1890 U.S. Census Records Blog

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1. Daniel P. O’Mahony, “Lost But Not Forgotten: The U.S. Census of 1890,” Government Publications Review 18 (1991): 332; Margo J. Anderson, The American Census: A Social History (1988), p. 106.

The Census Bureau was established as a permanent organization in 1902; before that date, the work of the bureau was carried out on an ad hoc basis pursuant to congressional authorization. In February 1903 the Census Bureau was transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Commerce and Labor and in 1913 to the newly separated Commerce Department. See Kellee Green, “The Fourteenth Numbering of the People: The 1920 Federal Census,” Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives 23 (Summer 1991): 131-132.

2. O’Mahony, “Lost But Not Forgotten,” pp. 333, 335; Anderson, The American Census, p. 102; W. Stull Holt, The Bureau of the Census: Its History, Activities, and Organization (1929; reprint, 1974), p. 30.

Municipal governments could request copies of information (names, age, sex, birthplace, and color or race) of their residents from the superintendent of the census at a cost of twenty-five cents for each hundred names. See Sec. 23, An Act to Provide for Taking of the Eleventh and Subsequent Censuses, March 1, 1889, Records Relating to the 11th (1890) Census, 1889-1893, Records Relating to Decennial Censuses, Patents and Miscellaneous Division, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Interior, Record Group 48, National Archives (hereinafter, records in the National Archives will be cited as RG ___, NA); Carroll D. Wright and William C. Hunt, The History and Growth of the United States Census (1900), p. 73.

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The Special Enumeration of Union Veterans and Widows
Often confused with the 1890 census, and more often overlooked or misjudged as useless, are nearly seventy-five thousand special 1890 schedules enumerating Union veterans and widows of Union veterans.(27) Nearly all of these schedules for the states of Alabama through Kansas and approximately half of those for Kentucky appear to have been destroyed before transfer of the remaining schedules to the National Archives in 1943. Nearly all, but fragments for some of these states were accessioned by the National Archives as bundle 198. Many reference sources state or speculate that the missing schedules were lost in the 1921 fire. The administrative record, however, does not support this conclusion.

The Pension Office requested the special enumeration to help Union veterans locate comrades to testify in pension claims and to determine the number of survivors and widows for pension legislation. Some congressmen also thought it scientifically useful to know the effect of various types of military service upon veterans’ longevity.(28) To assist in the enumeration, the Pension Office prepared a list of veterans’ names and addresses from their files and from available military records held by the War Department. The superintendent of the census planned to print in volumes the veterans information (name, rank, length of service, and post office address) compiled from the 1890 enumeration and place copies with libraries and veterans organizations so individuals could more easily locate their fellow veterans.(29)

Question 2 on the general population schedules inquired whether the subject had been “a soldier, sailor, or marine during the civil war (United States or Confederate) or widow of such person.” Enumerators were instructed to write “Sol” for soldier, “Sail” for sailor, and “Ma” for marine, with “U.S.” or “Conf.” in parentheses, for example, Sol (U.S.) or Sail (Conf.). The letter “W” was added to these designations if the enumerated was a widow.(30) According to enumeration instructions, if the veteran or widow responded “yes” to Union service, the enumerator produced the veterans schedule, marked the family number from the general population schedule, and proceeded to ask additional service-related questions.

The upper half of each page on the veterans schedules lists name, rank, company, regiment or vessel, date of enlistment, date of discharge, and length of service. The lower half contains the post office address, any disability incurred in the service, and general remarks. The question on disability was included because many veterans claimed pensions, under an 1862 act, based on service-related disabilities.(31) The “General Remarks” column usually provides the most colorful, anecdotal, and meaningful information on the schedules.

Although the special enumeration was intended only for Union veterans of the Civil War and their widows, enumerators nevertheless often listed veterans and widows of earlier wars as well as Confedederate veterans.(32) Veterans of the War of 1812 are sometimes listed, and there are especially numerous entries for Mexican War veterans. Susan Arnold of Pennsylvania was listed, though her husband died in New Orleans coming home from the Seminole War (1828-1833).

