1962 Vital Records now available…

The Tennessee State Library and Archives recently received death, marriage and divorce records from the year 1962 to add to its research collections. These records, confidential for 50 years, were just released by the Department of Vital Statistics. Birth records from 1912, confidential for 100 years, have also been released.

1962 Certificate of Death

Tennessee did not begin collecting birth and death records until 1908. The law lapsed in 1913, but it was reinstated in 1914. By state law, birth records are confidential for one hundred years, death records for fifty years.

Death records usually include the name of the deceased, date and place of death, age at the time of death, cause of death, occupation, name of spouse and, beginning in 1914, name and birthplace of parents, along with the date and place of burial.

Information on a death certificate is dependent upon how much firsthand knowledge the informant or next-of-kin knew about the deceased.

Vital records are an important resource for those conducting genealogical research, or for individuals who need vital records for documentation purposes. If you are looking for a vital record for a loved one, please contact our Public Services staff for information about how to search these records.

The State Library and Archives is a division of the Tennessee Department of State and Tre Hargett, Secretary of State.