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This publication was prepared by

Jason G. Gauthier. The following

individuals provided valuable information

and and/or reviewed the manuscript:

Michael H. Hovland, Marilyn Huss

Moore, David M. Pemberton, and

JoAnn Sheperd of the U.S. Census Bureau

History Staff; Constance Potter of the

National Archives and Records Administration; and Ronald E. Green and Steven D.

Leftwood of the U.S. Census Bureau’s

library.

Cover art printed by permission of the

Norman Rockwell Family Trust.

Copyright © 1940, the Norman Rockwell

Family Trust.

Kim D. Ottenstein, Bernadette J.

Gayle, Theodora S. Forgione, and

Barbara H. Blount of the Administrative

and Customer Services Division, Walter C.

Odom, Chief, provided publications and

printing management, graphics design and

composition, and editorial review for print

and electronic media. General direction

and production management were

provided by Gary J. Lauffer, Chief,

Publications Services Branch.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

	

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Census Questionnaires and Instructions: 1790 to 2000............ 5

1790 Questionnaire.............................. 5

1800 Questionnaire.............................. 6

1810 Questionnaire.............................. 6

1820 Questionnaire.............................. 6

Instructions to Marshals .......................... 6

1830 Questionnaire.............................. 7

Instructions to Marshals .......................... 7

1840 Questionnaire.............................. 8

1850 Questionnaire—Free Inhabitants .................... 9

Instructions to Marshals and Assistants .................. 9

1850 Questionnaire—Slave Inhabitants ................... 11

1860 Questionnaire.............................. 13

Instructions to Marshals and Assistants .................. 13

1870 Questionnaire.............................. 13

Instructions to Marshals and Assistants .................. 14

1880 Questionnaire—Schedule 1, ‘‘Inhabitants’’ ............... 17

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 18

1880 Questionnaire—Schedule 1, ‘‘Indian Division’’............. 21

1890 Questionnaire.............................. 22

1900 Questionnaire—Population....................... 34

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 35

1900 Questionnaire—Indian Population ................... 43

Instructions for Enumerators........................ 43

1910 Questionnaire—General Population .................. 45

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 47

1910 Questionnaire—Indian Population ................... 55

Instructions for Enumerators........................ 56

1920 Questionnaire.............................. 58

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 58

1930 Questionnaire—Population....................... 59

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 59

1930 Questionnaire—Census of Unemployment .............. 60

1930 Questionnaire—‘‘Supplemental Schedule for Indian Population’’ ... 61

1940 Questionnaire—Population....................... 62

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 64

1940 Questionnaire—Census of Occupied Dwellings ............ 65

1940 Questionnaire—Census of Vacant Dwellings ............. 66

Instructions to Enumerators ........................ 66

1950 Questionnaire—Population....................... 66

Instrucions to Enumerators ........................ 70

1950 Questionnaire—Housing ........................ 71

Instructions to Enumerators—Housing .................. 71

1960 Questionnaire.............................. 72

Instruction—Census of 1960........................ 72

CONTENTS

Measuring America Contents 1
Census Questionnaires and Instructions: 1790 to 2000—Con.

