"All we want are the facts, ma'am." -- Joe Friday, Dragnet.
Welcome to day eight of the 21 Day Genealogy Challenge! By now you have begun your Family Tree and have an ancestor
you would like to focus on. Whether this
is your grandfather or 3rd great grandparent, let’s find some documentation
to attach to his/her record. By
providing sources for your ancestor, you will be assuring others who view your
tree that your work is authentic.
There are many different source types to choose from. Today we will focus on the following three: U.S.
Federal Census Records, City Directories, and WWI/WWII draft cards. These records are beneficial for a couple of
reasons. They provide residential
information, occupation, as well as naming relatives or social acquaintances.
U.S. Federal Census Records
The U.S. Federal Census began in 1790 when federal U.S.
Marshals would travel from house to house collecting information. Today, the census is taken electronically, by
mail, or citizens may volunteer to go door to door to collect census
information in a specific location.
If you take a look at census records from various decades,
you will see that the style and questions have changed. Where at one time only heads of household
were listed and all other inhabitants were merely check marks, today, everyone
residing in the home is listed by name.
Keep in mind that information provided may not be accurate. The individual providing the information for
the household may not be the head of the house or remember correctly the
details of each member living in the home.
It is possible that the person answering the questions may be lying for any
given reason, or may make assumptions based on information he or she had been
told. For this reason it is important
that we compare the information on each census record, as well as with
information provided in other records we come across in our research.
It is important to take a close look at the questions asked
in each census record. Over the decades
these questions have changed and additional information added to the census
form. Let’s compare the 1910 and 1940
United States Census records.
1910 The 1910 Census provides a street and house
number for each residence. We see the name of
the individuals living together, as well as their relationship to one
another. The sex, age and race is also
listed. One piece of information added
to this census, is the number of children a mother gave birth to, as well as the
number of children still living. Your
ancestor may have had more children than you were aware of. The census also asks for the number of years
of the present marriage. Looking at the age
of the children and comparing with the number of years the couple have been
married may give a clue to a previous marriage.
The 1910 census also provides the year of immigration and
naturalization, if applicable. If your
ancestor immigrated to the United States, this is a lead you can follow in
searching for your ancestor’s immigration record. Note however, that sometimes the year given
on the census is not exact. If you do
not find your ancestor on any ship manifest for the year listed on the census, take
a look at other manifests in the surrounding years.
Do you know if your ancestor was a part of the Civil War? The 1910 census poses the question, asking if
the individual listed is a survivor of the Confederate or Union Army. How your ancestor answered this question will
help you further your research in other areas.
1940 Like the 1910 census, the 1940 census
provides a street and house number. The
census will give the value of the home and indicate if the place of residence
was owned or rented. Like prior census
records, the relationship to the head of house, as well as place of birth and
citizenship is revealed for each individual. While the 1910 census asks about activity in the Civil War, the
1940 census also inquires about veteran status. Again, this piece of information can be used
as a lead in other areas of research.
The 1940 census also asks where each person resided in
1935. Pay close attention to this. Your relative may not have been living in the
same house or town five years prior, even if the 1930 census shows that they
did. This will be a clue to you
regarding some movement and activity not previously known.
New to the census is the question regarding Social Security. Residents were asked if they had obtained a
social security number. Perhaps you have
searched the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) and not been able to find your ancestor listed. Check the 1940 census and see how your
ancestor answered the social security question.
I have not covered all the questions posed in either of
these census forms, but instead picked out some that you may have
overlooked which could lead you to tearing down some brick walls. Keep in mind when reviewing any census
record that you do not stay hyper focused on the left side of the form. While the left side of the document appears to
provide the answers to some obvious questions, the far right side of the form also provides valuable information.
Your ancestor may be located in the middle or bottom of the census
page, requiring you to scroll up and down the page to view the questions
posed. You may want to print a copy of each census form to consult as your review your ancestor's census information. You can find these forms at
archives.gov/research.
City Directories
City directories may be one of the most overlooked sources
in genealogical research. I will admit
that until about 10 years ago, it never crossed my mind to look in a city
directory to find information on my ancestors.
