Census and population records have long been a vital component of genealogy research. Those of us researching the U.S. have come to count on the decennial federal census to provide a generous amount of information about our ancestors, even if it is …
The Forgotten Federal Census of 1885 Can Be Found Online for Free .
We all know that we need to be careful when reading, using and recording information we find in the census. Whether it’s the US federal census, a state or local census, or a population register for another country — these …
This Information Will Make You Question Every Census Record You’ve Ever Collected .
Many family historians are fully aware of the fact that the 1890 census, which contained more than 60 million individuals, was destroyed in the early 20th century and is therefore not available for genealogical research. The lack of this valuable …
Thousands of 1890 Census Records DO Still Exist: Here’s How to Find Them for Free .
The US census is by far one of the most commonly used resources by family historians. Its encompassing, regular nature means that it’s the first place many of us look for crucial details about our ancestors. But how much do you …
Quick Quiz: How Much Do You Really Know About the US Census for Genealogy? .
The 1940 census of the United States is a particularly exciting one for genealogy research for a number of reasons — the most obvious being that is was only indexed and released for public consumption a few years ago. The new …
The “Secret” Details in the 1940 Census You May Be Missing .
At some point or other in their research, every family historian will likely discover the sad fate of the 1890 census. A critical time of population growth and change in America’s history, the 11th census of the United States should have …
I just finished reading Megan Smolenyak’s Hey America, Your Roots Are Showing. In each chapter, Ms. Smolenyak talks about what she finds or asks of various census records. These all important records contain many clues about the lives and success …
Whether you embark on a Genealogy, Family History, or Local History project, you need to consider the types of information you have and what you seek or want to uncover. As a librarian, my focus is identifying the question, considering …
Why is it that we, as family historians, often do a poor job of preserving our own personal histories for the generations to come?
As it turns out, there is an incredibly straightforward and comprehensive resource that can tell you exactly what records are available for every county in every state in the United States — and plenty of other geographical areas, too.