Oregon Secretary of State

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About Vital Records

​​​​​​​​​The State Archives has historic birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Birth and death records have access restrictions. Beyond the State Archives, the Oregon Historical County Records Guide inventory ​of vital records describes birth, death, marriage and divorce records held by counties and at other repositories such as local museums and historical societies.

Access Restrictions

All birth records, including indexes, have a 100-year access restriction, and death certificates have a 50-year access restriction (Oregon Health Division, OAR 333-011-096). 

The State Archives won't release restricted information without written authorization from the State Registrar. An asterisk (*) next to a records listing indicates an access restriction. To request access, contact the State Registrar: Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Suite 205, State Office Building, 800 N.E. Oregon St., Portland, OR 97232.

Researching Vital Records at the State Archives

Vital records at the State Archives are either in the original format or as microfilm or publicatio​ns. Microfilm and publications are available for self-service in the Reference Room.

You can view records for free at the State Archives. We also offer research services. If you supply: (1) name, (2) date of birth, death, marriage or divorce and (3) city and Oregon county, we will search the records and send you copies (se​e fees​​).

Vital Records Listings

​ ​​​ The following records are available at the State Archives. Records with an asterisk (*) have access restrictions and require authorization from the State Registrar to view.

​Birth register, 1864-1900 (4 volumes)​​

Birth records, 1864-1900 (8 cu. ft.)​​

Birth register, 1901-1917 (3 volumes)​​

Birth records, 1901-1902​​

Death register, 1881-1917 (microfilm)​​

Death records, 1862-1902 (microfilm)​​​

Search Portland births, 1881-1902; and deaths 1881-1917 (Oregon Historical Records Index​)​​

​​Bak​​er

Birth records, 1905-1915 (2 volumes)
*Birth and death records, 1916-1929 (1 volume)
*Corrections to birth and death records, 1871-1940 (1 volume)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publica​​tion:

  • Marriage records, 1862-1884

Transferred from the S​tate Health Divi​​sion:

  • Birth Records, 1910-1915 (1 volume), 1926-1945 (38 volumes)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1913-1929 (2 volumes)
  • Death Records, 1911-1915 (1 volume)
  • Death Certificates, 1921-1940 (7 volumes)

Bent​on

*Birth registration decrees, 1957-1962 (1 volume)
Delayed births, 1862-1957 (1 volume)
Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1853-1920 (7 cu.ft.)
Marriage certificates, 1852-1945 (3 cu. ft.)
Search Benton County delayed births, 1862-1899; divorces, 1853-1920; and marriages, 1885-1929 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library publicat​​ion:

  • Marriage​​​ records, 1851-1922

Cl​ackamas

*Birth certificates: delayed filing applications, 1869-1941 (.5 cu.ft.)
*Birth certificates, 1921-1944 (4 cu.ft.)
Death certificates, 1921-1948 (5 cu.ft., 9 volumes)
Divorce Index, 1852-1920 (Circuit Court Cases)
Marriage certificates, 1863-1935 (excluding 1890-1910, 2 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1853-1879 (2 volumes)
Marriage index, 1885-1890 (microfilm)
Marriage records, 1853-1948 (microfilm)
Search Clackamas County delayed births, 1869-1899; divorces, 1852-1920; and marriages, 1848-1893, 1910-1921 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library publicati​​ons:

  • Death records, 1907-1915 (2 volumes)
  • Early marriage records of Clackamas and Wasco Counties, 1848-1865
  • Marriage records, 1840s-1912 (2 volumes)

Transferred from the State Health ​​Division:

  • *Birth Records, 1933, 1935, 1936 (7 volumes)
  • *Birth Records [District 1], 1926-1933, 1935-1936 (13 volumes)
  • *Birth Records [District 2], 1926-1935 (9 volumes)
  • *Birth Records [District 3], 1926-1935 (10 volumes)
  • *Birth Records [District 4], 1926-1931, 1933, 1935 (8 volumes)
  • *Birth Records [District 68], 1928-1941 (3 volumes)
  • Death Records [District 1], 1927-1934 (6 volumes)
  • Death Records [District 2], 1927-1934 (7 volumes)
  • Death Records [District 3], 1928-1934 (6 volumes)
  • Death Certificates, 1931-1949 (16 volumes)
  • Death Records [District 4], 1932-1933 (1 volume)
  • Death Records [District 68], 1927-1948 (13 volumes)

Clats​​op

Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1861-1920 (ca.15 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1852-1950
Search Clatsop County divorces, 1861-1869; and marriages, 1848-1893, 1910-1921 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library publica​​tions:

  • Divorce records, 1861-1869
  • Marriage records, 1859-1874

Colu​mbia

Marriage records, 1854-1865 (microfilm)

Reference Room Library publi​​cation:

  • Marriage recor​ds, 1855-1897

Cro​ok

Marriage records, 1882-1961 (microfilm)

