Madison County Genealogical Society

Madison County Genealogical Society

Minutes of the Meeting – April 14, 2022

On April 14, 2022, the Madison County Genealogical Society held a meeting at the Edwardsville Public Library.

President, Robert Ridenour, called the meeting to order.

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

Do you have a family member that is interested in (or even obsessed with) genealogy? A membership in the Madison County Genealogical Society would be a very thoughtful gift. A gift card will be sent to the recipient of any gift membership.

The following memberships are available:
Individual/Family Annual Membership $25.00
Patron Annual Membership $35.00

Institutional Membership $25.00

Contact our Secretary, Petie Hunter, at petie8135@att.net, about a gift membership.

April Meeting

On April 14, 2022, Mary Westerhold presented a program titled What Makes the 1950 Census Different and Why You Should Search It!

The 1950 Federal Census is available, FREE OF CHARGE, on the National Archives Records and Administration (NARA) website: heeps://1950census.archives.gov/.

The overview of the differences between the 1940 and 1950 census is shown below.

What’s New & Unique about the 1950 Census Release

(According to the Website https://1950Census.archives.gov)

· First time using optical character recognition/artificial intelligence (OCR/AI) for handwriting recognition

· First time using a transcription tool to improve the name index

· First chance to download the entire census in bulk

· First time releasing the census during a pandemic

· First time people were asked if they owned a TV

1950 Census Records That Were Not Retained

· Separate Infant Cards were completed for babies born in January, February, and March 1950 (the enumeration occurred on April 1, 1950). Statistical data was compiled but the cards were never microfilmed and then were destroyed.

· Military personnel and their dependents overseas were counted but only used for informational purposes and not retained.

· The back side of form P1 contained information about the individuals’ housing. The data was tabulated but never microfilmed.

· Agricultural schedules were completed, compiled, and the individual information was destroyed, but never microfilmed.

1950 Census Fun Facts

· More training for enumerators — video can be viewed online

· Advertising campaign to encourage people to answer the questions — Slideshow can be viewed online

· Form P8 — Native Americans who lived on Reservations were enumerated on the standard P1 form but also on the P8 form where additional information regarding Native American names, tribes, etc., was recorded. If they did not live on a reservation, Native Americans were only enumerated on the standard P1 form.

· College and University students were enumerated where they lived most of the year, such as their dorm room, off campus apartments, etc.

· Special effort made to enumerate people who lived in hotels, military personnel in barracks in the U.S., transients, and homeless.

· Different standard census forms were used in Alaska (P82), Hawaii (P87), American Samoa (P80), Guam (P85), Panama Canal Zone (P91) Puerto Rico (P93), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (P97).

· Crew members of U.S.–flag commercial and military vessels in U.S. and territorial ports were enumerated.

1950 Census Enumeration Fun Facts

· Self-enumeration on “household” forms was tested in Ingham and Livingston Counties, Michigan, and Franklin County, Ohio.

· The 1950 Census was the last census where an enumerator visited most households carrying a multi-family form.

Reasons to Search the 1950 Census

· First appearance of the Baby Boom generation in the census

· First Post–WWII census snapshot

· You’ll see the names of your relatives and ancestor, where they lived and the relationships within the family.

· You’ll find out where they were living and get the actual address.

· You can help correct or add to the index. (Have you ever tried to correct a name on Ancestry.com?)

After this portion of the presentation, Mary demonstrated how searches were done on the index, searching for family members of some of those present. A couple of the names being searched for were misinterpreted by the OCR/AI and Mary showed how corrections could be made. You have to obtain a permission code to make changes on each search, but it is not difficult.

Although the audience was small, this presentation was very well received, especially the demonstration. The comments and questions caused the meeting almost until the library closing time.

Back