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United States Census Analyzing Census Data (view source)
Revision as of 16:37, 18 July 2008
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Census data is rarely completely consistent from year to year. But usually enough remains consistent to recognize a family as it changes over time. Between 1865 and 1875 many African American families changed their surnames. If you cannot find them under the surname you expect, try looking for their given names and disregard family names. Or, look for neighbors from other census years to find them on the 1870 census—then see if your ancestor is nearby. | Census data is rarely completely consistent from year to year. But usually enough remains consistent to recognize a family as it changes over time. Between 1865 and 1875 many African American families changed their surnames. If you cannot find them under the surname you expect, try looking for their given names and disregard family names. Or, look for neighbors from other census years to find them on the 1870 census—then see if your ancestor is nearby. | ||
'''''Primary vs. secondary census information.''''' A census schedule shows a mix of primary and secondary information. Residence on a census is primary information because the census taker stood at the door of the house asking questions. But most of the other data are secondary. Usually other more primary sources would better document names, relationship to head-of-house, age, marital status, education, place of birth, citizenship, occupation, or military service. But it is best to corroborate one piece of data with several independent sources that agree, even if the information is secondary census data. | '''''Primary vs. secondary census information.''''' A census schedule shows a mix of primary and secondary information. Residence on a census is primary information because the census taker stood at the door of the house asking questions. But most of the other data are secondary. Usually other more primary sources would better document names, relationship to head-of-house, age, marital status, education, place of birth, citizenship, occupation, or military service. But it is best to corroborate one piece of data with several independent sources that agree, even if the source's information is secondary census data. | ||
'''''Accuracy.''''' Most of the time the census got it right, but . . . Ages on a census and the spelling of names are especially prone to error whether by mistake or deliberate. Old immigration dates on a census may have been remembered incorrectly. A member of a racial minority may have hesitated to reveal their race to a census taker. Tired census takers may have taken sloppy notes, or struggled to understand a thick foreign accent. Censuses are an important source but should be compared with all other censuses and other documents before relying too heavily on their information. | '''''Accuracy.''''' Most of the time the census got it right, but . . . Ages on a census and the spelling of names are especially prone to error whether by mistake or deliberate. Old immigration dates on a census may have been remembered incorrectly. A member of a racial minority may have hesitated to reveal their race to a census taker. Tired census takers may have taken sloppy notes, or struggled to understand a thick foreign accent. Censuses are an important source but should be compared with all other censuses and other documents before relying too heavily on their information. | ||
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'''''Likelihood of events.''''' Logically, could the events described on the census have really happened in the order suggested when compared to other sources? Does census information reflect what really happened? | '''''Likelihood of events.''''' Logically, could the events described on the census have really happened in the order suggested when compared to other sources? Does census information reflect what really happened? | ||
'''''Milk censuses for what they imply.''''' Think about the implications of what is on the census and what is not on the census. For example what does it mean when someone appears, disappears, or lives nearby on the census. Could a 14 year old girl with a different surname appearing in a household be a niece as well as a maid? Could the disappearance of a lady in her 60s mean she died, or went to live with one of her children? If an ancestor with the surname CRAIG lives next to someone with the surname GREG could they be related with different versions of the same name? | '''''Milk censuses for what they imply.''''' Think about the implications of what is on the census and what is not on the census. For example what does it mean when someone appears, disappears, or lives nearby on the census. Could a 14 year old girl with a different surname appearing in a household be a niece as well as a maid? Could the disappearance of a lady in her 60s mean she died, or went to live with one of her children? If an ancestor with the surname CRAIG lives next to someone with the surname GREG could they be related with different versions of the same name? | ||
= '''Explain Contradictory Evidence''' = | = '''Explain Contradictory Evidence''' = | ||