Exceptional trends observed in US Indian census schedules

DearREADERS,
Things are getting curiouser and curiouser. Just when you think there is a hard and fast rule, someone comes along and breaks it. In the world of genealogy, the study of one’s ancestors, we’re especially glad when this happens.

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THE RULE
There are no US federal census records available post-1930 at this time, because of right to privacy.

The exception: If your ancestors happen to be Native American, many of the annual post-1930 US Indian census records are searchable at Ancestry.com’s US Indian Census Schedules 1885-1940 collection, available to subscribers only. Some of the schedules are as recent as 1944, but in the description of the source documents found below the search box for this collection, Ancestry explains that after 1940 it was not necessary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to forward the enumerations to the National Archives, which developed this microfilm group.

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THE RULE
The wife’s maiden name is not specifically listed in US federal census records.

The exception: The US Indian census returns for 1937 (Washington) & 1940 (Minnesota) clearly show both the married name and maiden name for females. It is not known how many other returns in the 1885-1940 collection have this information on married or widowed females, but it is enough to make Ol’ Myrt wish she had Native American ancestry.

Click HERE to view the full page entry.

Example: January 1, 1937 enumeration taken by N. O. Nicholson, superintendent in Washington, #529-517 for Mabel A. Fulkerson where her maiden name is listed as Mabel A Williams. Note that her husband Gilbert H. Fulkerson is white and that Mabel is 1/8 degree of blood, so their son Gilbert H. Fulkerson, Jr. is listed as 1/16 DOB. Image 100, 1937 US Indian Census Schedules, Chehalis, Makah, Nisqually, Ozette, Quinaielt, Skokomish and Squaxin Island Reservations, Ancestry.com, viewed 2 July 2007.

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THE RULE
People found in US federal census enumerations are not listed in alphabetical order.

The exception: In a cursory review of the US Indian census returns for 1937 (Washington) Ol’ Myrt observed that entries are listed alphabetically by nation, then alphabetically by head-of-household surname in family groups. Of course, any name is fully searchable because of Ancestry’s index of this collection. The description provided by Ancestry.com states that “often there is often no discernible order to the listing of families.”

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THE RULE
US federal census enumerations do not list people in a family who are not in residence on census day.

The exception: When reviewing the enumeration pages for the Quinault (sic) tribe in the state of Washington, there are entries where the indivdual member of a tribe lived in California or Alaska, etc., but was enumerated on the Washington schedule with other members of his immediate family.

Click HERE to view the full page.

Example: See image 200 above, with details in Washington State enumeration of Alvin Smith (allotment number 1589) of the Chehalis tribe, showing residence in Los Angeles, California.

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THE RULE
Deaths are reported on Mortality Schedules associated with the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 US censuses and not on the enumeration schedules with everyone else.

The exception: Some individuals who died are listed on the typed 1937 US Indian census, where subsequently, the name is crossed out and a handwritten notation of date of death is inserted.

Example: January 1, 1937 enumeration taken by N. O. Nicholson, superintendent in Washington, crossed-out entry #432-415 for John Dixon, male, 97, [born] 1839, Quinaielt [Quinault] tribe, ¼ degree of blood, wd [Widower], head [of household] , yes - at jurisdiction where enrolled, yes – ward, Al. 19 (allotment, annuity and identification numbers), [handwritten] died March 3, 1937. Image 91, 1937 US Indian Census Schedules, Chehalis, Makah, Nisqually, Ozette, Quinaielt, Skokomish and Squaxin Island Reservations, Ancestry.com, viewed 2 July 2007.

Click

HERE to view the full page.

SOURCE INFORMATION

Ancestry.com. U.S. Indian Census Schedules, 1885-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY
While Ol’ Myrt’s brief study of the US Indian census schedules has been limited to five hours time these several interesting trends have emerged. That should encourage genealogists to consider trends, but to be willing to look for exceptions to the rule. After all, we are looking for needles in haystacks, aren’t we?

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy.
Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com
www.dearmyrtle.com

(c) 2007 Pat Richley All Rights Reserved.

Ancestry Launches 150 Years of Native American Family History, Online for the First Time

Discover More than 7.5 Million Names in the U.S. Indian Censuses; The Best Resource for Tracing American Indian Family History Available at a Click of Your Mouse

See: http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=1059

June 25, 2007, Provo, Utah – Ancestry.com, the world’s leading online family history resource, today launched more than 7.5 million names in U.S. Indian Censuses, the largest online collection of Native American family history records. Taken by the Bureau of Indian affairs, the censuses document some 150 years of Native American family history. These censuses create an intimate portrait of individuals living on all registered Indian reservations between 1885 and the 1940s.

The U.S. Indian Censuses are among the most important documents for tracing Native American family history – as well as the place to for anyone with Native American ancestry to begin searching for their heritage. Representing more than 250 tribes from some 275 reservations, schools and hospitals across the United States, the censuses typically recorded names, including Indian names, ages, birthdates, tribe, reservation and most importantly the Allotment/Annuity/ID number, otherwise known as the Census number. Some earlier rolls even listed the member clans, a very important relationship identifier.

Details of children born in the 1940s combined with information about individuals born in the early 1800s enable researchers to find parents and grandparents as children in 20th century censuses and trace their family to earlier generations. Clues in the census show where ancestors lived and how families changed over the years.

“The stories contained in these censuses will help Native Americans preserve their tradition-rich personal and cultural identity,” says Megan Smolenyak, chief family historian for Ancestry.com. “Crossing tribal and reservation boundaries, these censuses tell personal stories of Native Americans living on reservations across the United States. In them we find influential Native Americans who led their people along side those whose stories are still waiting to be told.”

Among the well-known names in the Native American censuses include:

• Celebrated Iwo Jima flag raiser Ira Hayes was counted on Arizona’s Gila River reservation in censuses from 1930 to 1936.
• Legendary Jim Thorpe appears 15 times in the censuses – first as a three-year-old named Jimmie living in Indian Territory, finally as a 50 year old in 1937.

The census also tells countless personal stories, such as:

• Jesse Cornplanter of New York’s Cattaraugus reservation appears in 16 censuses – first as a child with his parents, then as a father with a wife and child
• Gabe Gobin, a logger on the Tulalip Reservation in Washington, who appears in 33 years of censuses.
• Seminole Mary Parker appears as a young teenage in three censuses taken in the 1930s.

Because the Native American censuses were taken so often, they are among the best censuses worldwide for tracing family history. The U.S. federal census is taken only once every ten years. In addition, because Native Americans were not granted full U.S. citizenship until 1924, the U.S. federal censuses before 1930 are sporadic at best for counting Native Americans. The yearly counts and updates reflected in the Indian censuses offer Native American family historians a more complete and accurate picture of their ancestors than the federal census.

About Ancestry.com
With 24,000 searchable databases and titles, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. The site is home to the only complete online U.S. Federal Census collection, 1790-1930, as well as the world’s largest online collection of U.S. ship passenger list records featuring more than 100 million names, 1820-1960. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including MyFamily.com, Rootsweb.com, Genealogy.com and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 10.4 million unique visitors worldwide and over 450 million page views a month (© comScore Media Metrix, March 2007).