1970 Questionnaire.............................. 77

Instructions ................................. 77

1980 Questionnaire.............................. 84

1990 Questionnaire.............................. 91

2000 Questionnaire.............................. 97

Availability of Population Schedules ...................... 110

Electronic Data Processing .......................... 110

Microfilm ................................... 111

Availability of the 1930 Census Records .................... 115

Finding Guides ................................. 115

The 1840 Census ............................... 115

The 1885 Census ............................... 115

The 1890 Records .............................. 115

State and Territorial Censuses ......................... 115

Mortality Schedules ............................... 116

Population Items on Principal Census Questionnaires ............. 119

A History of the Decennial Censuses: 1790 to 2000 ............. 125

Censuses of 1790 to 1840 .......................... 125

Censuses of 1850 to 1890 .......................... 125

Censuses of 1900 to 2000 .......................... 126

Stateside Developments ........................... 127

Sampling .................................. 127

Processing ................................. 128

Collecting the data ............................. 128

Publishing.................................. 129

Individual Histories of the United States Censuses .............. 129

The First Census: 1790 ............................ 129

The Second Censuses: 1800 ......................... 129

The Third Census: 1810 ........................... 129

The Fourth Census: 1820........................... 130

The Fifth Census: 1830............................ 130

The Sixth Census: 1840 ........................... 130

The Seventh Census: 1850 .......................... 130

The Eight Census: 1860 ........................... 131

The Ninth Census: 1870 ........................... 131

The Tenth Census: 1880 ........................... 132

Interdecennial Censuses of States and Territories: 1885 .......... 133

The Eleventh Census: 1890 ......................... 133

The Twelfth Census: 1900 .......................... 133

The Thirteenth Census: 1910 ........................ 134

The Fourteenth Census: 1920 ........................ 134

The Fifteenth Census: 1930 ......................... 134

1930 Census of Unemployment ....................... 135

The Sixteenth Census: 1940 ......................... 135

1940 Census of Housing ........................... 135

Use of sampling in the 1940 Census ................... 136

The Seventeenth Census: 1950 ....................... 136

Procedures to improve coverage...................... 136

Post-Enumeration Survey.......................... 137

The Eighteenth Census: 1960 ........................ 137

Sampling .................................. 137

Enumeration procedures .......................... 137

The Nineteenth Census: 1970 ........................ 138

2 Contents Measuring America
Individual Histories of the United States Censuses—Con.

The Twentieth Census: 1980 ......................... 139

Field enumeration .............................. 139

Publicity................................... 139

The Twenty-First Census: 1990 ....................... 139

Publicity................................... 140

The Twenty-Second Census: 2000 ...................... 140

Census 2000 advertising campaign .................... 140

APPENDIXES

A. United States’ Population and Census Cost ................ A-1

B. National Archives and Records Administration Headquarters and

Regional Branches ............................. B-1

C. Availability of Records for the Eleventh Census of the United States... C-1

D. Bibliography ................................ D-1

Measuring America Contents 3
Measuring America:

The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000

CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES AND INSTRUCTIONS:

1790 TO 2000

1790 QUESTIONNAIRE

The early census acts prescribed the inquiries in each

decennial census, but the U.S. Government did not furnish

uniform printed schedules until 1830. In 1790, the marshals submitted their returns in whatever form they found

convenient (and sometimes with added information).

In 1790, marshals took the census in the original 13

states; plus the districts of Kentucky, Maine, and Vermont;

and the Southwest Territory (Tennessee). Each household

provided the name of the head of the family and the number of persons in each household of the following descriptions: Free White males of 16 years and upward (to assess

the countries industrial and military potential), free White

males under 16 years, free White females, all other free

persons (by sex and color), and slaves.

Measuring America 5

U.S. Census Bureau
1800 QUESTIONNAIRE

From 1800 to 1820, the states provided schedules of varying size and typeface. The 1800 schedule of inquiries

called for the name of the county, parish, township, town,

or city where the family resides; the name of the head of

the family; a statement for each family of the number of

free White males and females under 10 years of age, of 10

and under 16, of 16 and under 26, of 26 and under 45,

and 45 years and upward; the number of all other free persons (except Indians not taxed); and the number of slaves.

1810 QUESTIONNAIRE

The 1810 schedule of inquiries was identical to that of

1800, collecting the name of the county, parish, township,

town, or city where the family resides; the name of the

head of the family; a statement for each family of the

number of free White males and females under 10 years of

age, of 10 and under 16, of 16 and under 26, of 26 and

under 45, and 45 years and upward; the number of all

other free persons (except Indians not taxed); and the

number of slaves.

1820 QUESTIONNAIRE

The schedule of inquiries for 1820 called for the same age

distribution of the free White population, as in 1800 and

1810, with the addition in 1820 of the number of free

White males between 16 and 18 years. It also provided for

a separation of the number of free colored persons and of

slaves, respectively, by sex, according to the number

under 14 years of age, of 14 and under 26, of 26 and

under 45, and of 45 years and upward, with a statement

of the number of ‘‘all other persons, except Indians not

taxed.’’ Additionally, inquiries were made to ascertain the

number of foreigners not naturalized, and the number of

persons (including slaves) engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.

