Edit existing Rating: Accelerated Indexing Systems U.S. Census Indexes (on Microfiche)

{{breadcrumb | link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]] | link2=[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] | link3= | link4= | link5=[[Accelerated Indexing Systems U.S. Census Indexes (on Microfiche)|AIS Indexes]] }} == What are the AIS indexes? == Accelerated Indexing Systems (AIS) was a commercial company that indexed genealogical records. The microfiche version of the AIS U.S. Census indexes was published in 1984. It is distributed by the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library], with the permission of AIS, for use in FamilySearch centers. The information on these microfiche indexes is now available on the Internet at [http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com]. The Accelerated Indexing Systems indexes are alphabetical listings of some of the people living in the United States between 1607 and 1906. These listings were compiled from a variety of sources including the [[United States Census|United States census records]]. == How the AIS indexes can help you == The AIS microfiche indexes (also called searches) can help simplify United States family history research. The indexes usually provide enough information about the individuals listed to help you find them in the original record. Using these indexes can save you time that might otherwise be spent looking through hundreds of documents. Each AIS index covers a fairly broad time period (ten or more years) and a large geographical area (such as several states) which makes it easier to find your ancestor. If your ancestor appears in the AIS indexes, you can usually locate the call number for the original source document in the Place Search of the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]]. Many post-1850 censuses were indexed after this AIS index was compiled. In addition, some people appear more than once on a search, and as with any index, you may find some errors. {| width="420" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="center" |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | '''Four Steps to Follow''' |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" | Using the microfiche AIS census indexes involves four basic steps: {{Block indent|#Select the right search. }} {{Block indent|#Find a name in the index. }} {{Block indent|#Interpret the index. }} {{Block indent|#Search the original record.}} |} == Step 1: Select the right search == The AIS microfiche indexes are divided into nine groups or searches. The nine searches index records of people living in the United States from 1607 to 1906, although the majority of the records cover the federal censuses from 1790 to 1850. The searches are divided by locality and by date. These divisions are shown below. == Step 2: Find a name in the index == To find an ancestor in the AIS indexes, you must know at least the surname. If the surname is common, you may need to know more information. In addition to the surname, it is helpful to also have the— *Given name. *Approximate place of residence. *Approximate time period.<br> {| width="700" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="1" align="center" |- | align="center" | '''Search''' | width="12%" align="center" | '''Years''' | '''Locality''' |- | align="center" | '''1''' | 1607-1819 | Entire United States |- | align="center" | '''2''' | 1820-1829 | Entire United States |- | align="center" | '''3''' | 1830-1839 | Entire United States |- | align="center" | '''4''' | 1840-1849 | Entire United States |- | align="center" | '''5''' | 1850-1860* | Southern states (AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA) |- | align="center" | '''6''' | 1850 | New England and northern states (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT) |- | align="center" | '''7''' | 1850-1906* | Midwestern and western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MN, MI, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY) |- | align="center" | '''7a''' | 1850-1906* | Entire United States (searches 5, 6, and 7 compiled together) |- | align="center" | '''8''' | 1850-1885 | United States [[United States Census Mortality Schedules|mortality schedules]] only |- | colspan="3" | <nowiki>*</nowiki>Not all states were completed when this index was compiled (1984). Many states have been indexed since then. The [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] identifies all census indexes available at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library]. |} To locate your ancestor in the AIS searches— *Find the set of microfiche for the search you selected in step 1. Determine which microfiche your ancestor might appear in. Names are listed alphabetically by surname. The first name on each microfiche appears in large letters at the top. *Locate your ancestor in the alphabetical listing. == Step 3: Interpret the index == === Format of Searches 1 through 7a === The entries in Searches 1 through 7a follow the format of the chart in [[Accelerated Indexing Systems U.S. Census Indexes (on Microfiche)#The_Format_of_Searches_1_through_7a|"Step 4" section]]. === Format of Search 8 === The