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/.
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State
Board of Health tuberculosis prevention exhibit pamphlet,
1912
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