Instructions to Marshals

The interrogatories to be put at each dwelling house, or to

the head of every family are definitely marked in relation

to the various classes of inhabitants discriminated in the

several columns of the schedule, by the titles at the head

of each column. That of the name of the head of each family, must indeed be varied according to its circumstances,

as it may be that of a master, mistress, steward, overseer,

or other principal person therein. The subsequent inquiries, How many free white males under 10 years there are

in the family? How many of 10 and under 16? etc., will follow in the order of the columns. But, to facilitate the labor

of your assistants, a printed list of all the interrogatories

for enumeration, believed to be necessary, is enclosed;

(No. 5) in which all the questions refer to the day when

the enumeration is to commence; the first Monday in

August next. Your assistants will thereby understand that

they are to insert in their returns all the persons belonging

to the family on the first Monday in August, even those

who may be deceased at the time when they take the

account; and, on the other hand, that they will not include

in it, infants born after that day. This, though not prescribed in express terms by the act, is the undoubted

intention of the legislature, as manifested by the clause,

providing that every person shall be recorded as of the

family in which he or she shall reside on the first Monday

in August.

It will be necessary to remember, that the numbers in

the columns of free white males between 16 and

18—foreigners not naturalized—persons engaged in agriculture persons engaged in commerce persons engaged in

manufactures must not be added to the general aggregates, of which the sum total is to be opposed. All the

persons included within these columns must necessarily

be included also in one of the other columns. Those, for

instance, between 16 and 18, will all be repeated in the

column of those between 16 and 26. The foreigners not

naturalized, and those engaged in the three principal

walks of life, will also be included in the columns embracing their respective ages. In the printed form of a schedule

herewith enclosed, the description at the top of these columns is printed, in italics, and the division lines between

the columns themselves are double ruled, with a view to

distinguish them from the other columns, the sums of

which are to go to the general aggregate. In preparing

their schedules from this form, your assistants will find it

useful, for convenience and accuracy, to distinguish

thosecolumns, by ruling them with red ink, or in some

other manner, which may keep them separate from the

others, by a sensible impression constantly operating

upon the mind.

The discrimination between persons engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, will not be without its

difficulties. No inconsiderable portion of the population

will probably be found, the individuals of which being

asked, to which of those classes they belong, will answer,

to all three. Yet, it is obviously not the intention of the

legislature that any one individual should be included in

more than one of them—of those whose occupations are

exclusively agricultural or commercial, there can seldom

arise a question, and in the column of manufactures will

be included not only all the persons employed in what the

act more specifically dominates manufacturing establishments, but all those artificers, handcraftsmen, and

mechanics whose labor is preeminently of the hand, and

not upon the field.

By persons engaged in agriculture, commerce, or manufactures, your assistants will understand that they are to

insert in those columns, not whole families, including

infants and superannuated persons, but only those thus

engaged by actual occupation. This construction is given

6 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
to the act, because it is believed to be best adapted to fulfill the intentions of the legislature, and because, being

susceptible of the other, it might be differently construed

by different persons employed in the enumeration and

thus destroy the uniformity of returns, essential to a satisfactory result.

Besides this enumeration of manufactures, the marshals

and their assistants are required, by the tenth section of

the act to take an account of the several manufacturing

establishments and their manufactures, within their several districts, territories, and divisions; and the meaning of

the legislature, by this provision, is illustrated by the

clause in the oaths of the marshals and assistants, that

they will take an account of the manufactures, except

household manufactures, from which it seems fairly

deducible, that, in the intention of the legislature, persons

employed only upon household manufactures are not to

be included in the column of persons bearing that denomination, the occupation of manufacturing being, in such

cases, only incidental, and not the profession properly

marking the class of society to which such individual

belongs.

This then, offers a criterion by which your assistants may

select the column of occupation to which each individual

may be set down; namely, to that which is the principal

and not the occasional, or incidental, occupation of his

life.

The more particular the account of manufactures can be

made, the more satisfactory will the returns prove. Among

the papers enclosed is an alphabetical list of manufactures

(No. 6), which may facilitate the labor of your assistants,

but which they will not consider as complete. It is

intended merely to give a direction to their inquiries, and

each of them will add to it every manufacture not included

in it and of which he takes an account within his division.

A printed form (No. 7) is likewise enclosed, of inquiries to

be made in relation to manufacturing establishments, on a

sheet of paper, upon which the information requested may

be written and returned. In every case when it can be conveniently done, your assistant will do well to give this

form to some person principally concerned in the manufacturing establishment, requesting him to give the information desired himself.

