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An Aid To Locating Vital Records
Vital records are just that...vital. We need access to them.
In this age o f bureaucratic docu
mentation, everyone has need ofcop
ies o f records o f birth, death, mar
riage or divorce. An application for
benefits from the Veterans Adminis
tration or Social Security, a passport
or marriage license requires not only
the information in the records but
usually copies o f the records them
selves.
All these records are stored per
manently by municipalities, coun
ties, states and the Federal govern
ment. We all know this, but where
each document is kept is frequently
unknown.
T he C onsum er Education Re
search Center, a national non-profit
consumer group, found there was
little uniformity on where the records
were avai lable and the costs. I n some
states, birth records are kept by the
city and in others by the county or
state. To further complicate matters,
often older records are held in differ
ent places than current ones. In addi
tion, the addresses where the records
are kept are changed quite often.
The consumer group found many
people had difficulty in locating the
records they needed. Often, it was
necessary to make expensive long
distance calls ju st to find out where
to write, what information was re
quired and how much money to send.
For that reason CERC has been pub
lishing a book entitled Where To
Write Worldwide For Vital Records
which contains a state-by-state list
ing o f the addresses and telephone
numbers o f the archive where each
record can be found, the cost o f a
copy o f the document and sample
form letters containing all the infor
mation needed to get these and other
vital documents. For those needing
information from foreign countries,
the book contains a list o f govern
ment offices where you can get help
in loeating vital records kept in al
most every country. Even U.S. citi
zens born overseas, on a ship or
aircraft can locate the place where
their records are kept.
CERC found that many people
have used previous editions to locate
their family trees or roots. For those,
the book includes information on the
Family History Library o f the Mor
mon Church. This library contains
over 200,000 volumes o f family his
tory records and a list o f almost a
quarter-million people who are will
ing to share information to help you
find your family roots.
CERC has just released an up
dated 1996 edition. To get a copy o f
this useful book, send $9.97 (Plus $2
s&h) to C onsum er C enter-D ocu
m ents, 1980 S p rin g fie ld A ve,
Maplewood, NJ 07040 or call 800-
872-0121 with credit card. More in
formation can be found on the World
Wide W eb http://www.planet.net/
cere
Robert L. Berko, executive direc
tor o f CERC says that originally the
book was published to satisfy the
needs o f persons applying for vari
ous benefits but many others have
found it useful. He has received let
ters from libraries, coroners, law en
forcement, social agencies, credit
grantors, collection agencies, stock
ownership tracers, lawyers, persons
searching for missing heirs, adoptees
and those interested in searching their
family roots. All these and others
have found use fora book that helps
them locate and prove the status o f
individuals.
Many times documents can be used
to prove things other than what they
record. For instance, one woman wrote
to the group telling them that a birth
certificate for her child proved her
residence at that time in the United
States and helped her become eligible
for legal residence and citizenship.
Congratulations to Jemeiah Harris and Quandrae Streeter, the proud
parents of
Quandre Deshawn Harris Streeter, Jr.
Born April 8, 1998 and
weighing 71bs. 9ozs. and 20.5 inches long.
MAY 13, 1998
Mural atthe Guardino Building
Photo by Norm Whitten
Artists Dave England and Jude Cornwell paint a mural on the Guardino Gallery
Building at 30th and Alberta.
England, an experienced sign painter who applies art on shoes o f vehicles from
motorcycles to log trucks, is guiding Cornwell on her first large mural venture.
I he illustration, created by Cornwell, is that o f a bird drawn for a bilingual children's
look, “El Pajaro Cantor,” seeking publication. Both artists have studios only feet away
rom the 12 X 20 foot mural.
LOTTFPY
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