Finding Pima County Vital Records on FamilySearch.org

Finding Pima County Vital Records on FamilySearch.org

This guide will walk you through finding Pima County vital records on FamilySearch.org, helping you uncover important details about your ancestors.

Step 1: Navigate to the FamilySearch Catalog

• Open your web browser and go to FamilySearch.org.
• If you have an account, it's recommended to Sign In for full access to all features. If not, you can still search the public catalog.
• From the top navigation menu, hover over Search.
• From the dropdown menu, click on Catalog. This is the most effective way to browse records by location.

Step 2: Search for Pima County Records by Place

• On the Catalog page, ensure the search type is set to Place (it usually defaults to this).
• In the "Place" search box, type: United States, Arizona, Pima.
• As you type, a dropdown list will appear. Select the option that precisely matches: United States, Arizona, Pima.
• Click the blue Search button.

Step 3: Browse the List of Pima County Record Collections

• The search results page will display a comprehensive list of record types available for Pima County, Arizona.
• Scroll down and carefully review the categories. You will typically find vital records under headings such as:
  • Vital records (a general category containing various types)
  • Arizona, Pima - Birth records
  • Arizona, Pima - Death records
  • Arizona, Pima - Marriage records
  • You might also find relevant information under Cemeteries, Probate records, or Church records, which can contain death or birth dates.
• Click on the specific category you wish to explore, for example, Arizona, Pima - Death records.

Step 4: Access the Digital Images or Indexed Records

• After clicking a category, you'll see a list of available records, often organized by date ranges or specific record types (e.g., "Deaths, 1887-1959").
• Look at the "Film/Digital Notes" column for each entry to determine how to access the records:
  • A camera icon (looks like a small film camera) indicates that the records are available as digital images that you can browse online. Click this icon to open the image viewer and flip through the pages.
  • A magnifying glass icon (looks like a magnifying glass over a document) indicates that the records have been indexed and are searchable by name. Clicking this icon will take you to a search interface for that specific collection.
  • If neither icon is present, the records might be microfilmed and require viewing at a FamilySearch center or affiliate library.
• Click on the appropriate icon to begin viewing or searching the vital records for Pima County!