Reference Room Library public​​ation:

  • Marriage records, 1882-1887

Cu​rry

Divorce Index, 1866-1929, (Circuit Court Cases)
Search Curry County divorces, 1866-1929 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Doug​las

Marriage index, 1852-1983 (microfilm)
Marriage records, 1852-1947 (microfilm)

Reference Roo​m Library publi​cation:

  • Umpqua and Douglas County marriage records, 1851-1871

Gil​liam

Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1909-1924 (ca.7 cu.ft.)
Search Gilliam County divorces, 1909-1924 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publ​​ication:

  • Marriage records, 1885-1896

Transferred from the S​tate Health Division:

  • Birth Records, 1913-1915 (2 volumes)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1933 (2 volumes)
  • *Birth Certificates, 1921-1941 (1 volume)
  • Death Certificates, 1926-1935 (1 volume)
  • Death Records, 1912-1915 (1 volume), 1935-1940 (1 volume)
  • Death Records [District 127], 1930-1935 (1 volume)

Gra​nt

Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1872-1922 (4 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1864-1951 (microfilm)
Search Grant County divorces, 1872-1922 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Ha​rney

Marriage records, 1889-1960 (microfilm)

Hood Riv​er

Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1890-1908 (ca.3 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1908-1947 (4 cu.ft.)
Search Hood River County marriages, 1908-1947; and divorces, 1890-1908 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Transferred from the State Health Divisi​on:

  • Birth Records [city], 1907-1915 (1 volume)
  • *Birth Records, 1920-1947 (59 volumes)
  • Birth and Death Records [book 23], 1915-1919 (1 volume)
  • Birth and Death Records [book II], 1915-1919 (1 volume)
  • Birth Records [book 22], 1908-1915 (1 volume)
  • Death Records [city], 1907-1915 (1 volume)
  • Death Records, 1908-1915 (1 volume), 1919-1949 (47 volumes)

Jacks​​on

Birth register, 1906-1915 (1 volume)
Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1872-1922 (ca.8 cu.ft.)
Search Jackson County divorces, 1856-1914 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library public​ations:

  • Birth records, 1863-1910
  • Divorce records, 1856-1949 (3 volumes)
  • Marriage records, 1853-1924 (6 volumes)

Jeffe​rson

Reference Room Li​b​​rary publication:

  • Marriage reco​rds, 1915-1926

Jose​​phine

Reference Room Lib​​r​​ary publication:

  • ​Marriage records, 1856-​1900

Kla​math

Marriage records, 1882-1966 (microfilm)

Reference Room Li​b​​rary pu​blication:

  • Marriage records, 1882-1895

La​ke

Reference Room Lib​​rary public​​ation:

  • Marriage records, 1875-1882

La​ne

Death notices published in Lane County newspapers, index to, 1864-1902 (microfiche)
Divorce Index, 1855-1900 (Circuit Court Cases)
Marriage index, 1853-1950 (microfilm)
Marriage records, 1852-1891 (microfilm)
Search Lane County divorces, 1855-1900 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary pub​​lication:

  • Marriage records, 1852-1869

Transferred from the State Health Divisi​on:

  • *Birth Certificates, 1933-1934 (1 volume), 1944-1945 (1 volume)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1928 (1 volume)

Lincol​n

Marriage affidavits and applications, 1942-1947 (.1 cu.ft.)
Marriage certificates, 1925-1936 (.25 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1893-1915 (microfilm)
Search Lincoln County marriages, 1924-1947 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publi​​cation:

  • Marriage records, 1893-1926

Li​nn

Birth certificates, delayed, 1860-1961 (15 cu.ft.)
Marriage certificates, 1850-1873, with index (3 volumes & microfilm)
Marriage index, 1850-1948 (microfilm)
Marriage license records, 1863-1873 (2 volumes & microfilm)
Search Linn County delayed births, 1860-1899; and marriages, 1850-1873 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publicat​​ion:

  • Marriage records, 1846-1872

Transferred from the State​ Health Division:

  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1946 (1 volume)

Mal​​heur

Transferred from the State Health Di​vision:

  • *Birth Records, 1925-1948 (70 volumes)
  • *Non-resident Birth Records, 1946-1948 (.2 cu.ft.)
  • Death Records, 1925-1949 (17 volumes)
  • Death Certificates, 1921-1944 (1 volume, 2 cu.ft.)

Mar​​ion

Divorce index, 1852-1921 (Circuit Court Cases)
Search Marion County divorces, 1852-1921 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary p​​ublication:

  • Death index, 1907A-1929L (microfilm)
  • Marriage records, 1849-1900 (9 volumes)

Transferred from the State Health Division:

  • *Birth Certificates, 1930-1947 (.1 cu.ft.)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1929 (1 volume)
  • Death Cer​tificates, 1934-1948 (.1 cu.ft.)

