• Responding to requests for "census records"
• Census Indexes
• Several Online Sites for Genealogical Reearch

The Olin Reference Collection has several useful guides for genealogical research -- one of the best is The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy. (Olin Ref CS 49.S65x 1997).

See also: Genealogical Research at Cornell (also available in print in the handout racks behind the Information Desk).

Question Negotiation:

Researchers may ask to see the "census", or the "1880 census", or the "New York State census", or other variations. At this point, you may not know they are doing genealogical research.

Determine whether the researcher is asking for the census "schedules" (enumerated list of individuals, where they live, and sometimes the names of the other members of household) or the census "count" --(statistics, such as the census of population and housing). People doing genealogical research are looking for the "schedules." The statistical census is not covered in this guide.

Users might also request the "New York census". We have the New York State portion of the national census (Federal Census). It is important to be clear about this. We do not have the enumerated census schedules that were conducted by New York State.*

* New York State conducted a census mid-decade (1825, '35, '45). These were tallied and then returned to the localities. They are widely scattered. For many areas, they may no longer exist. The LDS Family History Center on Burlington Drive has the New York State schedules for Tompkins and some surrounding areas. The Steele Memorial Library has Chemung (1855) ....

Census Indexes

In most cases, a person doing genealogical research is trying to identify whether a particular name appears in a specific census (year).

1. Choose the appropriate census index.

The index is used to verify the appearance of a name in a specific census year, the county in which it appears, and the page number in the census where it can be located.

We have census indexes Print(through 1850), and on CDROM (Family Treemaker, GRS Automated Archives).

The process:

1. Use an index to verify the appearance of a name in the census. Note the county and the census page number .
2. Consult the Microfilm Census Guide (light blue notebook behind the Information Desk) to identify the film number of the census and the reel needed (organized by county).

1790

1800

1820

1830

1840

1850

1860

1880

1890
Note: Much of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire and is not available anywhere. See NARA: 1890 Federal Population Census for more information.

1900, researchers must use the Soundex Index to locate the appropriate index.

Please note: Although we have the actual census schedules on microfilm, we do not have the microfilmed Soundex indexes to the schedules here at Cornell. The appropriate reel from the Soundex index can be requested via Interlibrary Loan using the steps outlined below:

The Soundex system uses a coding system to identify name by sound:

1. Determine the appropriate Soundex code for the surname.

Instructions for this simple coding system are filed in the Microfilm Census Guide (light blue notebook behind the Information Desk) and are also available from a number of online sites, including the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Basically, it's a matter of substituting numbers for groups of consonants that sound the same to create a coded name.

Ex. Thitchener is coded T325.

2. Once you have the soundex code, you can identify the appropriate index to request from Interlibrary Loan by consulting a census catalog.
   

   1880-1890 Reference CD 3026.A518*
   1900-1920 Reference CD 3026.A52 F2 **
   

3. You need two numbers to request the index through Interlibrary Loan -- the number for the New York portion of the 1900 schedules -- in this case, T1062 -- and the reel number that corresponds to your soundex code. Thitchener, by soundex code, would appear on Reel 684 of the 1900 census schedule (the reel numbers are the numbers to the left of the entry). T1062, Reel 684 of the 1900 Census Schedule should be written on the ILL request.

Sample page from a census catalog (see call numbers for the census catalogs above):



4. Once you receive the appropriate reel from the Soundex Index, you can identify which reel to check in the microfilm here. It's a pretty roundabout way to access the microfilmed census and not too many people do it anymore. Most genealogy researchers find it easier to go to one of the online commercial sites and pay a fee to search the index and, in many cases, view the actual census entry. Another alternative is to search by enumeration district (ED). This is less precise than a Soundex search, but it can be useful.

* Although there is a soundex index for 1890, remember that most of the census has actually been destroyed.
**The 1910 soundex does not include New York. See section on Enumeration Districts, below.

Another way to match your soundex code to the reel number is through the catalogs on theNARA site at www.nara.gov. Click on Research/Genealogy/Census Catalogs

See: NARA: How to Research the 1930 Census Microfilm. On the Left-hand sidebar is a Microfilm Census Locator. Search by state. If a Soundex is not available, follow the prompts to search by geographic area to identify the Enumeration District (ED).

For more information about identifying enumeration districts in the 1930 census, see NARA: Search Strategies: Geographic

Online Sites

Increasingly, genealogy researchers are turning to some of the free, and fee-based, online genealogical sites. Some sites are listed below:

LDS (Mormons) Family Search

• Includes free software
• Ancestor file (contributions)
• the IGI (Internet Genealogical Index) - spectacular for ancestor search in Great Britain or France.
• the Social Security Death Index (also available from NARA) -- only records for those for whom a claim has been made for the benefits

Ancestry.com

A very powerful site if you subscribe. Includes census index material for subscribers.

Allen County Indiana Public Library, Genealogy Section -- 2nd largest genealogy library in the world.

• includes many online guides
• PERSI -- Periodical Source Index -- indexes hundreds of genealogical magazines
• HeritageQuest (a proquest database)

For more information about the many online options, see Bob's Reunion Web page: Genealogy Online: Finding Your Ancestors in Cyberspace