Genealogical Treasures and the Public Record

Vermont State Archives & Records Administration VSARA

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Genealogical Research Genealogy is the study or investigation of the

lineage or pedigree of something. Those researching their family or the descent

of an individual are conducting a form of genealogical research.

Various sources, ranging from oral accounts and written records to artifacts and monuments, may be sought for genealogical research.

Vermont Public Records Records are created and received by State and

municipal agencies during the normal course of agency business.

Records support the business of government and provide evidence that an agency acted in accordance with laws and regulations.

In the State of Vermont, ALL records created and received by a public agency are public records.

Public Records and Individuals Information about individuals is often

captured as part of daily government operations.

Government records are often viewed as objective sources of information about individuals.

Government records, however, only address the extent to which an individual interacted with an agency.

Exemptions to Public Access Starting in the early 20th century, the Vermont

Legislature began to introduce laws to prevent the public from inspecting and copying certain public records to protect the privacy of individuals. These are known as “exemptions to public access.”

Provisions for “opening” records after a certain date have only been made for adoption records, which are closed until the adoptee is 99 years old.

PUBLIC = OPEN

Preservation of Public Records The retention of public records is based on the

records’ legal, administrative and historical value.

Retention of public records is established by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration following a rigorous appraisal protocol.

Only records with continuing value are maintained permanently.

State Archives’ Appraisal Policy

Requires the preservation of records that provide evidence of: Persistent legal status, rights, and entitlements of

individuals. The effects of agency programs and actions on

individuals. Vermont’s history, society, culture, ideas, and

people at the statewide level.

Public Records and Genealogy Vital Registry System Land Transactions Grand Lists Lotting Plans Court Proceedings

(particularly Probate) Naturalizations Public Institutions

(Schools, Prisons, Hospitals, etc.)

Eugenics Survey Public Cemeteries (burial

permits, etc.) Military Rosters Administrative Records Licenses Immigration/Emigration Petitions Reports and Publications

Vital Registry System

The Vermont Vital Registry system was started in 1857 pursuant to Act No. 63 of 1856. VSARA’s website includes a detailed history of vital records.

Copies of Vital Records Town where the event occurred and where the

individual resided at the time (1779-present day; varies for records created prior to 1857)

Department of Health for records dating from 2006 through the present.

State Archives and Records Administration for full certificates dating from 1980-2004; certificates and registry entries/card index from 1857-1979; and scattered copies of pre-1857 vital records from various town clerk offices.

Vital Records Online Ancestry.com has digitized Vermont vital

records from 1909-2008. FamilySearch.org is digitizing vital records

from 1760-1954.

Land Transactions Majority recorded by Town Clerks in Vermont.

Includes deeds, property liens, permits, etc. Microfilm copies of some land records are available in

VSARA’s Reference Room Land-based permits are available at the State and

municipal level based on the type of permit. Agency of Natural Resources: Act 250 and Wastewater

Permit databases Some Property transfer information is available

through the Vermont Department of Taxes, but only for the latter part of the 20th century through present day.

Grand Lists For more than 200 years, every town has been

required to create a list containing: Name of each real property owner and each owner of

taxable personal property; Last known mailing address; Brief description of parcel; and Listed value of property or personal estate subject to taxes

Grand lists are “lodged” annually with the town clerk.

Grand and general lists from 1781-1868, some of which include names, and abstracts are in the State Archives.

Lotting Plans

Lotting plans divided land among the original proprietors of the town who may have settled on the land or sold it.

The State Archives has mainly copies of lotting plans from various town offices. The plans may or may not include names.

An index to the plans along with a digital image are available for online searching.

Court Proceedings Vermont only has state courts, which assumed the

legal custody of the records created by the local courts they superseded.

Case files include criminal, civil, probate, adoption, commitment, guardianship, dissolutions, naturalizations, etc.

Some court records are now in the custody of the State Archives, while others remain in the custody of the courts. Records held by the court can be accessed through the Vermont Judiciary and the court where the case originated.

