Recapping a Few Points from Our March Meeting

Census records discussions always bring up a lot of questions, thoughts, ideas, and considerations. By request, here is a recap of the major discussion points from the meeting.

• Two of us focused on the number of marriages entered in 1910 census households. In my example, the enumerator did not follow instructions. She entered the exact number of marriages for each married individual. In Mark's example, the census taker followed instructions. He entered "M1" if the person had been married only once; he entered "M2" if the person had been married more than once. Mark's subject had been married at least three times, but the census column contained "M2." Knowing the instructions for census enumerators is vital when interpreting census entries and explaining seeming discrepancies. Where does one find those instructions? A Google search will uncover several websites, but I use the U.S. Census Bureau's website for information.
• Bookmark its "History" section and take the time to explore.
• The section, "Through the Decades," contains the "Census Instructions."
• The Integrated Public Use Microdata Series is another great website when you need insight into a census. Instructions to enumerators can be found in the section, "Enumerator Forms," but be sure to look at the material in the section, "Published Census Volumes."
• If your genealogy research predates the Internet, you probably have many citations to microfilmed copies of census records. One of the members asked, "Is there any reason to look at census microfilm now with so many digital versions readily available?" Two reasons come to mind quickly.
• Digital versions vary in legibility. One may be clear, another impossible to read. Sometimes, that very clear digital image, in removing scratches and spots, may have removed information. If something in a census entry doesn't make sense, check the microfilm or another company's digital image.
• Ancestry and other companies separate census images, grouping towns - or what they determine as towns - together. The enumerator, though, may have continued one town's enumerations on another town's page. To determine who belongs where, or whether pages are missing or out of order, it's necessary to check the microfilm.
• Thanks to the Allen County Public Library, scanned images of the National Archives microfilm publications are available on Internet Archive. This link takes you to the section, "United States Census." Explore. It feels just like reading the microfilm! Of course, these aren't indexed, but that lack encourages you to actually read the pages.
• A knowledge of the law in effect at the relevant time and place is vital if you want to understand and analyze historical documents. Judy G. Russell's blog, The Legal Genealogist, is absolutely wonderful, whether you're a genealogy law expert or neophyte. I subscribe to it, so I get it in my emailbox every day.

I'm sure I've missed some important points, so email me and let me know what you would like to see. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Danielle, Mark and Duncan for your work on the March assignment. The starting point for our April assignment, "Tombstone Tales," is a tombstone. Surely we all have several tombstones that have piqued our interest! I'll post a more detailed assignment, as well as my own assignment, soon. In the meantime, start reviewing your favorite tombstones.