Contact the NJ State Archives
Mailing Address:
NJ State Archives
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625-0307

Office Address:
225 West State Street - 2nd Floor
Trenton, NJ

Contact Information

Email: Feedback@sos.nj.gov

Department of Health


The New Jersey State Board of Health was created by the Legislature in 1877 with a general mission to “take cognizance of the interests of health and life among the citizens of this state.” In 1915, the board’s powers were vested in the New Jersey Department of Health, whose functions were redefined in 1947 under the present state constitution. In July 1996, by executive order of Governor Whitman, the department was reorganized as the Department of Health and Senior Services. Effective June 29, 2012, the department was reorganized as the Department of Health, with the Senior Services agencies being moved to the Department of Human Services by P.L. 2012, c.17.

The Department of Health administers various public health programs and is also responsible for the state filing of birth, marriage and death certificates (also known as vital statistics). Prior to 1878, and beginning in May 1848, this function was performed by the Secretary of State’s Office. To order vital statistics from May 1848 to 1915, use the request forms on the Searchable Databases and Records Request Forms page. All requests for birth, marriage and death records from January 1916 to the present should be directed to the Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370, tel. 609-292-4087, website: www.state.nj.us/health/vital/.

  Health Department bulletin
State Board of Health tuberculosis prevention exhibit pamphlet, 1912
  Administrative Records
  Bureau of Vital Statistics