subject: The 1940 Census And Other Historical Public Records [print this page] The release of the 1940 census in April 2012 has sparked an interested in family history. Tracing the past generations of your family to find out who your ancestors were, where they lived and the stories behind the names and dates and be an enthralling journey back in time. Censuses can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors. The 1940 census can provide a great deal of information about your ancestors, but it is important to know beforehand where to start and how to begin your search. When the 1940 census was released on April 02nd 2012, it will not have any accompanying searchable indexes. In order to find an ancestor, you firstly need to find out where they resided at the time the census was taken. If your ancestor lived in a large city, you may be able to locate them using a directory, or failing this you will need to undertake a little detective work. Ask your relatives to find out whether they have any documents about your ancestors around about 1940. Such documents may provide important clues as to where they may have lived at the time.
All of the census entries from the 1940 census have been digitised and in order to find an individual, you will need to know the Enumeration District, sometimes referred to as simply ED. Enumeration Districts are specified by the United States Census Bureau and they are particular areas where individual census takers were allocated to collect census information within a specific timescale. The enumeration districts could be as small as a block or could be several miles which were common in rural areas.
Using a search engine, you should be able to locate the 1940 Census Enumeration District Finder where you can enter your search. Once you have found the appropriate Enumeration District, you will be provided with information from the relevant microfilm including a list of the streets in the locality. Census records make up just a fraction of the information available to family history researchers. Certificates, a family bible, a diary and photographs can all supplement your research and help to bring your ancestors to life. When you are looking for census information it is a good idea to set up some sort of recording system particularly if you are looking for entries on numerous ancestors. This will help you keep track of who you have researched, what you have found and can include copies of your original records. A folder on your computer or a paper file if you prefer, are ideal ways of storing and preserving your family history research. It might be an idea to label each census record for future reference with a label which is familiar to you. This way you will be able to easily retrieve the information if you decide to undertake a one person study or a family study at a later stage in your research.
When you are looking through census records for 1940, pay particular attention to any other relatives who may be listed on the same household. These may hold vital clues to the maternal or paternal ancestors. Census day. This can hold vital clues and may even lead you on to find other branches and help you build your family tree. When you are researching your family history, check whether there have been any one name studies undertaken of your surname. Information published as part of these studies can provide useful information which you can use to supplement your own research or may help you find the correct entry on the 1940 census.