entries in Search 8 follow the format of the chart in the [[Accelerated Indexing Systems U.S. Census Indexes (on Microfiche)#The_Format_of_Search_8|"Step 4" section]]. See the [[Accelerated Indexing Systems U.S. Census Indexes (on Microfiche)#Abbreviations_Key|Abbreviations Key]] at the end of the document. If your ancestor is listed within an entry, write down the information given. === Can’t find the name you are seeking? === {| width="700" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" border="1" align="center" |- | bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''Can’t find the name you are seeking?''' |- | bgcolor="#ffffcc" | You may not find the name you are seeking because— *Only heads of households are listed. The person you are seeking may not have been listed in the census. Look for the head of house instead. *The indexer may have missed the person or read the name wrong. See the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada|Spelling Substitution Tables]]. *The person may not have been recorded in the census. Find other kinds of documents at that time and place. *The census taker may have misspelled the name. See the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada#Phonetic_Substitutes_Table|Phonetic Substitutes Table]]. *The person may not have lived where or when you thought he did. Look for the person in a different locality, or in a different census year. *The name may have been spelled differently than what you looked for. See [[Guessing a Name Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]]. |} == Step 4: Search the original record == Begin this step by determining what was the original record (column 5 or 6 on indexes 1 to 7a). Most entries come from federal census records. The original census records are listed in the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog under]] UNITED STATES - CENSUS. If you need help using the catalog, ask a staff member. Copy the call numbers from the catalog. This number will help you order the appropriate record. You may also obtain census microfilms from other libraries and archives, such as the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]], its regional branches, and private companies. === The Format of Searches 1 through 7a === The format of Searches 1 through 7a is shown below. Most other sources, usually in Search 1, are lists of residents. They may come from colonial petitions, [[US Immigration Passenger Arrival Records|passenger arrivals]], [[United States Naturalization and Citizenship|naturalizations]], [[United States Taxation|tax records]], voter lists, and other sources. Search the appropriate state research outline for lists matching the type of records and date(s) given in the index. The non-census record type is often identified in column 5 or 6. If you cannot determine the source from the state Wiki page, contact the state library, archive, or historical society mentioned in the state Wiki pages. They may be able to identify the source.[[Image:AIS Search 1-7a.gif]] === The Format of Search 8 === The format of Search 8 ([[United States Census Mortality Schedules|mortality schedules]]) is shown below. If the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] has the [[United States Census Mortality Schedules|mortality schedules]], they are listed in the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] under the name of the state, and the topic CENSUS or VITAL RECORDS. If you cannot find them in the library catalog, contact the state library or archives of the state in which the [[United States Census Mortality Schedules|mortality schedule]] was taken (see the state Wiki pages). [[Image:AIS Search 8.gif]] == Abbreviations Key == Postal code abbreviations were used for the United States. The following abbreviations are used in Searches 1 to 7a. For birthplaces in Search 8, see the original [[United States Census Mortality Schedules|mortality schedule]]. {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" | Code ! scope="col" | Meaning |- ! scope="row" | C | Continental census |- ! scope="row" | CL | Colonial |- ! scope="row" | CO | County |- ! scope="row" | CS | County census |- ! scope="row" | DIST | District |- ! scope="row" | FO | Fidelity oath |- ! scope="row" | NG | Not given |- ! scope="row" | NPN | No page number |- ! scope="row" | PRSH | Parish |- ! scope="row" | PT | Petitioners list |- ! scope="row" | RR | Rent role |- ! scope="row" | RS | Residents list |- ! scope="row" | S | State or colonial census |- ! scope="row" | ST | State or colonial census |- ! scope="row" | T | Territory |- ! scope="row" | TERR | Territorial census |- ! scope="row" | TWP | Township |- ! scope="row" | TX | Tax list (Many tax lists are indexed by month; for example, JUNTX, JULTX, AUGTX, JANTX.) |- ! scope="row" | UK | Unknown |- ! scope="row" | UN | Unknown |- ! scope="row" | UNK | Unknown |- ! scope="row" | * | Interpretation is questionable |- ! scope="row" | ** | Interpretation is very questionable |- ! scope="row" | < | Head of household |} == '''Related Content''' == *[[United States Census Searching]] *[[Soundex|Soundex]] *[[United States Census Indexes]] <br> [[Category:United_States_Census 1940]]