This week I reviewed this document for Henry Walter Johnson and noticed that it is what is called a "delayed" birth certificate. In long ago days, records were not formally kept for events in a person's life. In the early 20th century records such as birth certificates became a requirement. The United States didn't begin a formalized system for registering the birth of a citizen until 1902. Some states required them earlier than others and South Dakota, where Henry was born didn't require them until 1905.
Folks born before birth certificates were required would later in life find they needed a birth certificate. Reasons for needed to show proof of birth include enlisting in the military, required by an employer's requirement, obtaining a U.S. passport, etc. A 'delayed' certificate could be obtained later in life. After the Social Security Act was passed in 1936, eligible citizens needed proof of their birth when they submitted their Social Security account application. This is likely the reason Henry requested and obtained his delayed birth certificate. For proof folks were required to submit multiple pieces of information to prove their birth date. Items used may have been a family bible, church record, an affidavit that was written by a witness to the birth, the attending doctor or midwife, etc.
Henry Walter Johnson was a younger brother to my grandfather, Alfred M. Johnson; so Henry was my paternal grand uncle. His delayed birth certificate is a fill-in-the-blanks form. I will show the information that was added to the blank form in blue, bold, italics. My comments will be surrounded by square-brackets [ ].
 |
| IMAGE: Henry W. Johnson's delayed birth certificate, South Dakota #10019, dated 5 March 1941. Original image held by the Henry W. Johnson descendents. |
NO. 10019
THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That the following is a true and correct copy of a certificate of birth, filed in the office of the Division of VItal Statistics, South Dakota State Board of Health, as directed by chapter 267, 1931 Session Laws of South Dakota.
JFD Cook [1]
Director of Vital Statistics
STATE BOARD OD HEALTH
Division of Vital Statistics
SOUTH DAKOTA
STANDARD CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH
State File No. [blank]
Registered No. 10386
1. PLACE OF BIRTH
County Kingsbury
Township, City or Town Lake Preston
(If outside city limits, give township or write rural.)
No. [Blank] St.
2. FULL NAME OF CHILD Henry Walter Johnson
{If child is not yet named, make supplemental report, as directed
===============================================
3. Sex Male
If plural births
4. Twin, triplet, or other
5. Number, in order of birth
6. Premature Full Term Yes
7. Is mother married? Yes
8. Date of birth Nov. 5,
FATHER
9. Full Name William Christian Johnson
10. Residence: County State
Post Office Address Lake Preston, So. Dak.
11. Color or race White
12. Age at last birthday 30 (years)
13. Birthplace (city or place)
(State or Country) Denmark
14. Usual Occupation Farmer
15. Industry or business
MOTHER
16. Full maiden name Marie Julson
17. Residence: County State
Post Office Address Lake Preston, So. Dak.
18. Color or race White
19. Age at last birthday 33 (years)
20. Birthplace (city or place) Perry
(State or Country) Wisconsin
21. Usual Occupation Housekeeper
22. Industry or business
23. Number of children of this mother
(At time of this birth and including this child) 5
(a) Born alive and now living 4
(b) Born alive but now dead 1
(c) Stillborn
24. Was there any Congenital Malformation? Describe
25. Was a prophylactic drug used in the baby's eyes?
If "yes" state drug
============================================
CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR MIDWIFE
I hereby certify that I attended the birth of this child, who was born at m.on the date above stated.
{Was a blood test made during the pregnancy of the mother named in this birth certificate in compliance with provisions of Chapter 103, Session Laws of 1939(Sec. 27.2406, S.D. Code of 1939)? }
Date of test: If not, why?
In no event shall the birth certificate state the result of the test.
[blank] M.D.
Otto A. Julson
Signature of attending physician, midwife, or informant.
(Cross out words which do not apply.)
Address Lake Preston, So. Dak.
Filed 3/5, 1941
John McAdaragh
Registrar.
------ transcription ends ------
Source:
1.) "News From the Field," American Journal of Public Health (http://ajph.aphapublications.org : accessed 25, 2017) Volume 33, page 922, July, 1943, Central States: Dr. Gilbert G. Cottam of Sioux Falls, S.D. has been selected to replace the late JFD Cook, M.D. as Superintendent of South Dakota State Board of Health. Clarifies the name of the Director of Vital Statistics at top of form.
The final signature "Otto A. Julson" is signing as the informant. Otto was Henry's uncle, Marie Julson's brother and he was also living in Lake Preston, SD when Henry was born. It is predicted that Henry contacted his uncle and asked for his help. It is not known if Henry made a trip to Lake Preston from his home in Kent, Washington to receive this document, or if Otto was able to intervene and have it mailed to him. But it is very nice for us it still exists. Thank you to the family for sharing it with me.
The copy of the above document was given to me on 22 Dec 2012 while meeting Henry's descendants. I thank them.
Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.
Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a good day and a great week.
-- -- --
The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/02/amanuensis-monday-birth-certificate-for.html.
Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you.
Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens
No comments:
Post a Comment