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Article #217: How To Use The Census In Your Genealogy Research

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You've gone through the preliminaries. include: the full name, age, sex, place
You've collected all your household vital of origin, and destination for every
records, interviewed relatives, gathered passenger on the ship. The records even
additional records from living relatives include those who were born or died
and followed-up on some of the leads that during the voyage.
were developed. Now, you're stuck and And there's more. You can also track down
not sure what to do next in your some naturalization records through the
genealogy research. U.S. National Archives and Records
If you've worked your way far enough Administration. Naturalization is the
back, it might be time to start checking process by which a a person becomes an
the Census. American citizen. By law, a person can be
But first, you'll want to understand that naturalized in any "regular" court. The
while the Census Bureau collects some Immigration and Naturalization Service
great genealogical information, it has has records for the entire country
the responsibility of confidentiality. As beginning in 1906, but before this time,
a result, the Decennial Census of the procedure will only be located in the
Population and Housing on individuals records of the court where it took place.
does not become available to the public These records often provide a person's
until after 72 years. birth date and location, occupation,
That's why you have to have worked your immigration year, marital status and
way far enough back in your research spouse information, witnesses' names and
before you'll find the Census helpful. addresses, and more.
But here's what you'll really like ... For Pre-1906 Naturalizations: Contact
not only will the Census records help you the State Archives for the state where
locate where an acestor lived, after 1840 the naturalization occurred to request a
the Census collected age, place of birth, search of state, county, and local courts
occupation, personal wealth, education, records. Contact the NARA regional
spouse, children, hired hands, and even facility that serves the state where
immigration information. A gold mine for naturalization occurred to request a
genealogists. search of Federal court records
Copies of the original decennial census For Naturalizations After 1906: After
forms from 1790 through 1930 are 1906, the courts forwarded copies of
available on microfilm for research at naturalizations to the Immigration and
the U.S. National Archives and Records Naturalization Service (INS).
Administration in Washington, DC ( at Naturalizations from Federal Courts are
Archives regional centers, and at select held in the NARA's regional facilities
Federal depository libraries throughout for the Federal courts for their area.
the United States. In addition, these Learn more:
records are available at various other Here are some additional resources that
libraries and research facilities you might find helpful for learning learn
throughout the United States. more about the Census and how to access
You can also check with the reference all the incredible information available
librarian at your local library and see to genealogy researchers:
if they're set up to borrow microfilm USGenWeb Census Project
through the National Archives' census
microfilm rental program. U.S. Census Bureau's Genealogy Page
There's something else you're really Census Finder
going to like ... immigration records are There's nothing quite as exhilarating as
also on microfilm at the National uncovering new information about your
Archives. These records have been ancestors. If you've reached a point
collected for all major U.S. ports since where you aren't quite sure what to try
1820. They include Boston, New York, next in your genealogy research, The
Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans. Census might just be your best bet. Even
The western ports of San Franciso and if you aren't at that point, it's a
Seattle are also archived, though those resource that you should familiarize
records weren't started until late in the yourself with. Sooner or later, it's
19th Century. likely that's where your research is
Here's what these immigration records going to led you.






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