Rochester Genealogy Records

Rochester genealogy records reach back to 1875, when the city clerk began keeping birth records before the state mandate took effect. The Rochester Municipal Archives holds over 170,000 marriage records from 1876 through 1943. Monroe County is a consolidated county for vital records, meaning birth and death records from 1880 forward sit with the County Health Department rather than individual town clerks. The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County adds city directories digitized from 1845, census records, church records, and one of the best local history collections in western New York. These overlapping sources make Rochester one of the stronger cities in the state for family research.

Rochester City Clerk Vital Records

The Rochester City Clerk maintains birth, death, and marriage records for the city. The city clerk began keeping birth records in 1875, which is several years before the state required it. This makes the city clerk's office a critical stop for researchers looking at the late 1870s.

The office is at City Hall, Room 300A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone is (585) 428-6617. You can visit in person during business hours to search indexes and request copies. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the full name on the record, the date or approximate date of the event, and a note that the request is for genealogy purposes.

Keep in mind that Monroe County is a consolidated county. Birth and death records from 1880 onward are filed with the county health department, not individual town or city clerks. So the city clerk is the sole source for pre-1880 Rochester births and deaths.

Rochester Municipal Archives Marriage Records

The Rochester Municipal Archives and Records Center holds a remarkable collection of over 170,000 marriage records spanning 1876 through 1943. This is one of the largest single collections of marriage records at the city level in New York State outside of New York City. The collection is indexed and available for research, though you need to fill out an application and make an appointment to visit.

The archives are at 414 Andrews Street, Rochester, NY 14604. Phone is (585) 428-7331. The marriage index lets you search by name. Once you find an entry, staff can pull the full record for you. These files can show the names of the bride and groom, their ages, birthplaces, parents' names, the officiant, and the date and place of the ceremony.

For researchers working on Rochester families from the late 1800s through the early 1940s, this collection is invaluable. Many of these records predate the county-level marriage record system that ran from 1908 to 1935.

Monroe County Records for Rochester Genealogy

The Monroe County Health Department holds consolidated birth and death records from 1880 to the present for all of Monroe County. This includes Rochester. The office is at 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Phone is (585) 753-5141. Since Monroe County is a consolidated county, you go here instead of the city clerk for most birth and death records after 1880.

The Monroe County Clerk maintains land records from 1821 to the present. Court records from 1821 are also on file. Marriage records cover 1908 to 1935. Naturalization records and New York State Census records round out the collection. The clerk's office is at 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone is (585) 753-1600.

The Monroe County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1821 forward. Wills and estate files can show family connections that other records miss entirely. The court is at 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone is (585) 753-1601. For broader Rochester genealogy research in Monroe County, these offices are essential stops.

Central Library Genealogy Collections

The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County has one of the best local history and genealogy collections in western New York. City directories have been digitized from 1845 to 1929. Suburban directories cover 1827 to 1940. The library also holds newspapers on microfilm, will records, maps, census records, church records, and cemetery records.

The library is one of the official repositories for New York State Vital Records Index microfiche. You can search statewide indexes to births from 1881, marriages from 1881, and deaths from 1880 without going to Albany. The Local History and Genealogy division is at 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604. Phone for the genealogy desk is (585) 428-8370.

City directories are particularly useful for Rochester research. They show a person's name, address, and occupation for a given year. You can track families moving through the city over time. The digitized collection means you can search from the library's website rather than scrolling through microfilm.

State Resources for Rochester Genealogy

The New York State Archives in Albany holds vital records indexes for Rochester and all of Monroe County. Birth indexes run through 1937. Death and marriage indexes open after 50 years. These index entries give names, dates, and state file numbers you can use to order copies from the NYS Department of Health.

The Department of Health charges $22 for a three-year search. Processing takes eight months or more. Going to the Monroe County Health Department or the Rochester City Clerk is faster. Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free download. That data covers Rochester deaths and gives you the file numbers to order copies.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Families in the Rochester area moved between the city and surrounding towns regularly. These nearby places may hold records for your Rochester ancestors.