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The Fabulous Forty!Finding Ones Family in the 1940 U.S. CensusEmily Garber, 4 September 2012

U.S. ConstitutionArticle 1, Section 2:Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which maybe included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers . . . The actual enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

Genealogists & the Census

Snapshot of entire U.S. population in:TimePlaceSnapshot of particular householdEstablishes relationships and provides documentation

Census Data 1880, 1900-1940On all Schedules

NameAddressRelationship to head of householdGenderRaceAgeMarital statusOccupationBirthplaceRecords are closed for 72 yearsPL 95-416 (5 October 1978)

1940 Census BasicsOrganized by enumeration districts1 April 194o Census enumeration date134,146,298 people countedOnly microfilmed images (3.8 million) at National Archives & Records Administration (NARA)

No index was available on 2 April 2012

1940 Census Basics

Questions reflect times & issues of DepressionResidence 5 years earlier# weeks employed, public emergency work?Highest grade attained5% sample questionsSS card?; deductions?Birth place of parents?http://www.1940census.archives.gov/questions-asked/Instructions to Enumerators

Record: people alive on 1 April 1940usual place of residenceif not at home - revisitinformant highest grade completed or equivalentWages/salary NTE $5,000Earnings (not wages/salary) = 0

if out of order, record starting on page #61 8 April, enumerate hotels, camps, flop-houses starting on page #81

Indexing Census Population Schedules2 April 2012, NARA made all 1940 population schedules available as digital imagesAncestry.comcontracted (presumably) overseasindexed records online in early AugustMy Heritage - only a few complete states onlineFamilySearch.org, Archives.com, & FindMyPast.com contracted with NARA (archives.gov)160,000 volunteers indexed all recordsonline late AugustFamilySearch Indexing ProjectProcedureIndexed FieldsEach sheet given to two indexersDiscrepancies adjudicated by an arbitratorED & sheet numberHousehold numberSurnames & first names, as writtenRelation to head of householdGenderRaceAgeMarital statusPlace of birthResidence on 1 April 1935 (if more than 5 years old)

Finding Family in the 1940 CensusImages all came from same microfilm. If hard to read, check at another hosting website that may have better enhanced the image.

Two indices currently available:Ancestry.comFamilySeach.org (Archives.gov, Archives.com, Findmy past.com)If cannot find name indexed on one, try the other.

Errors: MisinformationInformant wrongName of birthplace changed over timeNot an English speakerAlternative spellingsDid not want to divulge information (e.g., divorce)Misunderstanding of instructions

921 Montgomery, Brooklyn (5 Apr 1940)31 Colin Place, BrooklynRockland State Mental Hospital, Orange County, NY (6 Apr 1940)Errors: RecordationInfo collected verbally:Spelling variationsMisunderstood accentDidnt follow instructionsGot first and last names reversedMisidentified whether son/daughter or male/femaleEntry/copying errorsPeople missedRecord is correct ancestor using different name

Daughter SheldenLeshefshy versus LeshErrors: TranscriptionHandwriting not clearImage poorUnfamiliarity with typical names in areaTyposDocument was corrected

Saul & Bea Morris transcribed as Marris

Deal with it!In searching, start with minimal information in searchTry just surname & first name & exact spellingTry surname without first nameTry last name not exact and first name exactTry spouses or childs name (especially if unusual)Try just first name of husband with first name of wife

Dont search with all information you know because search engines may ignore relevant results if a particular parameter was not included in record

Ancestry 1940 Census search box

Deal with it!Try variations on spellingUse wild cards on Ancestry or FamilySearchex. Search for Morris: M?rris? wildcard for one letter would return Morris, Marris, Merris, etc.ex. Search for Liederman: L*derman * wildcard for zero or more letters would return Liderman, Lederman, Leiderman, Liederman, Laderman, Luederman, Lenderman, etc.

Search on their neighbors1930 Census

1925 NY CensusDont give up too easilyIts highly likely that your ancestor was recorded in the Census, you just havent found them yet.Use documents that might give you their 1940 address:1940 city directories,1942 WWII draft registration cards, etc.Locate Enumeration District and search through all pages (dont forget pages 61+)Steve Morse One-Step pageshttp://www.stevemorse.orgFind the Enumeration District

921 Montgomery Street

Be tenaciousThink of all the reasons you might not have found your ancestor in a indexUse that knowledge to be creative in your searchesMisinformation who was the informant?Mistakes in recordingMistakes in transcribingLearn about the search engines youre usingHas the website provided tutorials?

Census is a wonderful place to start genealogical research

Now go out and gather other resources to confirm informationVital recordsImmigration,Naturalization Land recordsMilitary service recordsDont forget to talk to the living. Get the stories behind the records.And most importantly: have fun!

The Fabulous Forty: Finding Ones Family in the 1940 U.S. Census