California Birth Index: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|List of all registered births in California between 1905 and 1995}} |
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| ⚫ | The '''California Birth Index''' ('''CABI''') is a database compiled by the California Office of Health Information and Research. The index contains [[birth record]]s of all registered births in [[California]] between 1905 and 1995. Each record is an abstract of a person's birth certificate, including date of birth, full name<ref>Full name for those born |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} |
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| ⚫ | The '''California Birth Index''' ('''CABI''') is a database compiled by the California Office of Health Information and Research. The index contains [[birth record]]s of all registered births in [[California]] between 1905 and 1995. Each record is an abstract of a person's birth certificate, including date of birth, full name,<ref>Full name for those born 1925–1955 and 1978–1995. Only middle initial for the rest.</ref> county of birth, gender, and mother's [[maiden name]]. |
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The index is available online from a number of sources. [[California Birth Index#External links|See below.]] |
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People who have been [[Adoption|adopted]] are sometimes listed by their birth name, sometimes listed by their adopted name, sometimes by both and sometimes not listed at all. The CABI is considered a valuable [[genealogy]] tool but is also criticized for [[privacy]] issues. California began statewide civil registration of births on July 1, 1905. Earlier birth records may exist in the county where the birth took place or at the church where a baptism took place. |
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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Critics of the index |
Critics of the index claim that the index's information aids in [[identity theft]].<ref name="cnet">{{cite web |
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| url=http://news.cnet.com/Identity-crisis-Birth-records-online/2100-1023_3-276533.html |
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| title=Identity crisis: Birth records online |
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| first=Stefanie |
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| last=Olsen |
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| date=December 3, 2001 |
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| publisher=[[CNET News]] |
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| access-date=January 15, 2014}}</ref> Several public record websites have purchased copies of the index from the California Department of Health Services. In 2001, the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'' printed a story about the index, then accessible on genealogical website [[Rootsweb]], causing numerous complaints and requests for removal from the index, and ultimately leading to the index being removed from the site.<ref name="cnet" /> |
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The California Birth Index, along with the [[California Death Index]], |
The California Birth Index, along with the [[California Death Index]], was at one time available free at [[Rootsweb]]. When Rootsweb was purchased by [[Ancestry.com]], the index remained available for a time, but then was removed by Ancestry because of complaints concerning [[privacy violation]]s. The index was then only available through VitalSearch and later through Family Tree Legends and [[FamilySearch]]. Ancestry has restored the index to its content, but has not restored the notes by users posted in the index when it was available on [[Rootsweb]]. Ancestry will remove individual listings upon request. California Birth Index listings on the Family Tree Legends website do not include the mother's maiden name, but listings at [[Ancestry.com]], [[FamilySearch]], and VitalSearch websites do. |
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Despite the controversy, birth records in California are public record. Any person can request and receive a copy of the birth certificate of any other person born in California. To reduce the risk of identity theft, only certain persons<ref name="cdph">{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/AthorizedCopyvsInformationalCopy.aspx |
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| title=Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy |
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| date=August 1, 2013 |
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| publisher=[[California Department of Public Health]] |
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| access-date=January 15, 2014 |
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| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112184127/http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/AthorizedCopyvsInformationalCopy.aspx |
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| archive-date=November 12, 2009 |
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| url-status=dead |
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}}</ref> may obtain an authorized copy of a birth record. All others may obtain an informational copy. The informational copy will have the same information on it as an authorized copy, but will be stamped "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."<ref name="cdph"/> |
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[[File:CABI California Birth Index.png|thumb|Microfiche CABI – 1950 example]] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Social Security Death Index]] |
*[[Social Security Death Index]] |
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*[[WP:BLPPRIMARY]]: Why you should never use the California Birth Index as a source on [[Wikipedia]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{cite web |
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*[http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5247 The California Birth Index] at [[Ancestry.com]] (requires subscription) |
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| url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org |
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*[http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461 California births] at Family Tree Legends |
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| title=California Birth Index |
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*[http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/ VitalSearch-California(USA):California State Vital Records] (Username: vitalguest ; Password: enjoy) |
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| publisher=californiabirthindex.org}} |
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* {{cite web |
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| url=http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5247 |
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| title=California Birth Index, 1905–1995 |
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| publisher=[[Ancestry.com]] |
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|url-access=subscription }} |
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* {{cite web |
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| url=https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879 |
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| title=California Birth Index, 1905–1995 |
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| publisher=[[familysearch.org]] |
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|url-access=subscription }} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Identity documents of the United States]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Birth registration]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Government databases in California]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:52, 26 April 2024
The California Birth Index (CABI) is a database compiled by the California Office of Health Information and Research. The index contains birth records of all registered births in California between 1905 and 1995. Each record is an abstract of a person's birth certificate, including date of birth, full name,[1] county of birth, gender, and mother's maiden name.
The index is available online from a number of sources. See below.
People who have been adopted are sometimes listed by their birth name, sometimes listed by their adopted name, sometimes by both and sometimes not listed at all. The CABI is considered a valuable genealogy tool but is also criticized for privacy issues. California began statewide civil registration of births on July 1, 1905. Earlier birth records may exist in the county where the birth took place or at the church where a baptism took place.
Controversy[edit]
Critics of the index claim that the index's information aids in identity theft.[2] Several public record websites have purchased copies of the index from the California Department of Health Services. In 2001, the San Jose Mercury News printed a story about the index, then accessible on genealogical website Rootsweb, causing numerous complaints and requests for removal from the index, and ultimately leading to the index being removed from the site.[2]
The California Birth Index, along with the California Death Index, was at one time available free at Rootsweb. When Rootsweb was purchased by Ancestry.com, the index remained available for a time, but then was removed by Ancestry because of complaints concerning privacy violations. The index was then only available through VitalSearch and later through Family Tree Legends and FamilySearch. Ancestry has restored the index to its content, but has not restored the notes by users posted in the index when it was available on Rootsweb. Ancestry will remove individual listings upon request. California Birth Index listings on the Family Tree Legends website do not include the mother's maiden name, but listings at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and VitalSearch websites do.
Despite the controversy, birth records in California are public record. Any person can request and receive a copy of the birth certificate of any other person born in California. To reduce the risk of identity theft, only certain persons[3] may obtain an authorized copy of a birth record. All others may obtain an informational copy. The informational copy will have the same information on it as an authorized copy, but will be stamped "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."[3]
See also[edit]
- Social Security Death Index
- WP:BLPPRIMARY: Why you should never use the California Birth Index as a source on Wikipedia.
References[edit]
- ^ Full name for those born 1925–1955 and 1978–1995. Only middle initial for the rest.
- ^ a b Olsen, Stefanie (December 3, 2001). "Identity crisis: Birth records online". CNET News. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ a b "Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy". California Department of Public Health. August 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
External links[edit]
- "California Birth Index". californiabirthindex.org.