The execution of the fifth section of the act requires the

further interrogatories, whether any person, whose usual

abode was in the family on the first Monday of August,

1820, be absent therefrom at the time of the inquiry

made: and, if so, the sex, age, color, and condition, of

such person are to be asked, and marked in the proper

column, in the return of the family. It follows, of course,

that any person who, at the time of taking the number of

any family, has his usual abode in it, is, nevertheless, not

to be included in the return of that family, if his usual

place of abode was, on the first Monday of August, in

another family. The name of every person having no

settled place of residence, is to be inserted in the columns

of the schedule allotted for the heads of families in the

division where such person shall be on the first Monday of

August.

1830 QUESTIONNAIRE

The 1830 Census was the first enumeration in which a

uniform schedule was used to enumerate the inhabitants

of the United States (previously, individual marshals or the

states supplied the schedules). The questionnaire used

measured 18 1/2′′ X 16’′′, and was printed on both sides of

the form. The enumeration consisted of inquiries dividing

the free White population of each sex according to the

number under 5 years of age, 5 to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 20,

20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, 50 to 60, 60 to 70, 70 to 80,

80 to 90, 90 to 100, and 100 years and upward; a classification of slaves and free colored persons, respectively,

according to the number of each sex under 10 years of

age, 10 to 24, 24 to 36, 36 to 55, 55 to 100, and 100

years and upward; the number of White persons and of

‘‘slaves and colored persons,’’ aged under 14 years, 14

and under 25, and 25 years and upward, who were deaf

and dumb, but without distinction of sex in either case,

and also the number of each of these two classes named

who were blind, but without distinction of sex or age; and

a statement, of White persons only, who were aliens, i.e.,

foreigners not naturalized.

Instructions to Marshals

The execution of the fifth section of the act requires the

further interrogatories, whether any person, whose usual

abode was in the family on the 1st day of June, 1830, be

absent therefrom at the time of making the inquiry, and if

so, the sex, age, color, and condition, are to be asked and

marked in the proper column, in the return of the family. It

follows, of course, that any person, who, at the time of

taking the enumeration of any family, has his abode in it,

is, nevertheless, not to be included in the return of that

family, if his usual place of abode, was, on the 1st day of

June, in another Family. The name of every person, having

no settled place of residence, is to be inserted in the column of the schedule, allotted for the heads of families, in

the division where such person shall be on the 1st day of

June, and of course, also in one of the other columns,

according to the age and condition of such person.

To facilitate the labor of your assistants, a printed list of

all the interrogatories for enumeration is enclosed (No. 3),

in which all the questions refer to the day when the enumeration is to commence—the 1st day of next June. Your

assistants will also bear in mind to include all persons of a

family (except Indians not taxed) who were members

thereof on the 1st day of June, 1830, whether present or

not, and not to include any person whose usual abode

was not in the family they are enumerating on the said 1st

Measuring America 7

U.S. Census Bureau
day of June. They will, of course, include such persons as

may have deceased after that day, and will not include in

it infants born after that day. This, though not prescribed

in express terms by the act, is the undoubted intention of

the legislature, as manifested by the clause, providing that

every person shall be recorded as of the family in which

he or she shall reside on the 1st day of June, 1830.

1840 QUESTIONNAIRE

The instructions to enumerators were consistent with

those used during the 1830 census.

8 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
Instructions to Marshals and Assistants

(Explanation of Schedule NO. 1.—Free Inhabitants)

This schedule is to be filled up in the following manner:

Insert in the heading the name or number of the district,

town, or city of the county or parish, and of the state, and

the day of the month upon which the enumeration was

taken. This is to be attested on each page of each set, by

the signature of the assistant.

The several columns are to be filled as follows:

1. Under heading 1, entitled ‘‘Dwelling houses numbered

in the order of visitation,’’ insert the number of dwelling houses occupied by free inhabitants, as they are

visited. The first house visited to be numbered 1; the

second one visited, 2; the third one visited, 3; and so

on to the last house visited in the subdivision. By a

dwelling house is meant a separate inhabited tenement, containing one or more families under one roof.

Where several tenements are in one block, with walls

either of brick or wood to divide them, having separate entrances, they are each to be numbered as separate houses; but where not so divided, they are to be

numbered as one house.

