City of Brooklyn, Department of Health vital statistics
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The City of Brooklyn, Department of Health vital statistics collection measures 1 linear foot and spans the dates 1873 to 1897. The collection consists of bound volumes of weekly vital statistics reports compiled and published by the Department of Health for each year covered in the date span. The reports list the number of deaths for each week, the causes of those deaths, the number of deaths in each voting ward, and general demographic information about the deceased (including gender, ethnicity/nationality, age, etc). The reports do not list the names of the deceased.
Biographical / Historical
The amended charter of the City of Brooklyn, written in 1873, mandated the formation of a department of health. The head of this department was called the Health Commissioner. The Health Commissioner's duties included the removal and burial of the dead, operation and maintenance of ambulance services, the registration of births, marriages and deaths, the registration and maintenance of vital statistics, and the regulation of sanitary standards in city buildings. In times of emergency, such as the outbreak of a dangerous disease in the city, extrordianry powers could be conferred upon the Health Commissioner to address the crisis.
Sources
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac (Brooklyn: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1892), 35-36
Scope and Contents
The City of Brooklyn, Department of Health vital statistics collection measures 1 linear foot and spans the dates 1873 to 1897. The collection consists of bound volumes of weekly vital statistics reports compiled and published by the Department of Health for each year covered in the date span. The reports list the number of deaths for each week, the causes of those deaths, the number of deaths in each voting ward, and general demographic information about the deceased (including gender, ethnicity/nationality, age, etc). The reports do not list the names of the deceased.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); City of Brooklyn, Department of Health vital statistics collection, ARC.160, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The source and date of acquisition for this collection are unknown.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.
Sponsor Note
Note Statement
Repository
Container
This finding aid does not include an online listing of contents.
To learn about viewing this collection in person, please contact cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org.
