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"Along Those Lines"
4/19/2002 - Archive
The AIS Census Indexes
Last week's "Along Those Lines . . ." column discussed using census
records and, in fact, going back to look at them again. Sometimes you can discover
new information by either re-searching the census or by applying more recently
obtained facts and evidence and re-evaluating the actual census pages themselves.
This is especially true for those of us who have worked with census records
in the past when:
There were no microfilm printers in the repository in which we were working,
or they were occupied or out of service.
There were no printed indexes to the microfilm in the repository and we
therefore had to search every page of the county census.
We abstracted the census records onto forms and either could not or did
not get a printed copy of the census page.
We did not list the names of our ancestors' neighbors on either side.
We did not pay much attention to the 'other stuff' on the census page beyond
names, ages, and (if included) place of birth.
There were no images available online.
I readily admit to having been guilty of all of the above at different times
in my researching life. However, since I now (supposedly) know better, I seldom
let any scrap of evidence (or potential evidence) escape me.
There were a number of e-mails received from readers last week asking me what
the AIS Census Indexes are. I apologize for not clarifying this point, especially
because there are many new genealogical and family history researchers who read
the column. Therefore, this week I want to discuss census indexes
What is AIS?
AIS is an acronym for a company named Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc., a
commercial company that indexed genealogical records. AIS' indexes are alphabetical
listings of some of the people living in the United States in certain historical
periods, and have been compiled from the U.S. census records and other records.
Let me stress that these are listings only of head-of-household and strays (i.e.,
in- laws living with family) in the U.S., especially because the Federal census
records, for example, did not include the names of all members of a household
until the 1850 census year, and even then the names of slaves and others were
not recorded. In addition, census enumerators certainly missed or omitted any
number of residents, and any index is susceptible to omissions and errors as
well.
While AIS has compiled many types of records, ranging from colonial records
in the 1600s to records from the early 1900s, perhaps the best known and most
frequently used are their indexes to the U.S. Federal censuses.
The earliest AIS indexes were in the form of printed books, published by state
and by census year. These had been compiled through manual transcription/input
of the census records using the same microfilm that we still use today. The
indexers had the same difficulties that we have: the handwriting is sometimes
illegible or difficult to decipher and the microfilm images are sometimes less
than clear. There also were transcription and spelling errors made. As a result
of these errors and omissions, the AIS publications were less than perfect.
However, they were an immense help in quickly searching an entire state in a
given census year to locate an individual by name. They helped us avoid the
need to cull through every single page of a census in a county in which we thought
our ancestors may have dwelt, and they opened our eyes to the possibility that
our ancestors may, indeed, have been in another county altogether.
One of the problems in having AIS' indexes in book form was that they cost money,
and library budgets have always been limited. A local library might have one
or more AIS indexes for its own state, but seldom would you find indexes for
other states much outside of your geographical area unless you visited a large
library with a significant genealogical collection or the venerable Family History
Library in Salt Lake City.
In the 1980s, AIS began releasing its indexes on microfilm. This certainly was
a more cost effective option for financially strapped library budgets, but then
there was the requirement to purchase and maintain microfilm readers and reader/printers.
In addition, the AIS indexes began being released in CD-ROM format and their
availability expanded access to the computer genealogy community who quickly
began buying loads of CDs.
At long last, the Internet opened the way for making the AIS census indexes
available to millions of genealogists worldwide. In addition, efforts have been
made to re-edit the indexes, making corrections and adding previously omitted
names. For the first time, the computer user in a rural community far from a
significant genealogical collection could quickly access the census indexes,
locate the census pages in which he or she was interested, and begin the process
of sending away for copies from various sources, including the National Archives,
the Family History Library, or by using the local library's Interlibrary Loan
(ILL) program. He or she also could plan a research trip to a location that
housed microfilm, and see and print copies of the census pages himself/herself.
Ancestry.com has made AIS census indexes a part of its subscription program
for several years in addition to other indexes, and the availability of these
databases has been a boon to millions of us.
Census Indexes at Ancestry.com
Below is a list with descriptions of the various indexes available at Ancestry.com:
1790-1850 (Plus varying coverage for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, and even as
late as 1900 and 1910 for a few states). As I mentioned earlier, Ancestry.com's
index publications are extensive, including state and Federal census records,
and many other record types. In March 1999 Ancestry.com posted this collection,
which is actually comprised of over 600 individual indexes, combined into one
fully searchable database. A full list of the component census database files
that make up this portion Ancestry.com's census collection can be found here.