If a house is used partly for a store, shop, or for other

purposes, and partly for a dwelling house, it is to be

numbered as a dwelling house. Hotels, poorhouses,

garrisons, hospitals, asylums, jails, penitentiaries, and

other similar institutions, are each to be numbered as

a dwelling house; where the house is of a public

nature, as above, write perpendicularly under the

number, in said column, the name or description, as

‘‘hotel,’’ ‘‘poorhouse,’’ etc.

2. Under heading 2, entitled ‘‘Family numbered in the

order of visitation,’’ insert the number of the families

of free persons, as they are visited. The first family

visited by the assistant marshal is to be numbered 1;

the second one visited, 2; and so on to the last one

visited in his district.

By the term family is meant, either one person living

separately in a house, or a part of a house, and providing for him or herself, or several persons living

together in a house, or in part of a house, upon one

common means of support, and separately from others in similar circumstances. A widow living alone and

separately providing for herself, or 200 individuals

living together and provided for by a common head,

should each be numbered as one family.

The resident inmates of a hotel, jail, garrison, hospital, an asylum, or other similar institution, should be

reckoned as one family.

3. Under heading 3, entitled ‘‘The name of every person

whose usual place of abode on the 1st day of June,

1850 QUESTIONNAIRE - FREE INHABITANTS

Measuring America 9

U.S. Census Bureau
1850, was in this family,’’ insert the name of every

free person in each family, of every age, including the

names of those temporarily absent, as well as those

that were at home on that day. The name of any member of a family who may have died since the 1st day of

June is to be entered and described as if living, but

the name of any person born since the 1st day of June

is to be omitted. The names are to be written, beginning with the father and mother; or if either, or both,

be dead, begin with some other ostensible head of the

family; to be followed, as far as practicable, with the

name of the oldest child residing at home, then the

next oldest, and so on to the youngest, then the other

inmates, lodgers and borders, laborers, domestics,

and servants.

All landlords, jailors, superintendents of poorhouses,

garrisons, hospitals, asylums, and other similar institutions, are to be considered as heads of their respective families, and the inmates under their care to be

registered as members thereof, and the details concerning each designated in their proper columns.

Indians not taxed are not to be enumerated in this or

any other schedule.

By place of abode is meant the house or usual lodging

place of a person. Anyone who is temporarily absent

on a journey, or for other purposes, without taking up

his place of residence elsewhere, and with the intention of returning again, is to be considered a member

of the family which the assistant marshal is enumerating.

Students in colleges, academies, or schools, when

absent from the families to which they belong, are to

be enumerated only as members of the family in

which they usually boarded and lodged on the 1st day

of June.

Assistant marshals are directed to make inquiry at all

stores, shops, eating houses, and other similar places,

and take the name and description of every person

who usually slept there, provided such person is not

otherwise enumerated.

Inquiries are to be made at every dwelling house, or

of the head of every family. Those only who belong to

such family, and consider it their home or usual place

of abode, whether present or temporarily absent on a

visit, journey, or a voyage, are to be enumerated. Persons on board of vessels accidentally or temporarily in

port, those whose only habitation was the vessel to

which they belong, those who are temporarily boarding for a few days as a sailors’ boarding or lodging

house, if they belong to other places are not to be

enumerated as the population of a place.

The sailors and hands of a revenue cutter which

belongs to a particular port should be enumerated as

of such port. A similar rule will apply to those

employed in the navigation of the lakes, rivers, and

canals. All are to be taken at their homes or usual

places of abode, whether present or absent; and if any

live on board of vessels or boats who are not so enumerated, they are to be taken as of the place where

the vessel or boat is owned, licensed, or registered.

And the assistant marshals are to make inquiry at

every vessel and boat employed in the internal navigation of the United States, and enumerate those who

are not taken as belonging to a family on shore; and

all persons of such description in any one vessel are

to be considered as belonging to one family and the

vessel their place of abode. The assistants in all seaports will apply at the proper office for lists of all persons on a voyage at sea and register all citizens of the

United States who have not been registered as belonging to some family.

Errors necessarily occurred in the last census in enumerating those employed in navigation, because no

uniform rule was adopted for the whole United States.

Assistant marshals are required to be particular in following the above directions, that similar errors may

now be avoided.

