One of my favorite things to do at a local library is to use the index books of Providence Births, Marriages and Deaths that span the period 1851 – 1935+. The indices give a volume and page number for the entry in the Providence city records. If the record is from before 1900, I am usually able to find the record on microfilm at the Rhode Island Historical Society Library. If not, it would have to be obtained directly from the city of Providence.
Lately I have been finding some of these volumes online as pdf’s. I have not found them all but I thought they might be useful, in some cases, anyway. Many links, below, will open the pdf’s on Internet Archive. Most volumes there are mis-numbered, so I am linking directly here to avoid confusion. Download the pdf, open it and look at the title page for the proper volume number. You will want to re-name any file you download with the right volume number. Note that a few of the links are to copies I have made of the actual books in my possession; I continue to seek the rest, if you have any information please let me know.
The title is usually given as:
Alphabetical Index of the Births, Marriages and Deaths Recorded in Providence
note: these volumes download slowly. Italics title means book is not available.
- Vol. 1 Births, Marriages, Deaths 1636-1850 (opens the FamilySearch.org pdf located here)
- Vol. 2 Marriages 1851-1870 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 3 Deaths 1851-1870 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 4 Births 1851-1870 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 5 Marriages 1871-1880 (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads).
- Vol. 7 Deaths 1871-1880 (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads).
- Vol. 9 Births 1871-1880 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 6 Marriages 1881-1890 (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads). Note: after you use the index, the ACTUAL RECORD BOOKS for 1880-1891 (vols. 13, 14, 15, 16) are at this link on FamilySearch.org – see the four Marriage Register volumes towards the end of the list.
- Vol. 8 Deaths 1881-1890 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 10 Births 1881-1890 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 11 Births 1891-1900 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 12 Deaths 1891-1900 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 13 Marriages 1891-1900 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 14-1 Births 1901-1910 Part 1 A – Koulil (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 14-2 Births 1901-1910 Part 2 Kourhi – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 15-1 Deaths 1901-1910 Part 1 A – Labrie (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 15-2 Deaths 1901-1910 Part 2 Labrie – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- [Vol. 16-1 Marriages 1901-1910 Part 1 A – Kingsley]
- Vol. 16-2 Marriages 1901-1910 Part 2 Kingsley – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 17-1 Births 1911-1920 Part 1 A – Kotuski (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 17-2 Births 1911-1920 Part 2 Kouffman – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 18-1 Deaths 1911-1920 Part 1 A – Kinsky (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads).
- Vol. 18-2 Deaths 1911-1920 Part 2 Kinsley – Z (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads).
- Vol. 19-1 Marriages 1911-1920 Part 1 A – Killoran (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads.) (alert – overlaps the next volume)
- Vol. 19-2 Marriages 1911-1920 Part 2 Fradet-Murtha (opens the FamilySearch.org pdf) (alert – overlaps the previous volume)
- Vol. 19-3 Marriages 1911-1920 Part 3 Murtha-Z (Opens the FamilySearch.org pdf) (Thanks to Walt in England for spotting this one and sharing it!)
- Vol. 20-1 Births 1921-1930 Part 1 A – Kopelow (download my scan – it will take several minutes. When downloading a pdf book, you should set your browser to download & save; NOT to try and open the pdf in the browser as it downloads.)
- Vol. 20-2 Births 1921-1930 Part 2 Kopit – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 21-1 Deaths 1921-1930 Part 1 A – LaMothe (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 21-2 Deaths 1921-1930 Part 2 LaMothe – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 22-1 Marriages 1921-1930 Part 1 A – Kelly (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 22-2 Marriages 1921-1930 Part 2 Kelly – Z (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- Vol. 23 Births 1931-1935 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
- [Vol. 24 Deaths 1931-1935]
- Vol. 25 Marriages 1931-1935 (opens the Internet Archive pdf located here)
NEHGS has many of these index records available in their Search area on AmericanAncestors.org; their set appears to be complete. I’m not sure if membership is required to view these, or just a free login identity.
Although not a PDF file the, FamilySearch have scanned the following volume:
[Vol. 19-3 Marriages 1911-1920 Part 3 Murtha-Z] at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVY-Q93T-G?i=321&cat=83212
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Walt, thank you so much!! This arrived when I was traveling and I am just seeing it. I will work this into the list. You are amazing! Diane
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what about deaths in providence for 1930-1935?
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As the post says, if the title does not link to anything, then personally I have not found it online.
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I would like to echo the other comments- thank you so much for this! I’ve discovered my grandfather had 2 siblings we never knew about and who are a bit of a mystery. Neither Ancestry nor My Heritage had records of their birth (although they appeared in census records). I was able to find confirmation that they were born to my great-grandparents in here. One of the siblings falls off the map after the 1930 census so would also love to find the Vol. 24 Deaths 1931-1935. Hopefully it will become available soon. Thank you!
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Marina, you could contact the Providence City Archives or the Rhode Island State Archives. This is not a big request, I think either place would give a look. In general the genealogy data services do not have much coverage of the post-1850 era. Makes it tougher I know.
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I was trying to find my fathers real father, but his birth certificate says delayed, I called Providence city hall and they told me that it was never recorded. I will use this site to try and find him. Thank you for your awsome work !!!
