Backtrack...

Just received copies of both my grandmother's and grandfather's birth certificates. They are in fact Delayed Record of Birth certificates but are on file with their respective county clerks so I take that to be valid.

They both contain some interesting information. Each was created in 1962 when my grandparent's were living in Canada and both required the sworn affidavit of a blood relative. The certificates confirm the birth dates of 7 August 1895 in Macomb, McDonough Co., Illinois for my grandfather, and, 16 March 1893 in Avon, Fulton Co., Illinois for my grandmother.

Interestingly, both documents also give the date of their marriage as 4 March, 1921 in Scott County, Iowa and a record number of #28675. This too confirms the information in the family history and found on the internet. Also, each certificate contains the Canadian Naturalization Certificate # for each and the date they were naturalized. This was news to me as it was my understanding that my grandmother had never naturalized.

And one final note, the certificates both show that all important information - names and birthplaces of the parents.

Sources:

• Delayed Record of Birth for Louis Dwight Switzer, October 8 1962, State File No. 207268, State of Illinois Department of Public Health, Certified copy in possession of author.
• Delayed Record of Birth for Grace Edith Merrill, October 13, 1962, State File No. 206752, State of Illinois Department of Public Health, Certified copy in possession of author.