4. Under heading 4, entitled ‘‘Age,’’ insert in figures what

was the specific age of each person at his or her last

birthday previous to the 1st of June, opposite the

name of such person. If the exact age in years can not

be ascertained, insert a number which shall be the

nearest approximation to it.

The age, either exact or estimated, of everyone, is to

be inserted.

If the person be a child under 1 year old, the entry is

to be made by the fractional parts of a year, thus: One

month, one-twelfth; two months, two-twelfths; three

months, threetwelfths, and so on to eleven months,

eleven-twelfths.

5. Under heading 5, entitled ‘‘Sex,’’ insert the letter M for

male, and F for female, opposite the name, in all

cases, as the fact may be.

6. Under heading 6, entitled ‘‘Color,’’ in all cases where

the person is white, leave the space blank; in all cases

where the person is black, insert the letter B; if

mulatto, insert M. It is very desirable that these particulars be carefully regarded.

7. Under head 7, entitled ‘‘Profession, occupation, or

trade of each person over 15 years of age,’’ insert

opposite the name of each male the specific profession, occupation, or trade which the said person is

known and reputed to follow in the place where he

resides—as clergyman, physician, lawyer, shoemaker,

student, farmer, carpenter, laborer, tailor, boatman,

sailor, or otherwise, as the fact may be. When more

convenient, the name of the article he produces may

be substituted.

10 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
When the individual is a clergyman, insert the initials

of the denomination to which he belongs before his

profession—as Meth. for Methodist, R.C. for Roman

Catholic, O.S.P. for Old School Presbyterian, or other

appropriate initials, as the fact may be. When a person

follows several professions or occupations the name

of the principal one only is to be given. If a person follows no particular occupation, the space is to be filled

with the word ‘‘none.’’

8. Under the heading 8 insert the value of real estate

owned by each individual enumerated. You are to

obtain the value of real estate by inquiry of each individual who is supposed to own real estate, be the

same located where it may, and insert the amount in

dollars. No abatement of the value is to be made on

account of any lien or encumbrance thereon in the

nature of debt.

9. Under the heading 9, ‘‘Place of birth.’’ The marshal

should ask the place of birth of each person in the

family. If born in the State or Territory where they

reside, insert the name or initials of the State or Territory, or the name of the government or country if

without the United States. The names of the several

States may be abbreviated.

Where the place of birth is unknown, state ‘‘unknown.’’

10. Under heading No. 10 make a mark, or dash, opposite

the name of each person married during the year previous to the 1st of June, whether male or female.

11. Under heading 11, entitled ‘‘At school within the last

year.’’ The marshal should ask what member of this

family has been at school within the last year; he is to

insert a mark, thus, (1), opposite the names of all

those, whether male or female, who have been at educational institutions within that period. Sunday

schools are not to be included.

12. Under the heading 12, entitled ‘‘Persons over 20 years

of age who can not read and write.’’ The marshal

should be careful to note all persons in each family,

over 20 years of age, who can not read and write, and

opposite the name of each make a mark, thus, (1). The

spaces opposite the names of those who can read and

write are to be left blank. If the person can read and

write a foreign language, he is to be considered as

able to read and write.

13. Heading 13, entitled ‘‘Deaf and dumb, blind, insane,

idiotic, pauper, or convict.’’ The assistant marshal

should ascertain if there be any person in the family

deaf, dumb, idiotic, blind, insane, or pauper. If so,

who? And insert the term ‘‘deaf and dumb,’’ ‘‘blind,’’

‘‘insane,’’ and idiotic,‘‘ opposite the name of such persons, as the fact may be. When persons who had been

convicted of crime within the year reside in families

on the 1st of June, the fact should be stated, as in the

other cases of criminals; but as the interrogatory

might give offence, the assistants had better refer to

the county record for information on this head, and

not make the inquiry of any family. With the county

record and his own knowledge he can seldom err.

Should a poorhouse, asylum for the blind, insane or

idiotic, or other charitable institution, or a penitentiary, a jail, house of refuge, or other place of punishment, be visited by the assistant marshal, he must

number such building in its regular order, and he must

write after the number, and perpendicularly in the

same column (No. 1) the nature of such

institution—that it is a penitentiary, jail, house of refuge, as the case may be; and in column 13, opposite

the name of each person, he must state the character

of the infirmity or misfortune, in the one case, and in

the other he must state the crime for which each

inmate is confined, and of which such person was

convicted; and in column No. 3, with the name, give

the year of conviction, and fill all the columns concerning age, sex, color, etc., with as much care as in

the case of other individuals.

