What death, marriage, birth and adoption records does the Historical Library have?

Idaho began recording deaths in 1907 at the county level; however, not all deaths were recorded. The deaths that were recorded can be found at the Historical Library in the individual county records on microfilm. (They can also be found at the County Recorder's office in each county.) Beginning July 1, 1911 and continuing to the present, deaths have been recorded at the state level. The Historical Library does hold microfilm copies of death records, including an alphabetical index, covering the period from July 1, 1911 through 1932. There is also an unsorted selection of death certificates, without index, covering the period from 1933 through1937. Any death record after this date must obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Idaho did not require marriage licenses before March 11, 1895; however, many of the earlier marriages were recorded at the county level. These records can be found in the individual county records on microfilm at the Historical Library or at the County Recorder's office in each county. Marriage and divorce records from 1947 to the present must be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Idaho did not record births before 1907. Beginning in 1907, they were recorded on the county level but, again, not all births were recorded. The births that were recorded can be found at the Historical Library in the individual county records on microfilm or at the County Recorder's office in each county. Births have been recorded on the state level since July 1, 1911 and these records must be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

The Historical Library does not hold adoption records. Any requests for information about adoption records will be directed to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

How do I contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics?

Contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 450 W. State Street, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0036. A recorded informational message can be reached at 208-334-5988.

Can I check books out?

The Historical Library and Archives is a research library; materials cannot be checked out. Some materials, such as most microfilm and oral history interviews, can be mailed for use in another library via an interlibrary loan request.

My grandfather recently died and while sorting through his belongings, I found 10 shares of stock in the ABC Company dated 1912. Does this company still exist?

The Idaho Secretary of State is the best source of information on corporations and stocks in Idaho. Contact the Corporation Division at 208-334-2301 or the Department of Stocks at 208-223-2411.

What are public records?

The term "public records" is an extremely broad concept. It "includes, but is not limited to, any writing containing information relating to the conduct or administration of the public's business prepared owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics." Materials might be typewritten or hand-written but could also be pictures, maps, tapes, magnetic or punched cards, and computer discs. E-mail is considered a public record subject to the same laws as any other public record.

What responsibility does the Historical Library have for providing access to public records?

The Historical Society, like any state agency, must comply with the Idaho Public Records Law. The right to inspect and to receive a copy of public records at all reasonable times is absolute unless the record is exempt from disclosure by laws. In addition, the public agency is required to extend reasonable comfort and facility to the individual requesting public records. The concept of a "copy" of a public record is comprehensive, including "transcribing by handwriting, photocopying, duplicating machine and reproduced by any other means so long as the public record is not altered or damaged.. Additionally, a certified copy, if feasible to produce, must be provided upon request. Agencies are not required to provide copies of records in a format not used by the agency in the normal course of business. For example, the agency need not alphabetize information upon request, or engage the services of a computer programmer to provide the information in a format desired by the requesting party.

Can the Library and Archives appraise historic documents or photographs?

The Idaho State Historical Society is unable to provide appraisals of the monetary value of materials offered as gifts, brought in for identification, or submitted for any other purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service regards libraries and museums as interested parties, and appraisals prepared by them for gifts that they receive are subject to question. Such appraisals are likely to be challenged by the IRS.

Donors wanting an appraisal must themselves acquire and pay a professional appraiser. Remember, though, that the cost of an appraisal may be tax deductible if the gift is being given to a qualifying charitable institution. Appraisers earn their fee, indeed, because they must be prepared to defend the appraisal in court. This requires an expert knowledge of prices which comes from observing the market closely and continually. Curators and archivists, who are not in the business of daily buying and selling, are not necessarily conversant with prices on the current market. Accurate establishment of prices can be a complex procedure, requiring a time-consuming search in auction records and price guides not readily available in libraries. Appraisers must form extensive personal libraries to keep themselves up-to-date in their field.

Appraisers can be located by checking the telephone directory under headings such as "Appraisers," "Books--Rare and Used," and "Antiques--Dealers." There are also several professional non-profit associations that can provide guidance:

Appraisers Association of America (AAA)
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 2000
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 889-5404
Fax: (212) 889-5503
Email: appraisers@appraisersassoc.org
Website: http://www.appraisersassoc.org

American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
Herndon, VA 20170
Phone: (703) 478-2228
Fax: (703) 742-8471
Website: http://www.appraisers.org

International Society of Appraisers (ISA)
1131 SW 7th St, Suite 105
Renton, WA 98055
Phone: (206) 241-0359
Fax: (206) 241-0436
Website: http://www.isa-appraisers.org

Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America
50 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 757-9395
Fax: (212) 459-0307
Website: http://abaa.org

The Appraisal Foundation
1029 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 900
Washington DC 20005-3517
Phone: (202) 347-7722
Fax: (202) 347-7727
Website: http://www.appraisalfoundation.org

National Association of Professional Appraisers
65 E India Row
Suite 10F
Boston MA 02110
Phone: (617) 720-0332
Fax: (617) 720-0274
Website: http://www.professionalappraisers.org

For further information about IRS regulations, contact the Internal Revenue Service.