Scope and Content
This collection consists of birth, marriage, and death registers for the City of Hartford from approximately 1680 to 1903. The earliest record books include births, c. 1680-1735 and marriages, c. 1683-1709 interspersed with poll tax assessments, highway plans, and early deeds. Births from this era are organized alphabetically in family registers, with many events recorded decades after they occurred.
By the mid-to-late nineteenth century, vital records include detailed information about individuals such as parents' names and birthplaces, occupation, and race. Late nineteenth century marriage entries record parents' nationalities. Many vital events were derived from the original baptismal, marriage, and burial registers and are noted as such.
The Town and City Clerk Archives has been split into several additional finding aids: Boards and Commissions, Building Permits, City Property, Corporations, Court Matters, Education, Licenses and License Applications, Mayor and Council, Property Deeds and Releases of Attachment, Public Safety, Public Works, Selectmen’s Records, Sewers, Streets, Taxation, Town and City Officers, Transportation, Vital Records, and Zoning.
Dates
- Majority of material found in 1680-1903
- 1635-2010 (Entire archive)
Access Restrictions
The records are stored in a restricted area and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Town and City Clerk Archive must be obtained in writing from the head of the Hartford History Center, and a copy of the published work may be requested. The Hartford History Center reserves the right to refuse permission to publish, etc. to those who have not compiled with its policies. Use of the collections will normally not be permitted for the purpose of promotion of commercial products and services, or political campaigns. Hartford History Center reserves the right to limit the number of photographic prints/captures and to restrict the use or reproduction of rare, fragile, or valuable objects.
Historical Note
In 2005, the Town/City Clerk of Hartford, Daniel Carey, under a grant from the Connecticut State Library, hired a firm to survey the Clerk's five story vault. The next year, under a second grant, an archival aide was hired to remove the records and documents from the vault. They were sorted into record groups, placed in acid free folders, and then into manuscript boxes. In the fall of 2010, with the permission of the Mayor of Hartford, the Court of Common Council of Hartford, the Town/City Clerk of Hartford, and the Public Records Administrator and State Archivist of the Connecticut State Library, the Town and City Clerk Archive was formally transferred to the Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library.
Extent
33 Volumes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The archive is a comprehensive record of the City of Hartford, as collected by the Town and City Clerk Office. It includes record groups by department, government entity, or area of focus, as well as single subjects, such as bridges, railroads, and celebrations. Additionally, the collection holds vital statistics for select years.
Accruals
The Hartford Town and City Clerk Archive remains open, and individual series may continue to receive additional accruals.
Processing Information
The collection was initially processed by Wilson H. Faude, beginning in 2006. Vital Records finding aid by Jennifer Shakshober, 2021.
Source
- Hartford (Conn.). Court of Common Council (Organization)
- Title
- Vital Records
- Subtitle
- A guide to the collection at the Hartford History Center
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- The initial finding aid was completed in 2012. It was updated and uploaded to ArchivesSpace in 2022.
Repository Details
Part of the Hartford History Center Repository
Hartford History Center
Hartford Public Library
500 Main St
Hartford CT 06103 USA
860.695.6297
hhc@hplct.org