The State of Tennessee did not require regular recording of births and deaths before 1908.  Large cities have earlier records by local mandate.  Although birth and death records became required statewide in 1914, local recording was inconsistent — especially in rural areas — until the mid-1920’s.

The Tennessee State Library & Archives maintains a detailed description of available records and their access.  Click here to view the TSLA site for vital records.

For two short periods, Tennessee law required counties to maintain records of births and deaths.  Local officials across the state were inconsistent in requiring registrations.

Haywood County records — births, 1881-1882; births & deaths, 1908-1912 — are available on microfilm.  Click here to view the digitized microfilm images free at FamilySearch.  You will require a free login to view the images.

Tennessee initiated a “delayed birth records” system covering events in the years 1869-1909.  When the Social Security Administration was created in 1935, the agency asked for birth certificates as proof the applicant qualified for entry into the program.  Most Tennesseans who wished to apply were born prior to the 1908 state law that first required the issuing of birth certificates.  Beginning in 1935, Tennessee began to issue Delayed Birth Certificates thru an application process that required supporting documents.

Click here to view the Delayed Birth Records at Ancestry.com — free to Tennessee residents without an Ancestry subscription.