Death Certificates

Absent an autopsy, the last health data recorded for us is captured on death certificates. The vast majority of my ancestors since the 1850s have died in Utah. The first law requiring death certificates came into force in 1898 and was done at a local (municipality level). Starting in 1905 in order to better collect data in compliance with the US Census, the state took responsibility for death certificates. Deaths more than 50 years ago are considered public information, and the state government hosts a searchable website with death certificates from 1905-1967.

In order to better understand the evolution of what questions were asked about death and to better understand the evolution of the understanding of disease, I’ve collected some of the death certificates for my own ancestors.