhere > else. Their website says: "The database also contains > older death records for some parishes, such as deaths > that occurred in Jefferson parish before 1911, and > deaths that occurred in Orleans Parish as early as > 1804." Ancestry covers Orleans Parish deaths between > 1804-1949. Checking one of my family names (Neff), I > found 26 deaths in Orleans Parish using the Louisiana > Archives index, none prior to 1918. Ancestry found 41, > some back to the 1860s. So, apparently, the Louisiana > Archives death index is not complete for Orleans > Parish. > > This gets a little complicated, but for now, it would > appear that the new Louisiana Archives indexes are > especially useful for: > -- Orleans Parish marriages between 1926-1957 > -- Orleans Parish deaths between 1949-1956 > -- Louisiana deaths between 1911-1956 > > For other years, Ancestry's coverage may be more > complete and Ancestry offers the use of wildcards and > soundexing. > > Of course if you can't find a vital record, I would > search using all available indexes, including NOVA's, > now found here: > http://www.usgwarchives.org/la/orleans.htm > > Does anyone know when and how these Louisiana Archives > indexes were created? Also, these indexes--since they > are free--may obviate some of the ongoing work by NOVA > in transcribing the Orleans Parish birth, marriage, > and death indexes. > > Comments, corrections, and clarifications to these > observations are invited. > > Norm > > --- Judy Riffel <riffelj@bellsouth.net> wrote: >> The Louisiana State Archives vital records index >> seems to be working now, >> although nearly the entire website was not working >> for me earlier this morning. > . . . > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LAORLEAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >