To use the index to births use the following volume designations: 1-8 refer to Henderson County Birth Record, 1-5 under the "city birth record" refers to City of Athens Birth and Death Record, 4A refers to the Precinct no. 4 Birth and Death Records, births under the "B.V.S." section are housed in Austin only, for v. 6-8 that occurred in 1933 or before only the certificates are filmed. Using the volume and page reference refer to birth certificates...

"The surname is listed first, the given name second, then in sequence, cemetery identity (Fd for Fernwood, Ft for Fairmont), age if known, and if not, denoted by ( ), and finally lot designation.".