Georgia Secretary of State Press Office

Secretary of State Authorizes Release of Historical Documents

A notorious train wreck in 1926 accounts for nineteen of the 275,000 deaths recorded in Georgia between 1919 and 1927. Now the Georgia Archives, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, has released these records to the public for the first time. They are available online through the Archives’ Virtual Vault.

The train wreck happened two days before Christmas, just outside of Rockmart, Georgia, and the dead were lamented in a ballad, The Wreck of the Royal Palm. According to Georgia Archives director, David Carmicheal, most of Georgia’s deaths were far less dramatic. Still, he says, the records are a great boon to researchers. "Death records are obviously a gold mine for genealogists. They include birthplace and date, names of parents, even the birthplace of the parents. And, increasingly, genealogists are interested in cause of death; as many as one-third of all known diseases have a genetic cause, so the field of medical genealogy is growing."

The records are also an important historical resource beyond their obvious genealogical use, according to Carmicheal. "Historians will find these records very useful. Certificates include age, county of death, occupation, gender, race and cause of death. The data open all kinds of possibilities to statistical researchers."

According to Secretary of State Karen Handel, legislation to register births and deaths in Georgia was passed in 1914, but the first deaths were registered in 1919. "Prior to 1919, deaths and births were recorded only at the county level, or not at all. Many deaths were documented by churches or other family members. Statewide registration provided the first consistent documentation of births and deaths," Handel said.

By law, Georgia death certificates are closed to everyone but certain family members for seventy-five years. At the end of that time the certificates must be transferred from the Department of Human Resources to the state’s archives for permanent preservation and public access. The collection being opened now consists of death certificates from 1919 through 1927. Additional certificates will be added annually as they become available.

To view the certificates, visit www.GeorgiaArchives.org and click on the Virtual Vault link in the menu bar.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our business community, our government, and our citizens. These services include an efficient and secure election process, and the regulation of corporations, securities, and professional license holders. The Office also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum.

For Immediate Release October 16, 2007	FFI Contact: Matt Carrothers Director of Media Relations 404-656-4269

Secretary of State Authorizes Release of Historical Documents A notorious train wreck in 1926 accounts for nineteen of the 275,000 deaths recorded in Georgia between 1919 and 1927. Now the Georgia Archives, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, has released these records to the public for the first time. They are available online through the Archives’ Virtual Vault. The train wreck happened two days before Christmas, just outside of Rockmart, Georgia, and the dead were lamented in a ballad, The Wreck of the Royal Palm. According to Georgia Archives director, David Carmicheal, most of Georgia’s deaths were far less dramatic. Still, he says, the records are a great boon to researchers. "Death records are obviously a gold mine for genealogists. They include birthplace and date, names of parents, even the birthplace of the parents. And, increasingly, genealogists are interested in cause of death; as many as one-third of all known diseases have a genetic cause, so the field of medical genealogy is growing." The records are also an important historical resource beyond their obvious genealogical use, according to Carmicheal. "Historians will find these records very useful. Certificates include age, county of death, occupation, gender, race and cause of death. The data open all kinds of possibilities to statistical researchers." According to Secretary of State Karen Handel, legislation to register births and deaths in Georgia was passed in 1914, but the first deaths were registered in 1919. "Prior to 1919, deaths and births were recorded only at the county level, or not at all. Many deaths were documented by churches or other family members. Statewide registration provided the first consistent documentation of births and deaths," Handel said. By law, Georgia death certificates are closed to everyone but certain family members for seventy-five years. At the end of that time the certificates must be transferred from the Department of Human Resources to the state’s archives for permanent preservation and public access. The collection being opened now consists of death certificates from 1919 through 1927. Additional certificates will be added annually as they become available. To view the certificates, visit www.GeorgiaArchives.org and click on the Virtual Vault link in the menu bar. Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our business community, our government, and our citizens. These services include an efficient and secure election process, and the regulation of corporations, securities, and professional license holders. The Office also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum.