How To Use The Census In Your Genealogy Research
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Jack Blair
Sep 12, 2009, 9:59:50 AM9/12/09
to Ammons Family Heritage Association
You've gone through the preliminaries.
You've collected all your household vital records, interviewed
relatives, gathered additional records from living relatives and
followed-up on some of the leads that were developed. Now, you're
stuck and not sure what to do next in your genealogy research.
If you've worked your way far enough back, it might be time to start
checking the Census.
But first, you'll want to understand that while the Census Bureau
collects some great genealogical information, it has the
responsibility of confidentiality. As a result, the Decennial Census
of Population and Housing on individuals does not become available to
the public until after 72 years.
That's why you have to have worked your way far enough back in your
research before you'll find the Census helpful.
But here's what you'll really like ... not only will the Census
records help you locate where an acestor lived, after 1840 the Census
collected age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education,
spouse, children, hired hands, and even immigration information. A
gold mine for genealogists.
Copies of the original decennial census forms from 1790 through 1930
are available on microfilm for research at the U.S. National Archives
and Records Administration in Washington, DC (http://
www.archives.gov/), at Archives regional centers, and at select
Federal depository libraries throughout the United States. In
addition, these records are available at various other libraries and
research facilities throughout the United States.
You can also check with the reference librarian at your local library
and see if they're set up to borrow microfilm through the National
Archives' census microfilm rental program.
There's something else you're really going to like ... immigration
records are also on microfilm at the National Archives. These records
have been collected for all major U.S. ports since 1820. They include
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The western
ports of San Franciso and Seattle are also archived, though those
records weren't started until late in the 19th Century.
Here's what these immigration records include: the full name, age,
sex, place of origin, and destination for every passenger on the ship.
The records even include those who were born or died during the
voyage.
And there's more. You can also track down some naturalization records
through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Naturalization is the process by which a a person becomes an American
citizen. By law, a person can be naturalized in any "regular" court.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has records for the entire
country beginning in 1906, but before this time, the procedure will
only be located in the records of the court where it took place. These
records often provide a person's birth date and location, occupation,
immigration year, marital status and spouse information, witnesses'
names and addresses, and more.
For Pre-1906 Naturalizations:
Contact the State Archives for the state where the naturalization
occurred to request a search of state, county, and local courts
records.
Contact the NARA regional facility that serves the state where
naturalization occurred to request a search of Federal court records
For Naturalizations After 1906:
After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of naturalizations to the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from
Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional facilities for the
Federal courts for their area. Learn more: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful for
learning learn more about the Census and how to access all the
incredible information available to genealogy researchers:
USGenWeb Census Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/
Censuslinks.com
http://www.censuslinks.com/
U.S. Census Bureau's Genealogy Page
http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/
Census Finder
http://www.censusfinder.com/
There's nothing quite as exhilarating as uncovering new information
about your ancestors. If you've reached a point where you aren't quite
sure what to try next in your genealogy research, The Census might
just be your best bet. Even if you aren't at that point, it's a
resource that you should familiarize yourself with. Sooner or later,
it's likely that's where your research is going to led you.
Search Millions of Public Records: http://www.pubrecs.tk/
You've collected all your household vital records, interviewed
relatives, gathered additional records from living relatives and
followed-up on some of the leads that were developed. Now, you're
stuck and not sure what to do next in your genealogy research.
If you've worked your way far enough back, it might be time to start
checking the Census.
But first, you'll want to understand that while the Census Bureau
collects some great genealogical information, it has the
responsibility of confidentiality. As a result, the Decennial Census
of Population and Housing on individuals does not become available to
the public until after 72 years.
That's why you have to have worked your way far enough back in your
research before you'll find the Census helpful.
But here's what you'll really like ... not only will the Census
records help you locate where an acestor lived, after 1840 the Census
collected age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education,
spouse, children, hired hands, and even immigration information. A
gold mine for genealogists.
Copies of the original decennial census forms from 1790 through 1930
are available on microfilm for research at the U.S. National Archives
and Records Administration in Washington, DC (http://
www.archives.gov/), at Archives regional centers, and at select
Federal depository libraries throughout the United States. In
addition, these records are available at various other libraries and
research facilities throughout the United States.
You can also check with the reference librarian at your local library
and see if they're set up to borrow microfilm through the National
Archives' census microfilm rental program.
There's something else you're really going to like ... immigration
records are also on microfilm at the National Archives. These records
have been collected for all major U.S. ports since 1820. They include
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The western
ports of San Franciso and Seattle are also archived, though those
records weren't started until late in the 19th Century.
Here's what these immigration records include: the full name, age,
sex, place of origin, and destination for every passenger on the ship.
The records even include those who were born or died during the
voyage.
And there's more. You can also track down some naturalization records
through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Naturalization is the process by which a a person becomes an American
citizen. By law, a person can be naturalized in any "regular" court.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has records for the entire
country beginning in 1906, but before this time, the procedure will
only be located in the records of the court where it took place. These
records often provide a person's birth date and location, occupation,
immigration year, marital status and spouse information, witnesses'
names and addresses, and more.
For Pre-1906 Naturalizations:
Contact the State Archives for the state where the naturalization
occurred to request a search of state, county, and local courts
records.
Contact the NARA regional facility that serves the state where
naturalization occurred to request a search of Federal court records
For Naturalizations After 1906:
After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of naturalizations to the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from
Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional facilities for the
Federal courts for their area. Learn more: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful for
learning learn more about the Census and how to access all the
incredible information available to genealogy researchers:
USGenWeb Census Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/
Censuslinks.com
http://www.censuslinks.com/
U.S. Census Bureau's Genealogy Page
http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/
Census Finder
http://www.censusfinder.com/
There's nothing quite as exhilarating as uncovering new information
about your ancestors. If you've reached a point where you aren't quite
sure what to try next in your genealogy research, The Census might
just be your best bet. Even if you aren't at that point, it's a
resource that you should familiarize yourself with. Sooner or later,
it's likely that's where your research is going to led you.
Search Millions of Public Records: http://www.pubrecs.tk/
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