Topic: Census and Soundex Trying TCP connection to memberchat.xoom.com:8900 ... The remote machine has accepted the network request ... please wait. (c) 1999 NBC Internet [http://www.ParaChat.com] ParaChat server 3.00.01 dldgreen has joined channel #XC.1810375 The topic is: African Ancestry [kiatte] QUIETT...LA, MO, OH,NC [kiatte] Hi Damita [otey50] hello green [dldgreen] Hello All! [dldgreen] Welcome to tonight's Afrigeneas chart session. [dldgreen] Tonight's topic is the Census and the SOundex. [dldgreen] We will discuss the how both can aid our genealogical search. [dldgreen] I will present for approximately 15 minutes or so.... [dldgreen] and then open the floor to questions. [dldgreen] Throughout the session, we will be in protocol. [dldgreen] When the floor is opened for questions, you may signal by entering - a question mark (?) if youhave a question [dldgreen] or an exclamation point (!) if you have a comment. Disconnected: you logged off Trying TCP connection to memberchat.xoom.com:8900 ... The remote machine has accepted the network request ... please wait. (c) 1999 NBC Internet [http://www.ParaChat.com] ParaChat server 3.00.01 dldgreen has joined channel #XC.1810375 The topic is: African Ancestry [dldgreen] I got the boot for a minute there! [dldgreen] Anyway, I will try to address your questions and comments in the - order raised [dldgreen] by maintaining a queue. [dldgreen] I'll post the queue periodically, so you can get an idea of where - you stand. [dldgreen] Any questions before we get started? [dldgreen] All righty then.... [dldgreen] Every year since 1790, the US Federal government has counted the - US population [dldgreen] by means of a census, taken every 10 years. [dldgreen] Everyone by now should have had the opportunity to experience this - personally [dldgreen] this year as a participant in the 2000 census enumeration. [dldgreen] The census contains information that is most helpful in locating - our ancestors in years past [dldgreen] and is one of the most often used records by genealogists. ywanda has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] The most recent year available for public viewing is tje 1920 - census. [dldgreen] [tje = the] [dldgreen] That is because the information contained in the census records - are protected by the privacy act [dldgreen] and is not to be released until 72 years after the official date - of the census. [ywanda] Hello everyone. Has the exact date been set for the 1930 release? [dldgreen] So the 1930 census will not be available until 2002. For - information on the exact date [ywanda] Is it worth it to buy the census on CD? [dldgreen] you may go to the National Archives website at - http://www.nara.gov. [dldgreen] This years census will therefore not be available until 2072! [dldgreen] One of the most frustrating parts of dealing with the census is - determining how to find [dldgreen] your ancestors. [dldgreen] The censu records are organized by state, and then county within - each state. [dldgreen] Within the county, it will be divided by supervisor's district & - enumeration district. [dldgreen] An city, town or township may span multiple enumeration or - supervisor's districts. [dldgreen] People are listed according to household, and are "indexed" (where - available) according to head of household. [dldgreen] So to find your ancestor, you must know what county and state the - person lived in, and in whose [dldgreen] household to find the person. [ywanda] I found if you have the time (and patience) to go through the - microfiche, it may pay off. Taking a lot of copies to record your info is - helpful. LAVERNE has left channel #XC.1810375 kiatte has left channel #XC.1810375 E.T. has left channel #XC.1810375 otey50 has left channel #XC.1810375 otey50 has left channel #XC.1810375 E.T. has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] The census is not alphabetized. Here's where the soundex comes in - handy and can save you time. otey50 has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] The soundex is a tool that indexes the census' surnames according - to the way the names sound. [dldgreen] And also by similar spellings. [dldgreen] So the names LONG and LANG will have the same soundex code. [dldgreen] There is a method to figuring out the soundex code for your - surname. At all National Archive locations [dldgreen] they have a pamphlet that will show you how to go about figuring a - surnames soundex code [ywanda] The soundex was helptul in looking for the correct microfiche - reels. I'm really glad the soundex works across all the indices. kiatte has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] I find it easier to use one of the many websites or software - packages to determine the codes. [dldgreen] One such site is - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/3916/soundex.html [dldgreen] There are quite a few, some will even convert soundex codes to - surnames, if you ever have a need. naima52 has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] Using the soundex code, you then locate the microfilm that - contains that code for your state(s). [dldgreen] Within each soundex coded microfilm, the codes are then arranged - by code and first name. [dldgreen] So if your soundex code is M520, you will see all the surnames - that align with that soundex code, listed alphabetically [dldgreen] by first name of the head of household. [dldgreen] So all the Alan LOGANs will be listed together, for example. [dldgreen] Then perhaps followed by the Albert LOGANs. [dldgreen] When you find your person or family, it will list the persons in - the household, their relationship to the head [dldgreen] of the household, their ages, the county, census page and perhaps - even the line # of the censu [dldgreen] [censu = census] [dldgreen] where you can locate the family. [dldgreen] This saves you the trouble of searching line by line for your - people. [dldgreen] The soundex is available