Finding One’s Family in the 1940 U.S. Census Emily Garber, 4 September 2012

U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 2: Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be 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: Time Place Snapshot of particular household Establishes relationships and provides documentation

Census Data 1880, On all Schedules Name Address Relationship to head of household Gender Race Age Marital status Occupation Birthplace Records are closed for 72 years PL (5 October 1978) Records are closed for 72 years PL (5 October 1978)

1940 Census Basics Organized by enumeration districts 1 April 194o Census enumeration date 134,146,298 people counted Only 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 Depression Residence 5 years earlier # weeks employed, public emergency work? Highest grade attained 5% sample questions SS card?; deductions? Birth place of parents? Questions reflect times & issues of Depression Residence 5 years earlier # weeks employed, public emergency work? Highest grade attained 5% sample questions SS card?; deductions? Birth place of parents?

Instructions to Enumerators Record: people alive on 1 April 1940 usual place of residence if not at home - revisit informant highest grade completed or equivalent Wages/salary NTE $5,000 Earnings (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 Schedules 2 April 2012, NARA made all 1940 population schedules available as digital images Ancestry.com contracted (presumably) overseas indexed records online in early August My Heritage - only a few complete states online FamilySearch.org, Archives.com, & FindMyPast.com contracted with NARA (archives.gov) 160,000 volunteers indexed all records online late August

FamilySearch Indexing Project Procedure Indexed Fields Each sheet given to two indexers Discrepancies adjudicated by an arbitrator ED & sheet number Household number Surnames & first names, as written Relation to head of household Gender Race Age Marital status Place of birth Residence on 1 April 1935 (if more than 5 years old)

Finding Family in the 1940 Census Images 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.com FamilySeach.org (Archives.gov, Archives.com, Findmy past.com) If cannot find name indexed on one, try the other.

Errors: Misinformation Informant wrong Name of birthplace changed over time Not an English speaker Alternative spellings Did not want to divulge information (e.g., divorce) Misunderstanding of instructions

921 Montgomery, Brooklyn (5 Apr 1940) 31 Colin Place, Brooklyn Rockland State Mental Hospital, Orange County, NY (6 Apr 1940)

Errors: Recordation Info collected verbally: Spelling variations Misunderstood accent Didn’t follow instructions Got first and last names reversed Misidentified whether son/daughter or male/female Entry/copying errors People missed Record is correct – ancestor using different name

Daughter “Shelden” “Leshefshy” versus “Lesh”

Errors: Transcription Handwriting not clear Image poor Unfamiliarity with typical names in area Typos Document was corrected Handwriting not clear Image poor Unfamiliarity with typical names in area Typos Document was corrected Saul & Bea Morris – transcribed as “Marris”

Deal with it! In searching, start with minimal information in search Try just surname & first name & exact spelling Try surname without first name Try last name not exact and first name exact Try spouse’s or child’s name (especially if unusual) Try just first name of husband with first name of wife Don’t 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 spelling Use “wild cards” on Ancestry or FamilySearch ex. 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 neighbors 1930 Census 1925 NY Census

Don’t give up too easily It’s highly likely that your ancestor was recorded in the Census, you just haven’t 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 (don’t forget pages 61+) Steve Morse One-Step pages

Find the Enumeration District

921 Montgomery Street

Be tenacious Think of all the reasons you might not have found your ancestor in a index Use that knowledge to be creative in your searches Misinformation – who was the informant? Mistakes in recording Mistakes in transcribing Learn about the search engines you’re using Has the website provided tutorials?

Census is a wonderful place to start genealogical research Now go out and gather other resources to confirm information Vital records Immigration, Naturalization Land records Military service records Don’t forget to talk to the living. Get the stories behind the records. And most importantly: have fun! Don’t forget to talk to the living. Get the stories behind the records. And most importantly: have fun!

The Fabulous Forty: Finding One’s Family in the 1940 U.S. Census