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Of the decennial population census schedules, perhaps none might have been more critical to studies of immigration, industrialization, westward migration, and characteristics of the general population than the Eleventh Census of the United States, taken in June 1890. United States residents completed millions of detailed questionnaires, yet only a fragment of the general population schedules and an incomplete set of special schedules enumerating Union veterans and widows are available today. Reference sources routinely dismiss the 1890 census records as “destroyed by fire” in 1921. Examination of the records of the Bureau of Census and other federal agencies, however, reveals a far more complex tale. This is a genuine tragedy of records–played out before Congress fully established a National Archives–and eternally anguishing to researchers.
As there was not a permanent Census Bureau until 1902, the Department of the Interior administered the Eleventh Census. Political patronage was “the most common order for appointment” of the nearly 47,000 enumerators; no examination was required. British journalist Robert Porter initially supervised the staff for the Eleventh Census, and statistician Carroll Wright later replaced him.(1) This was the first U.S. census to use Herman Hollerith’s electrical tabulation system, a method by which data representing certain population characteristics were punched into cards and tabulated. The censuses of 1790 through 1880 required all or part of schedules to be filed in county clerks’ offices. Ironically, this was not required in 1890, and the original (and presumably only) copies of the schedules were forwarded to Washington.(2)

June 1, 1890, was the official census date, and all responses were to reflect the status of the household on that date. The 1890 census law allowed enumerators to distribute schedules in advance and later gather them up (as was done in England), supposedly giving individuals adequate time to accurately provide information. Evidently this method was very little used. As in other censuses, if an individual was absent, the enumerator was authorized to obtain information from the person living nearest the family.(3)
The 1890 census schedules differed from previous ones in several ways. For the first time, enumerators prepared a separate schedule for each family. The schedule contained expanded inquiries relating to race (white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian), home ownership, ability to speak English, immigration, and naturalization. Enumerators asked married women for the number of children born and the number living at the time of the census to determine fecundity. The 1890 schedules also included a question relating to Civil War service.(4)

Enumerators generally completed their counting by July 1 of 1890, and the U.S. population was returned at nearly 63 million (62,979,766). Complaints about accuracy and undercounting poured into the census office, as did demands for recounts. The 1890 census seemed mired in fraud and political intrigue. New York State officials were accused of bolstering census numbers, and the intense business competition between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, resulted in no fewer than nineteen indictments against Minneapolis businessmen for allegedly adding more than 1,100 phony names to the census. Perhaps not surprisingly, the St. Paul businessmen brought the federal court complaint against the Minneapolis businessmen.(5)

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Genealogists have come to depend on census records as evidence to confirm their ancestors’ residence in a particular location at a specific point in time. Despite the problems with the quality of the enumerators’ work, not to mention the sometimes–poor handwriting and dim microfilm images, we take the information and run with it.

Perhaps one of the most critical censuses to many of us is the U.S. Federal census of 1890. Yet it is the one that doesn’t exist, at least not most of it. For researchers seeking to locate or confirm the location of their families, this loss can create the single largest roadblock in tracing their ancestors. It can literally be the “stopper” in the process.

It is important, as discussed in last week’s column, to be creative and investigate alternate research paths in order to locate other types of documentary evidence to fill the gap. In “Along Those Lines . . .” this week, let’s look at substitute records that may help bridge the gap of the lost census of 1890.

What Happened to the 1890 Census??The U.S. Federal government funded and scheduled the eleventh decennial census of the United States to begin on 1 June 1890. The process was slated to last thirty days and, according to all accounts, the process went quite smoothly. The data was collected and the Population Schedules and the Veterans Schedules of Civil War Union veterans and widows were sent to the Federal government.

The 1890 census materials were stored at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C. In January of 1921, tragedy struck when a fire at the Commerce Building and the resultant water destroyed 99% of these census records. The fragments of the Population Schedules that survived included only about 6,000 individuals of a total of almost 63 million U.S. inhabitants counted. A special enumeration of Union veterans and widows had been compiled on Veterans Schedules forms. Of these, sixteen states’ schedules were completely lost and about half of the schedules for Kentucky perished.

The surviving portions of the 1890 census’ Population Schedules have been microfilmed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and are included on only three rolls of film, reference No. M407. A name index to these schedules exists, too, on two rolls of NARA microfilm, reference No. M496. The Veterans Schedules consist of 118 rolls of film, reference No. M123. For information about the contents of these microfilm resources, there are two excellent reference books:

William Dollarhide’s The Census Book, published in 2000 by Heritage Quest, is a guide to the contents of all of the Federal Censuses of 1790 through the 1930 census, which will be issued by NARA on 1 April 2002.

Thomas Jay Kemp’s brand new book, The American Census Handbook, published in 2001 by Scholarly Resources, Inc., is a compilation, state-by-state and county-by-county, of what census resources exist. These include microfilm, published transcriptions and indexes, and other references to help the researcher locate everything in print about census records. These, coupled with NARA’s Web site listing the surviving contents of the 1890 census, can provide you with the best possible information about what you can still access. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the fact that there really are some pieces left that may help your research.

