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United States Census Analyzing Census Data (view source)
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[[Portal:United States Census|Portal:United States Census ]]> | |||
Additional Information may be found on the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Portal:United_States_Census United States Census Portal] page. | Additional Information may be found on the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Portal:United_States_Census United States Census Portal] page. | ||
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Confidence that a reasonably thorough search has been made is a cornerstone of good census analysis. Use all the censuses and use them well. And don't forget the value of comparing censuses to other sources. | Confidence that a reasonably thorough search has been made is a cornerstone of good census analysis. Use all the censuses and use them well. And don't forget the value of comparing censuses to other sources. | ||
'''''Find and [[ | '''''Find and [[Copying Sources|photocopy]] every family member in every census.''''' Find '''every''' member of an ancestor's family in '''every''' available census during each of their lifetimes. Use federal, colonial, territorial, state, and local census. Use all census schedules: population, mortality, veterans, slave, etc. | ||
'''''Continue to hunt hard-to-find ancestors.''''' If some ancestors are difficult to find in a census, work even harder until you do. See [[ | '''''Continue to hunt hard-to-find ancestors.''''' If some ancestors are difficult to find in a census, work even harder until you do. See [[Guessing a Name Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]] for 20 ideas to help you locate hard-to-find ancestors. If you still cannot locate them in the census try a substitute jurisdiction, or substitute record types such as tax lists, plat maps, directories, or voting registers. It is better to assume they ARE in the census under some garbled name than to give up. | ||
'''''Add census events to the family group record.''''' Use the "[[ | '''''Add census events to the family group record.''''' Use the "[[Adding a Custom Event to a PAF Family Group Record|Add Custom Event]]" feature to add to the family group record the data from each census for each family member. | ||
'''''[[ | '''''[[Research a Family in Community Context|Study the family in community context]].'''''<sup>3</sup> Proximity implies a relationship. Research each individual in the same census household with a different surname. Look several census pages before and after an ancestor for people with similar given names, family names, occupations, or places of origin to see if they could be relatives. | ||
'''''Compare with non-census sources.''''' Find as many non-census sources as you can for each family member. Begin a preliminary evaluation by briefly comparing censuses with other documents, especially land records, to identify neighbors and relatives. Study all sources to identify family associates and discover their relationship. | '''''Compare with non-census sources.''''' Find as many non-census sources as you can for each family member. Begin a preliminary evaluation by briefly comparing censuses with other documents, especially land records, to identify neighbors and relatives. Study all sources to identify family associates and discover their relationship. | ||
= '''Cite Your Sources''' = | = '''Cite Your Sources''' = | ||
Good record keeping contributes to good analysis. Start with a [[ | Good record keeping contributes to good analysis. Start with a [[Family group record: roadmap for researchers|well documented family group record]] even before you look at a census. Keep organized and [[Document AS YOU GO!|document as you go]]. Good source footnotes are another cornerstone of good analysis. | ||
'''''Make a source footnote for each census entry.''''' [[ | '''''Make a source footnote for each census entry.''''' [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|Citing all your sources]] makes it easier to correlate and analyze sources against each other. It helps other researchers check your work. Add each census event to the family group record and make at least one source footnote for every census for every member of an ancestor's family. | ||
'''''Footnote other events listed on each census.''''' Most censuses are full of information about non-census events in people's lives. Your analysis will be better if you know (footnote) each and every source that mentions an event. Even if such an event already has a source citation from another document, consider footnoting the following events on your family group record with a ''census citation'' (add custom events where needed): | '''''Footnote other events listed on each census.''''' Most censuses are full of information about non-census events in people's lives. Your analysis will be better if you know (footnote) each and every source that mentions an event. Even if such an event already has a source citation from another document, consider footnoting the following events on your family group record with a ''census citation'' (add custom events where needed): | ||
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'''''Footnote the other events found in all the non-census sources''''' for each family member. | '''''Footnote the other events found in all the non-census sources''''' for each family member. | ||
'''''Use the comment field of each footnote''''' for a preliminary evaluation of the source. A few words of comment about the source's reliability, or how the new data compares with data in other sources will improve the more formal analysis later. | '''''Use the comment field of each footnote''''' for a preliminary evaluation of the source. A few words of comment about the source's reliability, or how the new data compares with data in other sources will improve the more formal analysis later. | ||
= '''Correlate, Corroborate, Analyze and Interpret''' = | = '''Correlate, Corroborate, Analyze and Interpret''' = | ||
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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''' = | ||
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Consider the trustworthiness of any document you find. But, when two sources disagree about an event, it is important to analyze which source is the most trustworthy. Was the person who provided the information in a position to know? Was the information recorded near the time of the event or years later? Is the information primary or was it compiled from other sources? Was it reliably copied? Was care taken in making the record and preserving it? Did the information provider or record keeper have any ulterior motives? Which version of events is most consistent with other facts? | Consider the trustworthiness of any document you find. But, when two sources disagree about an event, it is important to analyze which source is the most trustworthy. Was the person who provided the information in a position to know? Was the information recorded near the time of the event or years later? Is the information primary or was it compiled from other sources? Was it reliably copied? Was care taken in making the record and preserving it? Did the information provider or record keeper have any ulterior motives? Which version of events is most consistent with other facts? | ||
Sometimes, it is best to admit you cannot explain every discrepancy, or tell which contradictory version is most trustworthy. | Sometimes, it is best to admit you cannot explain every discrepancy, or tell which contradictory version is most trustworthy. | ||
= '''Check for Reasonable Conclusions''' = | = '''Check for Reasonable Conclusions''' = | ||
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= '''Follow-Up''' = | = '''Follow-Up''' = | ||
'''''Share.''''' One of the final steps of good analysis is to [[Sharing: | '''''Share.''''' One of the final steps of good analysis is to [[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|share your findings]] with others. This allows them to make constructive suggestions and may lead to new evidence. Share and collaborate with others to improve your census analysis. | ||
'''''Continue your education.''''' Another part of analysis follow up is continuing to learn about censuses, analysis, and genealogical research. Read about good research and analysis in books, periodicals, and the Internet. Take classes, go to conferences, and institutes to learn more. Trips to places where ancestors lived are also part of your genealogical education. | '''''Continue your education.''''' Another part of analysis follow up is continuing to learn about censuses, analysis, and genealogical research. Read about good research and analysis in books, periodicals, and the Internet. Take classes, go to conferences, and institutes to learn more. Trips to places where ancestors lived are also part of your genealogical education. | ||