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Administrative History
Registration of births in New York State outside of New York City began January 1, 1881, under supervision of the State Board of Health (now Department of Health). A birth certificate issued by a local registrar of vital statistics contained accurate, verifiable information on an individual's name, and date and place of birth. That information was useful for legal proof of age. A 1913 law made a certified copy of a birth certificate "prima facie evidence of age," for purposes of school attendance and employment certificates ("working papers") issued to minors.
The New York State Archives is part of the Office of Cultural Education, an office of the New York State Education Department.
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