Federal population census schedules are among the most frequently sought after historical records. A significant number of family historians seem particularly interested in the census records that date from 1850 to 1920. These records list everyone living in a particular household, identify relationships among all those in the household, and offer the possibility of at least several other consequential facts to assist one in a genealogical quest.

The decennial census records truly are a boon for genealogical researchers. As we place our American family lines on a research timeline, we can look forward to these federal records providing us with “touch-stone” data on our families at regular intervals. And carefully studying the information these censuses provide can often lead to new sources of data while we continue to expand our ancestor charts and fill in our family group sheets.

As researchers, we have found census records particularly useful during times of considerable societal change as they assist us in locating ancestors who are not living in the cities and counties where we expect them to be. These times of significant change or movement can be evidenced after the conclusion of wars, during and after periods of economic depression and economic boon, and during periods of great internal migration and westward expansion brought on by such activities as the building of railroads and canals, homesteading acts and other land related activities, and the prospect of riches in a remote or distant place, e.g. gold in California.
?Lost 1890 Census Details?The 1890 Federal Census would have been of exceptional benefit to genealogical researchers. Even the look of the schedule would have indicated that this was a record to be sought after and considered. For this schedule, each family was typically given a separate page.

The first section asked for a full given name (called Christian name on the actual schedule), a middle initial, and a surname for each person living in the household. The second question inquired: “Whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the Civil War (U.S. or Conf.), or widow of such person.”

The second section of the 1890 census dealt with race, sex, and age. It is interesting to note that the heading for the race column actually read: “Whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian.” Age was to be recorded as of the nearest birthday with those under one year being recorded in number of months old.
The third section asked a host of questions, the answers to which provide quite meaningful data about the family. Two separate questions dealt with marital status, the second being whether a person was married “during the census year (1 June 1889 to 31 May 1890).” There was a place for females to record how many children were born to them and how many were still living at the time of the census. Also recorded was each individual’s place of birth as well as the place of the birth of his or her father and mother. The last three questions in this section were specifically addressing immigrants as they asked how many years one had been in the United States, whether one was naturalized and whether naturalization papers had been taken out.

The fourth and fifth sections of the census dealt with employment and education. Besides profession, trade, or occupation, one was to indicate if he or she was unemployed during the census year. And along with indicating an ability to read and write, one was to indicate if he or she attended school during the census year and if English could be spoken. If English could not be spoken, the language or dialect was to be indicated on the form.

The last two sections dealt with health and ownership. Each person was queried as to whether he or she suffered from acute or chronic disease. If so, the name of the disease as well as the length of the illness were to be indicated. There was also an expansive question regarding general health asking if the person was “defective in mind,” blind, dumb, crippled, maimed or deformed. Again, the specific malady was to be indicated. Space was provided to indicate whether a person was a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper. Space was also given to indicate whether the head of the household owned the home or rented it–and if owned, whether it was clear of any mortgages. A similar question was asked as to whether the head of the household was a farmer and if so, whether the land was worked, owned, or if the farming work was done for hire. If the land was owned, whether it was clear of any mortgages.

The 1890 federal population schedules were a robust census in the amount of information the enumerators were instructed to collect as they conducted their visitations throughout the country. And the 1880s and 1890s were such significant periods of growth and change in the United States that family and social historians, academicians, and demographers would have benefited from the richness and quantity of data collected. Unfortunately, a portion of the 1890 census was damaged by fire in the basement of the Commerce Building in 1921. The remaining records, badly damaged by water used to extinguish the fire, were stored for a number of years. But, damaged beyond repair, the records were ultimately destroyed by government order.

For years the loss of the 1890 census has created a record void for many researchers. But there is exciting good news for family historians. Ancestry.com is in the process of constructing a new census for 1890. And while most reconstructed documents cannot capture all the magnificence and utility of the original works, the Ancestry.com 1890 census substitute is quite remarkable and should be of tremendous assistance to genealogists in more quickly and fully documenting their families during this important time period.
?The “Substitute” Census?The core of the reconstructed 1890 census will consist of several major record groups. Having all those core record groups available together in a searchable electronic data file will mean that those 1890 era ancestors “lost” in the 1921 fire can now be found.
First, while the 1921 fire was disastrous, as with most fires in record repositories not all of the 1890 population schedules were destroyed. Indeed, a little more than 6,100 individuals from Alabama, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas are listed on salvaged fragments of the schedules. The National Archives microfilmed these fragments a number of years ago with an alphabetical index to the fragments. An electronic version of this index will be a part of the 1890 reconstructed census.

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