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Archiver > NORCAL > 1997-07 > 0868903394


From: Larry Kuttner <>
Subject: Re: Great registers
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 11:03:14 -0700


At 10:16 AM 7/14/97 -0400, wrote:
>Larry,
>What is a "great register"?
>Julie

========================================

Julie:

After about 1867, each county clerk in California was
required to publish every other year a list of the outstaning
valid voter registrations for that county. For each (male) voter, the
register lists such information as name, occupation, residence, age, place
of birth, if naturalized when and where, and in some of the later years a
brief description of the individual
with such information as height, complexion, hair color, eye
color and distinguishing marks.

They are available from various locations, including the microfilm library
of the LDS church. I believe that the LDS only microfilmed thru 1898
although the registers go later. In the smaller counties it is possible
that all of the registers for that
county are available on one microfilm. In the case of the larger locations,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc. the names are
arranged in location and then surname. In these cases it is
necessary to search the index microfilms for the location and
determine which districts the ones you are looking for were located and then
order the proper microfilm for that district.

They allow one to identify ones male ancestors and tell where they were
living at a certain time. Also in one case, I was able to identify and
locate two brothers of a non-Kuttner great uncle because they had the same
last name and identical middle names.

At the LDS FHC go to locality search on the library catalog CD-ROM and find
the California county you are interested in. Then check for the catagory
that includes the great registers.
Unfortunately, it's been such a long time since I looked, that
I'm not sure what the catagory is. I think vital records, but am not sure.

Hope this helps.

Regards and good hunting,

Lawrence E. (Larry) Kuttner (of Oregon)

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