State Resources — Tennessee

Updated: August 2002 • Data on CD-ROM • County Offices • Vital Records • State Archives and Libraries • Local Genealogical Societies • Helpful Web Sites • GenForum Message Boards • Alabama • Arkansas • Georgia • Kentucky • Mississippi • Missouri • North Carolina • Virginia

 Vital Records

State office has had birth records for entire State since January 1914, for Nashville since June 1881, for Knoxville since July 1881, and for Chattanooga since January 1882. State office has had death records for entire State since January 1914, for Nashville since July 1874, for Knoxville since July 1887, and for Chattanooga since March 6, 1872. Birth and death enumeration records by school district are available for July 1908 through June 1912. Vital Records Office keeps death records for 50 years; older records are maintained by Tennessee Library and Archives, Archives Division, Nashville, TN 37243-0312. For Memphis birth records from April 1874 through December 1887 and November 1898 to January 1, 1914, and for Memphis death records from May 1848 to January 1, 1914, write to Memphis--Shelby County Health Department, Division of Vital Records, Memphis, TN 38105.

Vital Records Office keeps marriage and divorce records for 50 years.  Older records are maintained by Tennessee Library and Archives, Archives Division, Nashville, TN   37243-0312.

Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Death Records

	On the Internet: Tennessee Vital Records.
	Call (615) 741-1763 for information on record lookup fees.
	Write to: Tennessee Vital Records Department of Health Central Services Building 421 5th Avenue, North Nashville, TN 37247
	Notes: • For county marriage records, contact the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued. Cost will vary. • For county divorce records, contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Cost will vary.

 State Archives and Libraries

They currently have family histories, newspapers from the 1800"s, federal census records from 1790-1910, state census records, land deeds, Civil War and War of 1812 rosters, pension records, marriage records, death and birth records, probate records, church records, election and poll records, diaries and manuscripts, map and photo collections, and tax records.

Write to: Tennessee State Library and Archives State Library and Archives Building 403 Seventh Avenue North Nashville, TN 37243-0312 Telephone: (615) 741-2764 Web site: http://www.state.tn.us/sos/statelib/tslahome.htm Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:00-6:00, closed Sunday and state holidays.

 Local Genealogical Societies

	Write to: The Tennessee Genealogical Society PO Box 247 Brunswick, TN 38014-0247 Telephone: (901) 381-1447 Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 10:00-2:00, closed all other days.
	Publications: Ansearchin' News (emphasis on southeastern U.S.)