community

Where to get records from the former Canal Zone Government

from the US Embassy website

GORGAS ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND COCO SOLO HOSPITAL

(MEDICAL RECORDS BEFORE 1982):

Federal Records Center (NARA)

1557, 7 St. Joseph Ave.

East Point, GA 30344

MEDICAL RECORDS AFTER 1982):

National Personnel Records Center

9700 Page Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63132

Beginning December 1, 1999, Canal Zone vital records (birth and death from 1904 through September 30, 1979) formerly issued by the Panama Canal Commission are being issued by the Department of State in Washington, DC

BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES:

Your request must be notarized and include a copy of a valid photo identification of the requester.

Please include the following in your request:

• Date of request

• Purpose of request

• Name at birth, death

• Date of birth, death

• City and Country of birth, death

• Signature of subject or guardian, with address and telephone

For birth records, also include:

• Father's name, and his date and place (city or state and country) of birth

• Mother's name, and her date and place (city or state and country) of birth

• Any US passport information

Please direct inquiry to:

Vital Records Section

Passport Services

1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC, CZ 34011-2300

Tel: 202-955-0307

Please indicate the number of documents desired. The fee for documents is $30 for the 1st copy; $20 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Check or Money Order must be signed, dated and made payable to Department of State. Remittance must be payable in US dollars through a US bank. Non-US money is not acceptable. Please do not send cash.

CANAL ZONE MARRIAGE RECORDS

BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES:

Your request must be notarized and include a copy of a valid photo identification of the requester.

Please include the following in your request:

• Date

• Purpose of request

• Name at time of the wedding

• Date of wedding

• Place where the wedding took place

Marriage records for the Canal Zone are located in the National Archives. Contact the National Archive for these marriage records at:

Civilian Records (NWCTC)

Textual Archives Services Division

8601 Adelphi Road, National Archives

College Park, MD 20740-6001

If a marriage record is located, the applicant will be contacted as to the fees involved.

COURT RECORDS (Divorces, Adoptions, Civil suits, Criminal Cases, etc.)

National Archives & Records Administration

4205 Suitland Road Suitland, Maryland 20740

Attn: Mr. Tom Cotter

email: Thomas.cotter@nara.gov

(301) 837-1623

Fax: (301) 837-3697

Or:

Mr. Robert W. Elllis (NWCTB) Arch I, Room 14N

(202) 501-5395 x329

Fax: (202) 219-6273

email: Robert.ellis@nara.gov

OR: 

Federal Records Center (NARA)

1557 St. Joseph Avenue

East Point, GA 30344

Information on fees for copies of court records may be obtained from the NARA website at www.archives.gov

CANAL ZONE HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS:

Canal Zone High School transcripts can be obtained by writing to:

Educational Testing Service - Dante's Program

P.O. Box 6605 Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6605

Tel: (609) 720-6740

There is no charge for Canal Zone High School transcripts.

PANAMA CANAL COLLEGE:

Copies of student records may be obtained at not charge by requesting transcripts from:

NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER (CIVILIAN PERSONNEL RECORDS)

111 Winnebago Street

St. Louis, MO 63118-4126

Tel: (314) 801-9250

Fax: (314) 801-9269

email: cpr.center@nara.gov