----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Gibson" <fox6@att.net> To: "'treviawbeverly'" <treviawbeverly@comcast.net>; <charleswrayjr@prodigy.net>; <txbexar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 9:11 AM Subject: RE: [TXBEXAR] TXBEXAR Digest, Vol 4, Issue 6 *** Birth Records *** >I don't think birth certificates existed in 1858, but you can get copies of > birth and death certificates from the San Antonio Metro Health department. > > http://www.sanantonio.gov/health/VitalStats-Main.html ___________________ Definitely not many ... See "Early Texas Birth Records 1833-1878" by Alice Duggan Gracy, etc. (1978, Historical Press). Bexar Co and others. Should be available at most good genealogical collections. Many cities/municipalities kept early records: Houston births began July 27, 1899 ... filed with the city's Vital Records Dept. so check the larger cities such as San Antonio, Dallas, Amarillo, etc. to see when their municipal records began and what they have. Another thing to remember is that counties may have historical archives. Harris County does - http://www.hctx.net/recordsmanagement/Archives/ It has been many years since I've had the opportunity to visit but the Bexar County Archives was then in the basement of the courthouse, John Ogden Leal was the archivist. The WPA did a lot of vital statistics (as well as cemetery inventories, etc.... ) Texas WPA Papers, Record Group 69, National Archives, Washington. http://texashistory.unt.edu/browse/collection/TXCI/ Portals of Texas History ... note the two volumes of Inventory for Bexar County. I have these .. unfortunately can't put my hands on them at the moment (stashed behind something in the storage closet, I'm sure). As I recall they were very complete. Again, try your library .. check if available on Interlibrary Loan. Excellent article in the Sept 2008 "Stirpes" (Texas State Genealogical Society) by Robert de Berardinis on "Correcting Myths about Texas Birth and Death Records." Heavy on Houston/Harris Co, none-the-less a good article. Example: "Based on the Texas Constitution of 1869, civil registration of births and deaths was authorized in 1871 and was enacted on May 3, 1873. The act provided that all married couples should register their legitimate children for 10¢ each. Gracy [book listed above] lists the data included for each child .... " * de Berardinis' article has footnote references. Trevia Wooster Beverly Houston, Texas