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1. Where can I get a Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate?

Birth, Marriage and Death Records are kept by City, Town and Village Clerks where the event happened.  You can also obtain them by visiting the New York Vital Records Division. New York State did not require these records to be kept until the late nineteenth century, please keep in mind that if you are looking for records prior to this time frame they become much more difficult to find.  

2. Can I just visit and ask for records?

You absolutely can but we recommend that you contact the historian prior to your visit for multiple reasons.  He regularly visits community organizations, schools and museums as part of his work, and may not be available.  In many cases the records that researchers seek are kept in storage.  If you contact us in advance he can have these items up and ready so that you can get right to researching upon your arrival.