Race and Vital Records

Race and Vital Records

Racial Integrity Act
Standards of Learning VS.1a, VS.1g, VS.8b, USII.1a, USII.1d, USII.4c

This document is a letter from the Virginia State Registrar to all Local Registrars in Virginia demanding that the physicians and midwives take better care when writing ceritificates of birth and death. He explains that these certificates will become "legal records" that will eventually be used in court; therefore, he stresses the importance of having the correct information on the certificates. As well, the State Registrar expresses his concern over the fact that midwives and physicians are classifying "near-whites of negro blood" as "white" on birth certificates. He declares this practice a violation of the racial purity laws and a "penitentiary offense" The document states that Native Americans are of "negro mixtures," and it explains how to classify them on a birth certificate.

Louisa County Historical Society Collection

Louisa County Historical Society

December 1, 1926

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Document

English

Document

054_2009_08_135008

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