So, what can be found here that will help in research?
Like the federal census records, a city directory will
provide you with an address of the relative you are seeking. In some cases, the directory will list who is living
together in the same house. I will say,
however, that some directories will list the individuals separately, under
their own name. So, if your ancestor is
residing with relatives that have a different surname, you may not see them listed
together. You would have to already be
aware they are living together and look each person up by their last name.
A city directory will tell you if a person has recently
moved. The individual will be named and
following their name will be the word “removed.” This doesn’t mean they were forced out of
town. It simply means they moved
away. Unfortunately, the city directory may not provide the forwarding address.
If an individual is deceased and left behind a widow or widower,
the city directory may provide that information for a handful of years. By looking in the directory year by year, you
will be able to ascertain when the last time your ancestor was alive and living
with his/her spouse in that town.
Sometimes the city directory will list not only the house
the individual is living in, but also the place of employment. You may want to research the company your
ancestor worked for. You may find bits
and pieces of information that will give you some insight to your ancestor’s
life.
Don’t confuse city directories with the telephone book. These directories have been around far longer
and may be the source that provides the missing information you have been
waiting for.
WWI and WWII Draft
Cards
Not everyone has an ancestor who fought in WWI or WWII, but
they may have filled out a draft card.
According to the archives.gov website, there were three different draft cards for WWI.
First was the June 15, 1917, draft for men between
the ages of 21 and 31 years.
The June 5,
1918, draft was for men who turned 21 after the first draft.
And finally, there was the September 12,
1918, draft for men between the ages of 18 to 45.
For more information on the WWI draft records,
visit
http://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww1/draft-registration/index.html.
Like the U.S. Census records, draft cards reveal the name,
address, age and citizenship of the applicant.
The record may also provide the applicant’s birth date. In the lower portion of the front of the
card you may find the occupation of the applicant, as well as the company for
whom he worked. The name of a relative may be listed on the bottom of the
front of the WWI draft card. If the
applicant is married, the relative may be his wife, however, it could be a
parent or sibling. Pay close attention
to the name and address provided in the “closest relative” portion of the form. The WWII draft card asks for the “name of person who will
always know your address.” The response
given will not necessarily be a relative.
It is possible that the applicant wrote down the name of his employer or
a friend.
On both war draft cards, we now can see the signature of our
ancestor, as well as learn his height, weight, and colour of his hair and eyes. How nice to add to their description beyond
the black and white photos of the era!
U.S. Federal Census, City Directories and WWI/II draft cards
are only three types of sources we can use to learn about our ancestors. The descriptions of each of these sources
have been brief and do not encompass all that these sources can and may
reveal. But you get a general idea of
what you may find when you look in these records.
Take time to review the entire
record. Don’t assume that the document
facing you is the only page there is for your ancestor. If in your search only one image appears on
your screen, make sure that you “turn the page.” The backside or next page of the document may
be digitized separately. It would be a
shame if you missed vital information because you didn’t click over to the next
image in the series of documents.
Here is Your Five Point
Review:
·
Look at U.S. Census records for the states and
towns that your ancestor lived in or may have lived in.
·
Compare the various census records you have
found and review any new information revealed regarding address, citizenship,
occupation and family members.
·
Review City Directories in the towns or cities
that your ancestor lived in or may have lived in. Does the directory reveal the loss of a
spouse? A possible move? What occupation
is given for your ancestor? To learn more about your ancestor’s occupation, research
the company that employed him or her.
·
Did your ancestor complete a draft card for
either WWI or WWII? Did you notice any
new information on his draft card? Did
you notice his signature? Were you surprised
to see his height, weight, and colour of eyes and hair?
·
Compare all the information you gleaned from
each of the sources. Do you see any
discrepancies? Did the records confirm
information you had previously been told or discovered in your research? Record your findings in your Genealogy
Journal and cite your sources in your Family Tree.
Congratulations! You have completed day eight of the
21 Day Genealogy
Challenge! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post
them in the Blog Comment section below. Invite your friends to join this
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Thank you for joining this challenge and remember…..
History not shared is History forgotten!
