Importance of Delayed Birth Certificates
One of the most common research problems encountered by patrons is the lack birth certificates for ancestors. This problem is especially significant for those researching ancestors born prior to 1900 even though most states had enacted specific laws mandating that births had to be registered. However, implementation was far from consistent, especially in many rural and remote areas of the country. This was particularly true in the south and west. In many of these areas, if officials saw the baby present, that was proof enough for them!
The election of Franklin Roosevelt and his implementation of the Social Security and Railroad Retirement Acts exposed numerous problems throughout the county with lax enforcement and the problems that it created. It marked the first time that the United States required citizens to prove their legal date and place of birth.
To obtain benefits or be issued a social security card, the most common types of documents or methods used as proof included:
- Baptismal/Christening certificates
- Family Bible record entries
- School attendance records
- Military service records and discharge papers
- Naturalization papers
- Any miscellaneous legal or church generated documents that showed birth related information
- Information on the 1880, 1900-1930 censuses if the person could be located (this situation led to the development of Soundex and Miracode Indexes).
- Affidavit from a relative who had personal knowledge of the birth
- Affidavit from a midwife or medical person who assisted with the actual birth
- Affidavit from a neighbor or family member who had personal knowledge of birth
It is important to note that the county where the delayed birth certificate was issued was often different then the county where the actual birth took place. In most cases, delayed birth certificates were issued in the place of residence at the time of application. This was perfectly legal at the time.
During World War II, many defense related industries required certain classifications of workers with delayed birth certificates to obtain additional decrees from a court of record. They had to provide the same type of documented proof as the classifications listed above. While this was not a common occurrence it should be noted as a possibility when all else fails.
BLM 11/3/2016