Friends of Metro Archives of Nashville and Davidson County, TN

The Friends of Archives is a nonprofit chapter of The Friends of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County

Metro Archives Research Policy

Metro Archives
of Nashville and Davidson County
3801 Green Hills Village Drive
Nashville, TN 37215
615-862-5880

Researchers are welcome at Metro Archives Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For those who cannot visit Metro Archives in person, the staff has developed the following policy for research by mail (U.S. Postal mail).

Only one request for one record will be handled at a time. Please do not send a second search request or a request for record copies while you have a request pending. Please do not send several requests in separate envelopes. If you request more than one record at a time, your request will be returned to you. Metro Archives has records only for Nashville, Davidson County, TN. There is no fee for a search of record indexes. However, the search must be specific as to the name you are seeking and index to be searched.

If you have book and page number of a specific record or need to order a copy of an original record held by Metro Archives, you may make a request in writing for one record at a time. Copies of most original documents are $3.00 per document up to 10 pages (marriage record copies are $4.00). Copies of documents from microfilm are $3.00 (up to 10 pages) if made by Archives staff. Additional pages are 25 cents if the record is on microfilm and 10 cents for a published or an original record. Payment may be made by check or money order payable to Metro Archives. Only one request for one record will be handled at a time.

MARRIAGE
Archives staff will search indexed Marriage Records 1789-1915, for one couple per request at no charge. For a marriage index search you must specify a time period, 1789-1837, 1838-1863, or 1864-1915. For marriages 1916-1996 we will search a specified 3-year time span. The cost of a copy of an original marriage record is $4.00.

CENSUS
Metro Archives has indexes for the 1820 through 1840 Census for Davidson Co., naming head of household only. The 1850 and 1860 indexes are statewide and give the names of all persons in the household. The 1820, and the 1850 through 1910 Census records for Davidson Co., are available on microfilm at Metro Archives, with the exception of 1890. Archives staff can supply copies of pages from census indexes for a specified surname for $3.00 (up to ten pages, per census year, per surname). Archives staff can provide copies of the actual census record if you can supply the census year, page number and name of head of household. The cost of a copy from the microfilmed census record for a specific family is $3.00.

BIRTH/DEATH
Birth Records for Nashville/Davidson Co. span 1881 to 1913. Death Records for the county are 1900 to 1913. Death Records for the City of Nashville are 1874-1913.. Archives staff will search the indexes of birth 1881 to 1913 and death records 1874-1913 for a specific person at no charge. A copy of a microfilmed birth or death record for a specific person is $3.00. Information on Birth and Death Records after 1913 can be obtained from the Tennessee State Library and Archives at 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0312.

DEEDS
Metro Archives Deed Indexes span 1784 to 1924. There are both reverse (buyer) and direct (seller) indexes. Deed Records span 1784-1901. Archives staff can supply copies of the deed index 1784 to 1924 for a specific surname for $3.00 (up to 10 pages). Specify reverse or direct index, the cost is $3.00 for each. A copy of a microfilmed deed 1784-1901 if book and page number and names of grantor and grantee are supplied is $3.00 (up to 10 pages). You will be notified if there is a fee for additional pages.

WILLS
The Index to Original Wills spans 1789-1920. Will Book Indexes span 1789 to 1861 and 1861 to 1902. Archives staff will check the Index to Original Wills and the Will Book Indexes 1789 to 1902 for a specific person at no charge. A copy of an original will is $3.00 (up to 10 pages) A copy of a microfilmed will book record if book and page number is supplied is $3.00 (up to 10 pages). You will be notified if there is a fee for additional pages.

CITY DIRECTORY
The Nashville City Directories span 1853-2002. Archives staff will provide copies of pages for a specific surname for a specific year. A copy of the record from microfilm is $3.00 (up to 10 pages). You will be notified if there is a fee for additional pages. If we do not have a directory for the year specified we will copy from the directory closest to the specified year.

CITY CEMETERY
The Index to City Cemetery Interments is from 1846-2001. Archives staff will check the Index to City Cemetery Interments for a specific person. A copy of the interment record from microfilm is $3.00. The record will include the entry from the interment book and if applicable, the interment card.

MT OLIVET CEMETERY
The records for Mt Olivet Cemetery span 1851-1991. Archives staff will check the interment card and the lot owner card for a specific person. A copy of the record from microfilm is $3.00. The record will include the entry from the interment card and if applicable, the lot owner card.

SPRING HILL CEMETERY
The records for Spring Hill Cemetery span 1901-1985. Archives staff will check the index to the Death Records Books for a specific person. A copy of the record from microfilm is $3.00. The record will include the entry from the death record book and if applicable, the lot owner card. You must specify a ten year period to be searched.

OBITUARIES
Metro Archives has an obituary clipping file from the Nashville Banner and the Tennessean newspapers that is limited to a period from about 1980 through the mid-1990's. Archives staff will check the obituary clippings for a specific person. A copy of the obituary is $3.00. The fee will cover copies of obits from both newspapers if they are in the file.
Obituary Index 1964 - Present - Nashville Public Library on the Nashville Public Library website

If you have book and page number of a specific record or need to order a copy of an original record held by Metro Archives, you may make a request in writing to:

Metro Archives
of Nashville and Davidson County
3801 Green Hills Village Drive
Nashville, TN 37215
615-862-5880