Series 2128: Marriages Prior to 1926 Soundex - Microfilm. 1801-1925.
Health, Dept. of (RG 51). Vital Statistics.

Series 2128: Marriages Prior to 1926 Soundex - Microfilm. 1801-1925.
Health, Dept. of (RG 51). Vital Statistics.

      A microfilm copy of marriage record index cards for the years 1801-1925 compiled from county circuit court records. In 1940 when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was assisting the Health Department in its war efforts (See Biennial Report of the State Board of Health, 1941-1943) and conducted a statewide vital statistics survey, the Board of Health had on file both a card file of marriage record abstracts and a microfilm copy of the cards in the card file, both arranged according to the Soundex system. These cards had been received from county circuit clerks who had been required by the Board of Health in 1926 to report all marriage records prior to that date. Three types of cards had been filled out with various types of information, but generally containing name of bride and groom (sometimes noting race), date of marriage or marriage license, presiding official, county where license was obtained and the county marriage record book and page number where license was listed. These cards were then indexed using the groom’s name and the Soundex method of indexing. (Further information and examples of the marriage record cards may be found in the WPA publication Guide to Vital Statistics Records in Mississippi, Vol. 1 – Public Archives, pages 25-44, MDAH Call # 016.312, M69g, v.1).

      This microfilm is apparently a copy of the microfilm created by the Board of Health. Generally, the quality of the film for these records is often poor, with much of the information as well as the Soundex code notation illegible. There are two groups of microfilm, one for primarily white marriages and one for black marriages, although it is very important to note that the so-called black marriage records contain records for both black and whites. The film has sometimes, but not always, been marked with a strip on the right-hand side identifying the records as “Marriages Prior to 1926.”

      All of this microfilm is available in the Media Room.