1850 QUESTIONNAIRE—SLAVE INHABITANTS

(12 1/2′′ X 17 1/2,′′ printed on two sides with space for 40

entries on each side)

The 1850 questionnaire relating to slave inhabitants collected the names of slave owners; number of slaves; the

slaves color, sex, age, and whether deaf and dumb, blind,

insane, or idiotic; the numbers of fugitives from the state;

and the number manumitted.

Explanation of Schedule 2—Slave Inhabitants

This schedule is to be filled up in the following manner:

Insert in the heading the number or name of the district,

town, city, and the county or parish, and of the state in

which the slave inhabitants enumerated reside, and the

day of the month upon which the enumeration was taken.

This is to be attested on each page of each set, by the signature of the assistant marshal. The several columns are

to be filled up as follows:

1. Under heading 1, entitled ‘‘Name of slave holders,’’

insert, in proper order, the names of the owners of

slaves. Where there are several owners to a slave, the

name of one only need be entered, or when owned by

a corporation or trust estate, the name of the trustee

or corporation.

2. Under heading 2, entitled ‘‘Number of slaves,’’ insert,

in regular numerical order, the number of all slaves of

both sexes and of each age, belonging to such owners. In the case of slaves, numbers are to be substituted for names. The number of every slave who usually resides in the district enumerated is to be entered,

although he may happen to be temporarily absent.

Measuring America 11

U.S. Census Bureau
The slaves of each owner are to be numbered separately, beginning at No. 1, and a separate description

of each is to be given. The person in whose family, or

on whose plantation, the slave is found to be

employed, is to be considered the owner—the principal object being to get the number of slaves, and not

that of masters or owners.

3. Under heading 3, entitled ’’Age,’’ insert, in figures, the

specific age of each slave opposite the number of

such slave. If the exact age can not be ascertained,

insert a number which shall be the nearest approximation to it. The age of every slave, either exact or estimated, is to be inserted. If the slave be a child which,

on the 1st of June, was under 1 year old, the entry is

to be made by fractional parts of a year; thus, one

month old, one-twelfth; two months, two-twelfths;

three months, three-twelfths; eleven months, eleventwelfths; keeping ever in view, in all cases, that the

age must be estimated at no later period than the 1st

of June.

4. Under heading 4, entitled ‘‘Sex,’’ insert the letter M for

male, and F for female opposite the number in all

cases, as the fact may be.

5. Under heading 5, entitled ‘‘Color,’’ insert in all cases,

when the slave is black, the letter B; when he or she is

mulatto, insert M. The color of all slaves should be

noted.

6. Under heading 6 insert, in figures, opposite the name

of the slave owner, the number of slaves who, having

absconded within the year, have not been recovered.

7. In column 7, insert opposite the name of the former

owner thereof, the number of slaves manumitted

within the year. The name of the person is to be given,

although at the time of the enumeration such person

may not have held slaves on the 1st of June. In such

case, no entry is to be made in column No. 2.

8. Under heading 8, entitled ‘‘Deaf and dumb, blind,

insane, or idiotic,’’ the assistant should ascertain if any

of these slaves be deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or

idiotic; and if so, insert opposite the name or number

of such slave, the term deaf and dumb, blind, insane,

or idiotic, as the fact may be. If slaves be found

imprisoned convicts, mention the crime in column 8,

and the date of conviction before the number in

vacant space below the name of the owner. The convict slaves should be numbered with the other slaves

of their proper owner.

12 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
1860 QUESTIONNAIRE

(12 1/2′′ X 17 1/2′′, printed on both sides with space for

40 entries on each side)

Additional questionnaires were used to collect data on

slave inhabitants, mortality, agriculture, products of industry, and social statistics. These questionnaires collected

the same information as those in 1850, with a few exceptions.

Instructions to Marshals and Assistants

The instructions to marshals and assistant marshals were

virtually identical to those for the 1850 census, with the

exception of guidelines for collecting information on a few

additional/modified inquiries. There were slight changes

in the instructions’ wording; however, these served only to

clarify the 1850 instructions.

