Manchester, Connecticut's inventory of vital records books and other source materials for pre-1900 vital records

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any catalog, inventory, index, log, report, or other listing of (1) the books in your possession or control which registrars used to record birth, marriages, deaths, and burials before 1900 (including any Land Records books and/or Town or Proprietors Meeting/Minutes/Record books which include any records of birth, marriages and deaths) and (2) other books, records, and documents in your possession or control which index, copy, regroup, reference or support town birth, deaths and marriages, including communications or reports of communication from ministers, justices of the peace, sextons, and other witnesses to any aspect of births, marriages, burials, and/or deaths prior to 1900.

I also request that, if possible and pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-212(d), fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest and not made for commercial gain. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media/press and made available to the public at MuckRock.com.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 4 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Linda MacLachlan

I did not submit “a request to obtain pre 1900 records for birth, marriage, death and burials” electronic or otherwise I already possess copies of them. A volume titled “Births, Marriages, Deaths, v. 1 1847-1854,” (and 5 subsequent volumes) were microfilmed in your office by the Genealogical Society of Utah in 1983. See https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BT-ZQZV-F?i=2&cat=657783. Given the fact that the first volume begins before 1853, I simply seek assurance that you still possess it.
Also, the Connecticut State Library reports that one James Lahy abstracted all your 1823-1853 vital records in 1918, presumably at your office. A 1995 book, "Connecting to Connecticut," states that they were then in East Hartford. What would you now tell a genealogist who came to your office seeking them? Do you still lack a copy of this book?
Thank you,
Linda MacLachlan

Thank You.
Linda MacLachlan