Branford, 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:

A complete catalog, inventory, index, log, report, or other listing of (1) all 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

The Connecticut Vital records act required you to keep written information on town births, deaths and marriages until recently. I have seen microfilm of some, but not all of your records at the Connecticut State library and online at FamilySearch.org. I want to know all the sources you have in your office to fulfill a request for a pre-1900 vital record.
Thank You.
Linda MacLachlan

I am not requesting vital records. I am interested in knowing what books and other sources of town vital records are available in your office that at not available (or cataloged under your town’s name) at the Connecticut State Library. I ask for a listing of your whole collection (paper and computerized) because I do not expect you to compare your collection item by item with anyone else’s , but I can do so if I just have your list.
Such a list, whether paper or a computer file, is subject to the Connecticut FOIL. Some towns have such a list in a notebook for the convenience of visiting researchers. It would probably save staff time and aggravation if you had such a notebook, too.
Please help me.
Linda MacLachlan

Your office and the office records you create and possess (other than the vital records themselves) are subject to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. You must know this or you would not have responded to this request so promptly.
That’s all I’m asking for: your tracking of your possessions. Please be helpful.
Linda MacLachlan

Your response did not address my "previous request " because it related to vital records. I did not request vital records. Connecticut vital records law entitles Connecticut genealogists to access all but confidential vital records. I am writing a book that explains how to access Connecticut vital records town by town. I hope to be able to identify the books of vital records each town has that are not available elsewhere. I don't expect you to tell me which books are not available elsewhere, but if you will tell me what you have I can figure it out for myself. My goal is to make visits to your office by Connecticut genealogists as easy and productive as possible. I am confident you share this goal.
One Connecticut town clerk responded to my FOI request by snapping photos of the spines of her vital records books as they were shelved. in her vault. Would it be possible for you to do the same.
Thank you.
Linda MacLachlan

Thank you so very much.
May I credit you for the photos I publish in my book?
Linda MacLachlan