Free Tools to Aid Census Research

When researching the census, there are two tools that will make researching easier and save you time. They are two free books, Measuring America and a book (made by you) of blank census[1] forms.

Measuring America

Measuring America is a free download from the U.S. Census Bureau. You can find it by clicking or cutting and pasting this link: https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/pol_02-ma.html Measuring America is an overview of the instructions given to the assistant marshals and enumerators who were the people charged with counting the population over the decades. If you need more detailed information, that is available on the census bureau website at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/technical-documentation/questionnaires.html However, Measuring America will give you most of the information you need. If you are wondering if people had to answer the census questions, what constituted a dwelling or a family, or what happened if people were not at home, that information is in Measuring America. Also in the back of the book is a bibliography if you want to know more and a chart telling what basic information was asked for on what census.

Census Blank Forms

The second tool is one you make yourself. It is a booklet of blank census forms to be used while researching. The forms can be downloaded from many places, but one is https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/charts-forms . The reason blank forms will be so useful is that the digital reproductions you will be reading are not perfect. Some of the images are great, but others have the edges of the page blacked out. Some of the images will have the headings so blurry they are unreadable. Many of the 1790-1840 headings are missing altogether. Another reason is that often you will be examining the bottom of the census page. To avoid struggling to read a blurry or darkened image or to keep from scrolling up and down the page, a blank form with easily readable print will make your life much easier.

Taking the time to print out blank forms for each census year will save you more time than you realize. Once you have printed the forms, you can either staple them into a booklet, like shown above, or put them into a small binder. Then find a convenient place for your booklet, because you’ll be using it often!

If we can help you with the census or any other record, we’re here for you! You can contact us now!

[1] In this blog, the United States Census is the only one being discussed, and will be referred to as the census. If any other census is mentioned it will be referred to by name, ie New York State Census.