Naturalizations Prior to 1906, individuals could petition a Federal,

county, or municipal court for naturalization. These are not duplicated at the Federal level.

After 1906, courts were required to forward copies of all naturalizations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, DC. Post-1906 Vermont naturalizations are located at the

National Archives’ Record Center in Waltham, MA The State Archives has some naturalization records.

All others remain in the custody of the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the naturalization occurred.

Public Institutions: Schools Public school registers are available through the

school system and the Town Clerk of the town where the school is located

The “openness” of school registers is unclear, although access has been regularly provided for older records, particular those that have been transferred to local historical societies.

There are scattered holdings of school registers, generally lists of scholars, in the Archives’ custody.

Public Institutions: Prisons Under state law -- 28 V.S.A. §601(10) -- the content of

an inmate file is confidential and cannot be provided for public inspection without a court order.

The State Archives has pardons and there is a name index available for pardons dating from 1950-1990.

The VT Dept. of Corrections still holds some early Windsor State prison records.

The University of Vermont’s Special Collections Department reportedly has prisoner records for certain years and provides access to them.

Public Institutions: Hospitals Under several state laws – 12 V.S.A. §1612,

18 V.S.A. §1852, etc. – patient records are confidential and not open for inspection except under certain conditions (i.e. patient is deceased and requestor is the next of kin).

There are at least two publications that cover records of burials for the Vermont State Hospital (Robert Morse) and Vermont Asylum, later known as the Brattleboro Retreat (Marjorie Valliere Howe).

Eugenics Study The Eugenics Survey of Vermont (1925-1936), was

a privately funded organization organized and directed by Henry F. Perkins, former chairman of the University of Vermont’s Zoology Department.

The Eugenics Survey of Vermont led to the formation of the Vermont Commission on Country Life and its survey work. The records of both the Survey and Commission are integrated and in the custody of the State Archives.

Public Cemeteries There are over 1,900 cemeteries in Vermont, many

of which are public cemeteries. Some gravestones have been transcribed and are now part of the Vital registry system.

All burial records are open to the public and all cemeteries, whether public or private, must make the records of burial, interments and cremations available for public inspection at reasonable times (18 V.S.A. § 5313). Vermont Cemetery Association is the best source for contact information.

Military Records Records of the

Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office dating from the American Revolution to the beginning of World War II are in the custody of the State Archives.

Military-related records found in various State agencies and departments have been processed into an artificial collection.

Post-1945 service records have been filed with Town Clerks pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1175

Administrative Records Individuals who served as public officials or

participated in meetings with administrative or legislative bodies may show up in administrative records.

Select board minutes and oaths, for example, are maintained by Town Clerks.

Legislative records and State oaths are maintained by the State Archives.

Licenses The State has been actively licensing individuals to

practice as professionals or operate certain equipment since the early 20th century

The Office that historically and currently licenses the most individuals is the Office of the Secretary of State, VSARA’s parent office.

The State Archives has scattered holdings of licensing records, including teacher registrations.

Manuscript Vermont State Papers MsVtSP consists of volumes of late 18th

century and early 19th century State records Mary Greene Nye, the Editor of State Papers

from 1927 until 1950, created an index to the records that is a personal name card file.

The index, better known as the NYE Index, is available online for pre-1800 records. The card index goes through c. 1860.

Immigration All immigration records are Federal records.

Most are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The “St. Albans Lists,” which document crossings at the Canadian/United States border between 1895 and 1954, are frequently requested records. Please see NARA’s article to learn more about the lists.

Records in the State Archives

Records in the custody of the State Archives are accessible through VSARA’s Reference Room. 1078 US RTE 2 -- Middlesex

Searchable index to records is available online

See VSARA’s website for more information

Records in the Record Center

While VSARA maintains a record center for agencies to store their inactive records, these records have not been transferred to the State Archives. Access to agency records stored at the record

center must be authorized by the agency. VSARA can assist researchers in locating the

appropriate agency contact.

Thank You!

Scott ReillyArchivistscott.reilly@sec.state.vt.us802-828-2207