Morrow

Reference Room Li​b​​rary publication:

  • Marriage records, 1885-1917

Multnomah

Marriage license index and record, 1855-1947 (microfilm)
Marriage license index, Oct 1903-1980 (microfilm)

Reference Room Lib​​rary pu​​blication:

  • Marriage records, 18​55-1890 (5 volumes)

Po​lk

Birth register, 1903-1915; 1943-1957, with index (5 volumes)
Death records, 1903-1905, with index (1 volume)
Divorce Index, 1854-1912 (Circuit Court Cases)
Marriage records, 1849-1955 (microfilm)
Search Polk County delayed births, 1855-1899; and divorces, 1854-1912 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publicati​​on:

  • Marriage records, 1849-1879

She​rman

Transferred from the State Health D​ivision:

  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1941 (1 volume)

Tillam​ook

*Birth certificates, 1903-1943 (4 cu.ft.)
Birth register, 1907-1916 (2 volumes)
Death certificates, 1903-1907, 1919-1943 (2 cu.ft.)
Death registers, 1907-1916 (2 volumes)
Divorce Index, 1875-1909 (Circuit Court Cases)
Search Tillamook County divorces, 1875-1909 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Lib​​rary publicati​​on:

  • Death and burial records, 1860-1898
  • Marriage records, 1862-1910

Umati​lla

*Birth certificates, 1913-1944 (4.8 cu.ft.)
*Birth register, 1906-1925 (7 volumes)
Death certificates, 1913-1944 (3.85 cu.ft.)
Death register, 1907-1929 (7 volumes)
Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1863-1942 (31 cu.ft.)
Search Umatilla County divorces, 1863-1942 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Li​b​​rary publi​cation:

  • Marriage records, 1862-1894

Wall​owa

Transferred from the State Health Division:

  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-192​9 (1 volume)

Wasco

*Birth certificates, delayed, 1859-1942, with index
Divorce Index, 1859-1916 (Circuit Court Cases)
Marriage certificates, 1879-1898
Marriage records, 1856-1865, 1939-1947 (microfilm)
Search Wasco County delayed births, 1859-1899; and divorces, 1859-1916 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library publicat​ions:

  • Early marriage records for Clackamas and Wasco, 1848-1865
  • Marriage records, 1852-1900

Transferred from the State Health Divi​sion:

  • *Birth Certificates, N-Z, 1921-1945 (1 volume)
  • *Birth and Death Certificates, 1915-1922 (1 volume)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1941 (3 volumes)
  • Death Records, 1907-1915 (1 volume)
  • Death Certificates, A-Z, 1921-1944 (2 volumes)

Washin​gton

Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1863-1942 (13.50 cu.ft.)
Marriage records, 1850-1875, with index (microfilm)
Search Washington County divorces, 1863-1942 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Library publi​cation:

  • Marriage records, 1842-1896

Transferred from the Health Division:

  • *Birth Certificates, A-Z, 1908-1945 (2.4 cu.ft.)
  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1936 (1 volume)
  • Death Certificates, A-Z, 1934-1938 (.5 cu.ft.)

Whee​ler

Transferred from the State Health Division:

  • *Birth and Death Records, 1915-1930 (1 cu.ft.)

Yamh​ill

*Birth and death index, 1875-1944
*Birth and death register, 1915-1928
Birth register, 1871-1915
Death register, 1907-1915
Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1857-1930 (12 cu.ft.)
Marriage index, 1876-1902
Marriage records, 1857-1906
Search Yamhill County divorces, 1857-1930; and marriages, 1856-1875 (Oregon Historical Records Index)

Reference Room Libr​ary publication:

  • ​Marriage records, 1844-1912 (8 volumes)

*Birth certificate affidavit for corrections, 1904-1980
Birth Certificates, Oregon, 1903-1919
Death certificates, Oregon, 1903-1969
Death index, Oregon, 1903-2008 (microfilm)
Delayed birth certificates, 1842-1918
Divorce index, Oregon, 1946-2008 (microfilm)
Divorce returns, 1925-1969
Marriage index, Oregon, 1906-1924, 1946-2008 (microfilm)
Marriage returns, 1906-1969​​
​

Reference Room Li​​brary publication:​

  • Cumulative Death Index to the Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, 1838-1911 (1 volume)
  • Cumulative Marriage Index to the Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, 1838-1911 (1 volume)
  • Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest (7 volumes)​
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New in 2025


Vital records opened at the beginning of 2025:
  • Birth Certificates for 1924
  • Death Certificates for 1974
  • Marriage and Divorce Returns for 1974

Marriage Returns include information such as number of times married, place of birth and occupations that are not part of the information collected on Marriage Certificates.

​Looking for a contemporary vital record?

Any birth certificate less than 100 years old, is available only through the Oregon Health Authority.

They can also provide death certificates less than 50 years old, and marriage and divorce returns less than 50 years old.​

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