Rhode Island Vital Records
Though earlier vital records have been gathered and abstracted in James N. Arnold's Vital Record of Rhode Island, 16361850, 21 vols. (Providence, R.I.: Narragansett Historical Publishing Co., 18911912), statewide reporting did not begin until 1853. From that time, copies of vital events recorded in towns were sent to what is now the Rhode Island Division of Vital Statistics. Many records prior to 1894 are now in the state archive. Towns, for the most part, still hold originals in the clerk's office.
For birth and marriage records from 1 January 1894 and death records from 1 January 1948, write:
State of Rhode Island, Dept. of Health, Division of Vital Records, Cannon Building, Room 101, 75 Davis Street, Providence, RI 02908
For earlier records, write:
Rhode Island State Archives, 337 Westminster Street, Providence, RI
02903
Rhode Island Department of Health - Vital Records |