for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. naima52 has left channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] Sadly, it is not available for other years. However most earlier - years have been privately indexed [dldgreen] by companies and are available as books for sale. [dldgreen] What types of info does the census hold? [dldgreen] Name, relationship to head of household, age, birthplace, - occupation, # years married, # children born/living, [dldgreen] whether the persons own or rent their farm/home, and birthplace of - parents. [dldgreen] Not all years contain all this information. The NARA website - previously provided will ALGee has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] list the information contained in each census year. [ALGee] < Good Evening > [dldgreen] The floor is opened for questions and comments. Please remember - that we are in protocol. [E.T.] ! [dldgreen] Yes ET? [ywanda] What do you do if you can't find a relative in a particular county? - Is an index helpful then? [E.T.] My experience in explaining the census to newer users is... [E.T.] that it is done as a head count (as you mentioned) and each census - year is different... fofam has joined channel #XC.1810375 [E.T.] so, getting help from the librarians at the NARA's is a must if you - don't understand the... fofam has left channel #XC.1810375 [otey50] ! [E.T.] process. It can be truly confusing. (you've done a good job at - explaining!) [ALGee] < hello FoFam we are in protocol and our host has the floor open - for ?'s> [E.T.] End [dldgreen] Thank you ET, you raise an excellent point. The info contained in - each year does differ [ALGee][dldgreen] somewhat. FOr example, 1900 contains birth year and month, while - the others do not. [dldgreen] 1910 and 1900 contain # years married as well as # children - born/living. [dldgreen] Certainly, NARA staff and volunteers are instrumental in assisting - newcomers to this tremendous resource! [E.T.] ! [ywanda] Do you know what determined what info would be included in a census - count for that year? [dldgreen] It is essential that you know what state your people were located - in and have an idea of the persons [ALGee] < queue ywanda, Otey, ET, ywanda > [dldgreen] who should be in the household so that you can recognize families - together. [dldgreen] This is particularly useful if you are looking for someone as a - child or in any situation where the [dldgreen] person in question mayn't be the head of household. [dldgreen] You had another comment ET? CLB522 has joined channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] [Wanda, you are next. We use ? or ! to signal a question or - comment, and keep a queue going.] [E.T.] Yes... ywanda asked about what info is contained... [E.T.] in each census. That's determined by what the needs of the government - are at that... kiatte has left channel #XC.1810375 [E.T.] time. And also... I filled out my census this year, on-line. It asks - next to no relavant... y, ET, ywanda - >< queue Otey, ET, ywanda > [otey50] I've heard that the 1890 census would have been the first to - disclose racial mixture. Is it true? [E.T.] and others who may be at the residence at the time of the - enumeration. [ALGee] [E.T.] End CLB522 has left channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] Yes, ET, *anyone* living in the household was listed - neices, - nephews, boarders, employees, etc. [dldgreen] Ywanda, your question? [ywanda] I think ET answered it. Thanks. [dldgreen] Great! [dldgreen] Otey, your next. Your question or comment, please... [otey50] sorry; I misread the queue. Is it true that the 1890 censues would - have disclosed racial mixture? [dldgreen] I'm not aware of that, but it certtainly would have made for - interesting reading! Perhaps a NARA staff member... [dldgreen] may answer that question for you. They have an email address for - such questions at their website. [otey50] thanks. [otey50] end. [dldgreen] ET, you're up again...Your question or comment? [Ywanda is up - next..] [E.T.] I pass [dldgreen] Ywanda? [ywanda] I found it was helpful to know some oral history along with looking - at the census. [E.T.] ! [dldgreen] Absolutely! Oral history can help you pick out things like - neighbors who are really relatives! [ywanda] I don't know where my family name originated but based on the 1880 - census my grandfather would appear to have had his stepfather's name. [ALGee] < queue is empty> [dldgreen] Ywanda that is quite possible. There are cases where ahousehold - will have a few different surnames.. [dldgreen] in one census year, and then in the next one, those same people - will have the same surname. [dldgreen] A remarriage can be an example of such. [dldgreen] ET, your comment? [E.T.] Okay... [E.T.] The Soundex is critical because it shows you an index card... [E.T.] that tells you who the person you are researching is enumerated - with... [E.T.] and from there, once you go to the actual census... [E.T.] you may find that the person is NOT enumerated with their family... [E.T.] and this is really the ONLY way to trace a person who has proven.. [E.T.] to be 'elusive'... [E.T.] And for the census years that do not have Soundex indexing... [E.T.] as dld has stated, there are... [E.T.] different organizations and societies that have independantly - indexed... [E.T.] certain census years. Usually because they have a vested interest in - that census year. [E.T.] end [otey50] ! [dldgreen] More great points. Thanks ET. [dldgreen] I've had such a great time this evening, (hope you did too), that - I [dldgreen] I've lost track of the time. [ALGee] < Niters all Great session > [dldgreen] Thanks, everyone for coming out and sharing your expperiences! ALGee has left channel #XC.1810375 ywanda has left channel #XC.1810375 [dldgreen] [expperiences = experiences] [dldgreen] Good night, all! [E.T.] 'bye
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AfriGeneas ~ African Ancestory Genealogy