This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SeB.2ACE/803.2 Message Board Post: This is from the TSLA site < www.tennessee.gov/tsla > STATE BIRTH RECORDS The state of Tennessee did not begin keeping birth records state-wide until 1908. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has state-wide birth records for the years 1908-1912. Instructions & forms for ordering a search of these birth records can be found in Genealogical Services Available by Mail - State Records. TSLA does NOT accept e-mail or telephone request to search the 1908-1912 birth records. State-wide birth records for the years 1914-2004 are held by the Office of Vital Records, Tennessee Department of Health. CITY BIRTH RECORDS The four larger cities in Tennessee -- Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis -- did keep earlier birth records for their specific communities. In most cases, the records cover the cities themselves and do not include suburbs or other communities in the county. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has copies of the early city birth records for Nashville (1881-1907), Knoxville (1881-1907), Chattanooga (1879-1907), and Memphis (1874-1883). Instructions & forms for ordering a search of these birth records can be found in Genealogical Services Available by Mail - State Records. TSLA does NOT accept e-mail or telephone request to search the city birth records. Memphis city birth records for 1884-1907 can be obtained from the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department, Division of Vital Records, 814 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis TN 38105 or by calling (901) 544-7730. DELAYED BIRTH RECORDS When the Social Security Administration was created in 1935, the agency asked for birth certificates as proof the applicant qualified for entry into the program. Most Tennesseans who wished to apply, however, were born prior to the 1908 law that first required the keeping of birth certificates. Beginning in 1935, Tennessee began to issue Delayed Birth Certificates. These certificates were not issued automatically; the applicant had to request the record from the state, and must supply supporting documents or letters. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has copies of the Delayed Birth Certificates for the birth years 1869-1899. TSLA will accept e-mail requests to search the index to the Delayed Birth Certificates. Please include the name of the individual, an approximate date or year of birth, the county of birth (if known), and (if known) the name of the mother. We also ask that you include your name, city and state with your request. TSLA will accept only one request at a time to search for a single record; once you receive a response to your request, you may send in your next request, and so on. TSLA tries to respond to e-mail requests in ten working days. Delayed Birth Certificates for the birth years 1900 on are held by the Office of Vital Records, Tennessee Department of Health. The records at the Tennessee State Library and Archives are open to the public. You are welcome to come in 8am-6pm Monday through Saturday to search the birth records yourself & make your own copies for research. Please see the TSLA Visitors Page for information on directions, parking, and holiday hours.