It's important to reference this list when searching the database, so that you
know exactly what years and records you are searching since coverage varies
from state to state. Included you will find:
U.S. Federal census population schedule records
Some territorial censuses
Mortality schedules and slave schedules for a number of states (not all)
Some Colonial census records (such as the 1740-43 Rhode Island census)
Some Pensioners Schedules
Veterans Schedules and some Naval Veterans Schedules from the 1890 Federal
census (which is about all that remains of the ill-fated 1890 census, which
burned in 1921)
Some state censuses that have been microfilmed (few state censuses have
been filmed)
Through Ancestry.com's Census Subscription, for the enumerations of 1790-1850
(and partially for 1860), census subscribers can click right through to the
original census image.
(Note: The search template is listed below the list of states for the years
where it is available. Also on this page is a list of census microfilm rolls
that Ancestry.com has been unable to link to the indexes due to errors in the
original indexes. Using these numbers and following the link provided to the
National Archives Microform Catalog, users can determine whether or not the
missing rolls encompass the areas in which they are searching. If this is the
case, a page-by-page search of the images for that area may be required.)
Some additional Federal census materials that have not been indexed and made
available include the agricultural and manufacturing schedules, which might
provide additional details about an ancestor's farming or manufacturing business
concern.
1910 Miracode Indexes for Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
The Federal government created Soundex/Miracode indexes for twenty-one
states from the 1910 census and Ancestry.com has posted the Miracode indexes
for Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia on its site, as well as making
them available on CD-ROM. These indexes, searchable by household, also contain
information on other members of the household, making it easier to identify
the correct families in the index. Information in the index will enable users
to pinpoint their ancestors in the Census Images Online and eventually these
indexes are expected to be linked to the images.
Ancestry.com's 1920 Index. Ancestry.com is in the process of releasing its
own head-of-household index to the 1920 U.S. Federal census. The index gives
the age, birthplace, race, state, county, township, and NARA roll number and
page for each entry and is linked directly to the Census Images Online Collection.
Ancestry.com's 1930 Index. Experienced indexers are already working on the
1930 U.S. Federal Census, which was released only a few weeks ago. In fact,
the index for the first state that was released—Delaware—has already been
posted. This is an every- name index that will be available exclusively at Ancestry.com
and will be linked directly to the Census Images Online Collection.
How to Use the Indexes
Now for the nitty-gritty. Some census index listings contain only the name,
state and county (and often township) of residence, census year and type, and
page number where the individual is found in the census record. In addition,
even those that do contain more information will not contain as much as the
original. As a researcher, it is your job to verify that the index entry is
for your own ancestor and not another person with the same name, and to gather
as much data as you can on them.
There are a number of ways you can search the census indexes at Ancestry.com,
depending on the year you are looking for:
Advanced Search Template
Census Images Online
(Select a year and then scroll down to the search template. Available for 1790-1850,
and partially for 1860, 1920 and 1930)
Through the individual database. Select them here.
1790-1850
(partial 1860-1910)
Remember that there may be spelling errors in the census and transcription errors
in the preparation of indexes. If you initially have trouble locating your ancestor,
try using some of the advanced functions available at Ancestry.com. There is
a wildcard facility you can use to help narrow your search. If you were searching
for a surname and weren't sure of the spelling, you could enter three characters
of the surname, the wildcard (which is the asterisk *), and optionally more
letters. You can help your search for alternate spellings by checking the Soundex
box, which will look for matches of surnames that 'sound like' the one you've
entered and use the Soundex coding system. There are a number of ways you can
combine the use of different fields to get different results. Play with the
search and test your options.
Please also note on the search page at: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/ais/main.htm
that there is a link farther down on the page to a separate search facility
for mortality schedules. Whatever you do, don't overlook this potentially valuable
option for locating persons who died in the twelve months prior to the census
enumeration dates of the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses.
Putting It All Together
Even if the census record you are looking for is not directly linked to its
corresponding image yet, you will find information on the search results screen
to tell you precisely where to look, whether on microfilm or the Ancestry.com
Census Images Online. For instance, one record showed me a reference to the
NC 1860 Federal Census Index for Person County, Bushy Fork P.O. Township, page
925. (Note: The page number is that which appears on the census page/image itself,
and does not necessarily equate to the image number in the online census image.
You may have to extrapolate a bit by looking at one image and then determining
how many images before or after that image the page number you are seeking will
be found.)
By using the census indexes and the Images Online of the U.S. Federal Census
in the Ancestry.com subscription databases, there is an unlimited potential
for locating exactly the information you need to further your research day or
night. And best of all, you don't even need to leave the comfort of home. What
a deal!
Happy Hunting!
George
George G. Morgan would like to hear from you at atl@ahaseminars.com
but, due to the volume of e-mail received, he is unable to answer every e-mail
message received. Please note that he cannot assist you with your individual
research. Visit George's Web site at ahaseminars.com/atl
for information about speaking engagements.
Copyright 2002, MyFamily.com. All rights reserved.
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