If you’ve got Missouri folks, you really need to check out the Missouri Death Certificate database, sponsored by the Missouri State Archives. The Death index is complete for 1910 to 1955 and you can actually download a digitized copy of the original death certificate for documents from 1910 through 1924. According to the website, 1925 will be up by the end of July with images up to 1930 online by sometime in September of 2006. By the time you read this in the Helper, these additional years may be posted! The Archives offered to send folks copies of the certificates that were not yet digitized at the cost of only $1.00. BIG MISTAKE! Somebody didn’t expect the overwhelming response that the offer evoked. Since the website went online in April, Archives has been inundated with requests for copies – plus e-mail queries regarding the database. All this has been more than the staff could handle and emergency measures had to be put in place.
This is directly from the website:
“Copies are still available at the cost of $1 for anyone that prefers to have their request completed by the Missouri State Archives staff. For those who would like faster service from the Friends of the Missouri State Archives, copies are available for $5 per name requested. There is also no limit to the number of requests that can be made through the Friends. Fees generated from this service will be dedicated exclusively to the death certificate project. As you search the database, you will find instructions on how to request copies from either the Missouri State Archives or the Friends.”
Five dollars is about the most reasonable cost of a copied document that I know of.
Use this database with the Pre-1910 Missouri Birth and Death Database – also sponsored by the Archives.
See the website at: www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/