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You have no idea how helpful this is, and I’m sure it was an insane amount of work. Thank you so much!
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Kayla thank you. I have lost several days of my life hunting through all the mis-labeled copies on the internet! I figured no one else should have to do that. I am slowly trying to buy and digitize the remaining volumes myself.
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Hello! I have a Greek Marriage Certificate from the Orthodox Greek Community in Pawtucket, RI for my great grandparents. I am desperately trying to find if there is an offical RI Marriage certificate. I currently live in the United Kingdom so have no way to get back to the States. Do you have any suggestions of how I could try and find out this information from afar? From what you have said, Pawtucket information would not be in the Providence record Archives??
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Hi Christine. You need to contact the vital records office, or city clerks office for the city of Pawtucket. If the record is less than 100 years old further steps are required. Good luck with your search.
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vol 1. deaths 1911-20 is not a pdf file. any plans to make it a pdf?
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Hi Norm. I have one or two of these volumes on hand in paper, but not that one. If someone finds it digitized online, please alert me so I can post the link here.
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Hi, I’m a clerk in the Pawtucket City Hall. We handle all the birth death and marriage records of Pawtucket. Our RI records are made public after a number of years so anyone would be able to call or email us with a request for information on certain vital records. Death records are made public information after 50 years, Marriage and Birth records are public after 100 years. Please give us call with questions we’d be more than happy to help with your searches. 401-728-0500
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Lillian, what a kind note. Thanks!!
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Thanks for the reply, to my original post. Im happy to say most of my Rhode Island Genealogy worked out well thanks to many of the tips I learned from from this site. I did go to Pawtucket for a few records and they were very helpful. I also used the RI State Archive and the Providence Public Library. It all fell into place, the trail only went cold when some cousins moved to California. But this site helped me transition the Massachusetts Records I was used to and Rhode island very well.
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New to Rhode Island Genealogy and Records. The Providence Index’s are amazing and solved a long standing family mystery. This may be a dumb question, would Pawtucket, RI be part of the providence Index?
Looking for a death certificate of someone that died in Pawtucket in 1920.
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Hi. The answer is, no. Try the Rhode Island State Archives for that record. The Pawtucket town hall would have that record, but may not be willing to help people remotely; I don’t know.
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You can find the following index and images on the FamilySearch website:
[Pawtucket] Death records (1872-1945),and returns of death (1900-1921)
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I am looking for death record of my grandfather Joseph Eugene Cook who died on August 5, 1931.
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Your site is amazing!! I found the person’s name I was researching, Charles H. Smith D. 1882, does that mean they have a death certificate for him?
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Hi Tina. Thank you! Yes, you can contact the Providence City Archives. They can send you a copy of the full information on the register pages. Normally, that’s what you want, since you will have to pay if you want them to type this on a certificate. And to re-type might only introduce errors. If you need,and official certificate, like for a lineage application, go to the Providence Vital Records office website and follow instructions to mail in a request and payment.
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Thank you so much for all your work in providing these resources! It’s been extremely helpful in my research on my ancestors!
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How can I get a copy of a death certificate from [Vol. 18-2 Deaths 1911-1920 Part 2 Kinsky – Z]. Looking for Joseph Dennis who died Dec 31, 1919 in providence, ri. Please let me know. Thank you.
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Wendy, try contacting the Providence City Archives.
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Is there a marriage volume 19-3? I am desperately searching for the marriage record of my great grandfather Eugene (Gene) Mckinley Reeves to a woman named Lydia in approximately 1919! My grandmother desperately wants to find her half siblings! (My great grandfather had a secret family on the side). I know their names and birthdates too! But I need to know Lydias maiden name and it looks like the very record I would need is 19-3! Any idea where I can find it? I so appreciate your response.
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Yes Lydia, good point, and I will add the volume to the list. But that won’t help you. These volumes are almost impossible to find online because most are mis-labelled. So far, that one has not turned up. Try contacting the Rhode Island State Archives, giving the names and locations that you know. Best of luck!
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I am trying to find any records on William Bourt. Born 1870s and Ethel I Bourt. Maden name Anderson. Born October 2 1887 thanks.
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Ken I’m assuming you did not find any record in the books, above. You would need to find the “Unable to Visit” form on the Rhode Island State Archives, fill one out for each person, and submit.
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The link is here – look for the Unable to Visit form.
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Thank you diane
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http://sos.ri.gov/archives/researchers/
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I found my great grandmother Ethel IAnderson Gustay and Ida Anderson born October 2 1887 11:12 . Thanks again. Still trying to find my great grandfather Wm bourt.
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I found my great grandmother Ethel I Anderson .
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You have done a great job organizing all of these free resources. I have visited many sites in my searches…and taken note of the sites cursorily because I wanted to get on with what I was doing. The distraction of genealogical pathways, “Oh look at that!” I learned through the years to stay on task! Not always successfully:) Thanks for being good at it.
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I think those are called “bright shiny objects” Val. The downfall of all of us! Thanks for visiting.
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This is a wonderful site…many thanks for sharing !!!!
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This site was a great help!
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Thank you so very much for organizing these resources — especially the Prov Vital Records. Cynthia
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