Vital Records

Vital records include birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, naturalization, adoption, and land records. At vitalrec.com you will find a comprehensive resource to find vital records online. They also have maps and many interesting links.

Vital records in the United States weren't common until the early 1900s. Vital records usually contain the full name of the individual involved in the event, the date of the event, and the county, state, or town where the event took place.

Different types of vital records have different types of information.

Birth records usually have the parent's full names including maiden name of the mother, the name of the baby, the date of the birth, and county where the birth took place, as well as the birthplaces of the baby's parents, the addresses of the parents, the number of children that the parents have, the race of the parents, and the parents' occupations.

Marriage records often record the names and birthplaces of each individual's parents. Sometimes other information is included such as the names and birthplaces of the bride's and groom's parents, the addresses of the bride and groom, information about previous marriages, and the names of the witnesses to the marriage.

Divorce records usually list the names of the couple's children, names of the individuals seeking the divorce, date of marriage and divorce, and may also include ages and birthdates of the individuals, current residences, and/or the reasons for divorce.

Death certificates often mention where the individual will be buried, place and date where the individual was born, parents names, cause of death, and also give the name of the individual who reported the death.

Vital Records are considered a primary source for genealogical information. They give you the bare facts while other records such as obituary, school, and other records add the spice to family history.

Dale L. Edwards

Vacation in Hawaii

The Maui vacation rental homes offered by Gebhart Properties are premiere Hawaii resort and ocean front vacation homes for rent on both the Big Island and Maui. These custom homes in some of the most exclusive resort locations in the Hawaiian Islands offering our guests luxurious and convenient features, spacious living areas, custom furnishings, and artwork not found in even the finest of hotels.

• Hale Nani Loa Maka, our Kolea Villa, is a 3BR/3BA penthouse located at the Waikoloa Beach Resort, sleeps 6, 2,576 square feet of living space, private elevator access, gourmet kitchen, an extensive collection of Hawaiian art and outstanding views of Anaeho'omalu Bay and Kileaua.
• Hale Ke Kai, our luxurious 3BR/4BA two-level private home in Kailua-Kona sleeps 8, full-sized kitchens, expansive lanais on both levels, two master suites, a private wading pool, and a location so close to the ocean that you can frequently feel the spray from the ocean as waves break against the coastline.
• For the feel of Old Lahaina, book a stay at our incredible 2BR/2BA corner-unit condo located on the third floor of the Mahana at Kaanapali Resort in Maui. The only property in Kaanapali that runs parallel to the ocean, it is located a mere thirty feet back from the beach.

Browse our Hawaii residential real estate online or call 1-800-545-5151 and book your stay with us today.

Naturalization Records

Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. These records can provide a researcher with information such as a person's birth date and location, occupation, immigration year, marital status and spouse information, witnesses' names and addresses, and more.

From the first naturalization law passed by Congress in 1790 through much of the 20th century, an alien could become naturalized in any court of record. In most cases naturalization was a 2 step process that took at least 5 years. After living in the US for 2 years an immigant could file papers of intent, then 3 years later file a petition for naturalization. These papers didn't have to be filed in the same court.

Exceptions to the 2 step process:

1. "Derivative" citizenship was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. (Conversely, an American woman who married an alien lost her U.S. citizenship, even if she never left the United States.)
2. From 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time.
3. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization--without previously having filed a declaration of intent--after only 1 year of residence in the United States. An 1894 law extended the same no-previous-declaration privilege to honorably discharged 5-year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps. Over 192,000 aliens were naturalized between May 9, 1918, and June 30, 1919, under an act of May 9, 1918, that allowed aliens serving in the U.S. armed forces during "the present war" to file a petition for naturalization without making a declaration of intent or proving 5 years' residence. Laws enacted in 1919, 1926, 1940, and 1952 continued various preferential treatment provisions for veterans.

Before 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant U.S. citizenship. The National Archives doesn't normally have a copy of these records, but a few are in the county and state microfilm available. Contact the State Archives for the state where the naturalization occurred to request a search of state, county, and local courts records. Also contact the NARA regional facility that serves the state where naturalization occurred to request a search of Federal court records.

After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of naturalizations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional facilities for the Federal courts for their area. The National Archives in Washington, D.C. holds naturalization records for Federal Courts in Washington, D.C. More information.

Happy hunting.

Dale L. Edwards