|
The person or body responsible for creating and maintaining marriage records in the United States has varied since the colonial era. In the beginning, colonial governors appointed their representatives to oversee marriage records. Then the responsibility transferred to religious authorities, most often a minister, but also to justices of the peace, probate judges, town and county clerks, authorized military personnel, and most recently, to state vital records offices. |
|
|
Many old colonial governor records have been placed in the archives of the state where the event took place and microfilmed for preservation and broader distribution. Other records created during the colonial era have also been transferred to a state archives and microfilmed. |
|
|
Early records for many states have been microfilmed, published, and/or computerized.
Copies of microfilmed and published records can be found in local and state
libraries with genealogical collections. The LDS Family History Library has a
large collection of marriage records and microfilm copies can be used at Family
History Centers throughout the country.
|
|
|