The California Birth Index (CABI) is a database compiled by the California Office of Health Information and Research. The index contains

birth record A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a person. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuin ...

s of all registered births in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

between 1905 and 1995. Each record is an abstract of a person's birth certificate, including date of birth, full name,Full name for those born 1925-1955 and 1978-1995. Only middle initial for the rest. county of birth, gender, and mother's

maiden name When a person (traditionally the wife in many cultures) assumes the family name of their spouse, in some countries that name replaces the person's previous surname, which in the case of the wife is called the maiden name ("birth name" is also used ...

. The index is available online from a number of sources. See below. People who have been adopted are sometimes listed by their birth name, sometimes listed by their adopted name, sometimes by both and sometimes not listed at all. The CABI is considered a valuable

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

tool but is also criticized for

privacy Privacy (, ) is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively. The domain of privacy partially overlaps with security, which can include the concepts of a ...

issues. California began statewide civil registration of births on 1 July 1905. Earlier birth records may exist in the county where the birth took place or at the church where a baptism took place.

Controversy

Critics of the index claim that the index's information aids in

identity theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's personal identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The term ''identity theft'' was co ...

. Several public record websites have purchased copies of the index from the California Department of Health Services. In 2001, the ''

San Jose Mercury News ''The Mercury News'' (formerly ''San Jose Mercury News'', often locally known as ''The Merc'') is a morning daily newspaper published in San Jose, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is published by the Bay Area News Group, a subsidiar ...

'' printed a story about the index, then accessible on genealogical website

Rootsweb Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. In November 2018, ...

, causing numerous complaints and requests for removal from the index, and ultimately leading to the index being removed from the site. The California Birth Index, along with the

California Death Index California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, was at one time available free at

. When Rootsweb was purchased by

Ancestry.com Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. In November 2018, ...

, the index remained available for a time, but then was removed by Ancestry because of complaints concerning

privacy violation The right to privacy is an element of various legal traditions that intends to restrain governmental and private actions that threaten the privacy of individuals. Over 150 national constitutions mention the right to privacy. On 10 December 194 ...

s. The index was then only available through VitalSearch and later through Family Tree Legends and

FamilySearch FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization and website offering genealogical records, education, and software. It is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and is closely connected with the church's Family Histo ...

. Ancestry has restored the index to its content, but has not restored the notes by users posted in the index when it was available on

. Ancestry will remove individual listings upon request. California Birth Index listings on the Family Tree Legends website do not include the mother's maiden name, but listings at

, and VitalSearch websites do. Despite the controversy, birth records in California are public record. Any person can request and receive a copy of the birth certificate of any other person born in California. To reduce the risk of identity theft, only certain persons may obtain an authorized copy of a birth record. All others may obtain an informational copy. The informational copy will have the same information on it as an authorized copy, but will be stamped "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." CABI California Birth Index

References

External links

* * * {{cite web , url=https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879 , title=California Birth Index, 1905-1995 , publisher=

familysearch.org FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization and website offering genealogical records, education, and software. It is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and is closely connected with the church's Family Histo ...

, url-access=subscription Identity documents of the United States Birth registration People from California

Controversy

See also

References

External links