The records span from the beginning of recording marriage in the late 1870s up through 1944. Along with the records are a series of index volumes that provide easy access to the records. The volumes index both the husbands' and the wives' names. The records are now processed and available for public use.
Individual licenses vary as to the type of documents and information included.
The earliest documents are simply written statements by the minister or justice of the peace that they performed a marriage. Only later are there forms that had to be completed and which required additional data to be provided. Copies of desired documents may be made at the Institute. Institute staff are currently developing an automated index to the records. It is hoped to provide on-line access to the data by summer 2001.