Terminology used in records can vary slightly from one state to another, one county to another (less often), and from one time period to another. It is always advised to make certain you have everything that comprises a record and know how each of those things fit into the marriage record as a whole. This “Marriage Coupon” was a part of the marriage paperwork when this couple married in Arkansas in 1943. After the marriage, this coupon was submitted to the Arkansas State Registrar of Vital Statistics.
This “Marriage Coupon” from Arkansas is actually a state record–not a local one. It was part of an Ancestry.com database of Arkansas marriage records, but since marriage records are generated at the county level, it’s probably not the only record of the marriage. The county may have additional information regarding the marriage, perhaps a marriage application or other “initial paperwork” filings. Always determine just who originally maintained the record at which you are looking. That will help guide you in trying to determine what additional materials may be available. If you don’t know exactly what you are looking at, you don’t know what else could be available and you might not interpret the material as accurately as possible. Get the Genealogy Tip of the Day book. Great for reading […]
Recent Comments