Idaho Public Records
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To Search Public and Vital Records -
Vital records are records of life events important enough that
some level of government acquires, organizes, and preserves
them. While the term "vital records" is often applied
to a wide variety of life events... Read
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Idaho Vital Records
The registration of births and deaths on the county level in
Idaho was not required until 1907. Prior to that time, the only birth
and death records were kept by churches, midwives, mortuaries, and
physicians. The law governing the registration of births and deaths
was changed in 1911, at which time the county recorder was relieved
of this responsibility. After 1911 all births and deaths were registered
directly with the state. Early marriages were fragmentary at best.
Ricks College in Rexburg has an index to all pre-1900 marriages recorded
in Idaho.
For births and deaths from 1911 and marriage records from 1947, write:
State of Idaho, Department of Health and Welfare, Vital Statistics
Unit, 450 West State Street, Boise, ID 83720-9990
For earlier records, write to the recorder of the county in question.
Idaho Land Records
Idaho is a public-land state. Lands were generally acquired from
the federal government or from other individuals. Records for the
BLM are on file at the National Archives-Pacific Northwest Region
and the state BLM Office at 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709-1657.
These land records cover the years 1868 to 1910. The following land
office records are on microfiche in Seattle: Boise Land Office (1868–1910);
Oxford Land Office (1879–1908); Oxford-Blackfoot Land Office
(1879–1901); Blackfoot Land Office (1884–1940); Coeur
d'Alene Land Office (1885–1908), Hailey Land Office (1883–1940),
Lewiston (1874–1908); and Unidentified Land Office Records
(1878–1917). Also on file are records for the Office of Surveyor
General of Idaho (1913–50). These land office records include
letters sent and received by state offices and suboffices, case
files, township tract books, survey plats, registers, indexes of
declaratory statements, entries, receipts, certificates for homesteads,
mineral, and timber culture lands.
Lands transacted between individuals were generally logged by the
county recorder. The originals of these county records are on file
at the local county courthouses. Many of these records have been
microfilmed and are available through the FHL. For further information,
consult:
Hone, E. Wade. Land and Property Research in the United States.
Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997.
Idaho Court Records
Court records include probate records (which include wills), guardianship,
naturalization, and a wide variety of other sources, ranging from
criminal trials to simple road orders. All contain information about
individuals within the area. It should be remembered that there
are different levels of jurisdiction for courts in the United States,
all of which should be considered for research under various circumstances.
Court of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Probate Court, District Court,
Superior Court, Supreme Court, and other titles are among those
encountered. To study more about court records in general, see "Research
in Court Records," by Arlene H. Eakle, in:
Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds. The
Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City:
Ancestry, 1997.
Idaho Military Records
Two military collections are on file at the Idaho State Historical
Society, both being of interest to the researcher. "Soldier's
Home" records (AR 19) are applications for admission to the
Idaho Soldier's Home from 1894 to 1983. Information contained in
these applications includes record number, date of admission, name,
age, nativity, company, regiment, rank, time served, pension, disabilities,
county, occupation, social condition, and literacy. These applications
are indexed. The second collection is entitled "The Adjutant
General—State of Idaho: Collection of Official Correspondence,
Records, and Documents, 1877–1927" (AR 11). This collection
is composed of requests to Governor Brayman for arms and ammunition
from worried Idahoans during the Indian Wars of 1877–78, requests
for discharge and/or pension benefits from said wars, the actual
discharges for at least some Idaho volunteers from the Nez Perce
and Bannock Wars, some muster rolls of the Idaho Volunteer Regiments,
and other miscellaneous material. Material in this collection also
includes various aspects of the draft during World War I and company
rosters for the Idaho National Guard units that served during the
Mexican Border Campaign of 1916. For further information, consult:
Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and
State Sources. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1994.
Additional Sources
An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho: Containing a History
of the State of Idaho from the Earliest Period of Its Discovery
to the Present Time, Together With Glimpses of Its Auspicious Futures;
Illustrations...and Biographical Mention of Many Pioneers and Prominent
Citizens of Today. 4 vols. in 2. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co.,
1899. (This two-volume set covers the history of Idaho and contains
biographical sketches.)
Hawley, James H., ed. History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains.
4 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1920. (Vol. 1 is a
standard history of the state, while the other volumes consist of
biographical sketches.)
Defenbach, Byron. Idaho, the Place and Its People: A History of
the Gem State from Prehistoric to Present Days. 3 vols. Chicago:
American Historical Society, Inc., 1933. (Vol. 1 covers the history
of the state, and vols. 2 and 3 contain biographical sketches.)
Idaho Vital Records:
Event: Birth
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Vital Statistics Unit
Center for Vital Statistics and Health Policy
450 West State Street, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Remarks: State office has had records since July
1911. For records from 1907 to 1911, write to County Recorder in
county where event occurred.
Check or money order should be made payable to Idaho
Vital Statistics. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (208) 334-5988. This is a recorded
message.
Applicants must provide a copy of their drivers license
or other State picture identification. If this is not available,
the applicant must provide a copy of two other forms of identification
with a signature.
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Event: Death
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Vital Statistics Unit
Center for Vital Statistics and Health Policy
450 West State Street, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Remarks: State office has had records since July
1911. For records from 1907 to 1911, write to County Recorder in
county where event occurred.
Check or money order should be made payable to Idaho
Vital Statistics. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (208) 334-5988. This is a recorded
message.
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Event: Marriage (State)
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Vital Statistics Unit
Center for Vital Statistics and Health Policy
450 West State Street, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Remarks: Records since May 1947. Earlier records
are with County Recorder in county where license was issued.
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Event: Marriage (county)
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: County Recorder in county where license
was issued.
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Event: Divorce (State)
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Vital Statistics Unit
Center for Vital Statistics and Health Policy
450 West State Street, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Remarks: Records since May 1947. Earlier records
are with County Recorder in county where divorce was granted.
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Event: Divorce (county)
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: County records in county where divorce was
granted.
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