1870 QUESTIONNAIRE

(12 1/2′′ X 17 1/2′′, printed on two sides, space for 40 entries on each side)

Measuring America 13

U.S. Census Bureau
Instructions to Marshals and Assistants (Schedule

1—Inhabitants)

Numbering.—Dwelling houses and families will be numbered consecutively, in order as visited, until the township, borough, or parish (or ward or a city) is completed,

when a new numbering will begin, as is the case with the

numbering of pages.

Dwelling houses.—By ‘‘dwelling house’’ is meant a house

standing alone, or separated by walls from other houses

in a block. Only such buildings are to be reckoned as

dwelling houses as have been used as the entire habitation of a family. But houses only temporarily uninhabited

are to be returned and numbered in order. In that case a

dash, thus (—), will be drawn through column No. 2, and

the remaining spaces on the line be left blank. Hotels,

poorhouses, garrisons, asylums, jails, and similar establishments, where the inmates live habitually under a single

roof, are to be regarded as single dwelling houses for the

purpose of the census. The character of such establishments should be written longitudinally in the columns.

Eating houses, stores, shops, etc.—Very many persons,

especially in cities, have no other place of abode than

stores, shops, etc.; places which are not primarily

intended for habitation. Careful inquiry will be made to

include this class and such buildings will be reckoned as

dwelling houses within the intention of the census law;

but a watchman, or clerk belonging to a family resident in

the same town or city, and sleeping in such store or shop

merely for purposes of security, will be enumerated as of

his family.

Families.— By ‘‘family’’ (column 2) is meant one or more

persons living together and provided for in common. A

single person, living alone in a distinct part of a house,

may constitute a family; while, on the other hand, all the

inmates of a boarding house or a hotel will constitute but

a single family, though there may be among them many

husbands with wives and children. Under whatever circumstances, and in whatever numbers, people live

together under one roof, and are provided for at a common table, there is a family in the meaning of the law.

Names of individuals.—In column 3 will be entered the

name of every person in each family, of whatever age,

including the names of such as were temporarily absent

on the 1st day of June, 1870. The name of any member of

the family who may have died between the 1st day of

June, 1870, and the day of the assistant marshal’s visit is

be entered, and the person fully described, as if living; but

the name of any person born during that period is to be

omitted. The name of the father, mother, or other ostensible head of the family (in the case of hotels, jails, etc.,

the landlord, jailor, etc.) is to be entered first of the family.

The family name is to be written first in the column, and

the full first or characteristic Christian or ‘‘given’’ name of

each member of the family in order thereafter. So long as

the family name remains the same for the several members it need not be repeated, provided a clear horizontal

line be drawn in the place it would occupy, thus:

Smith, John

______ Elizabeth.

Place of abode.—By ‘‘place of abode’’ is meant the

house or usual lodging place. All persons temporarily

absent on journey or visit are to be counted as of the

family; but children and youth absent for purposes of

education on the 1st of June, and having their home in

a family where the school or college is situated, will be

enumerated at the latter place.

Seafaring men are to be reported at their land homes, no

matter how long they may have been absent, if they are

supposed to be still alive. Hence, sailors temporarily at a

sailors’ boarding or lodging house, if they acknowledge

any other home within the United States, are not to be

included in the family of the lodging or boarding house.

Persons engaged in internal transportation, canal men,

expressmen, railroad men, etc., if they habitually return to

their home in the intervals of their occupation, will be

reported as of their families, and not where they may be

temporarily staying on the 1st of June.

Personal Description

Columns 4, 5, and 6 must, in every case, be filled with the

age, sex, or color of the person enumerated. No return

will be accepted when these spaces are left blank.

Ages.—The exact age, in figures, will be inserted in column 4, wherever the same can be obtained; otherwise, the

nearest approximation thereto. Where the age is a matter

of considerable doubt, the assistant marshal may make a

note to that effect. Children, who, on the 1st of June,

1870, were less than a year old, will have their age stated

by the fractional part of the year, as (1 month) 1-12, (3

months) 3-12, (9 months) 9-12, etc. In all other cases,

months will be omitted. The age taken is the age at last

birthday.

Color.—It must not be assumed that, where nothing is

written in this column, ‘‘White’’ is to be understood. The

column is always to be filled. Be particularly careful in

reporting the class Mulatto. The word is here generic, and

includes quadroons, octoroons, and all persons having

any perceptible trace of African blood. Important scientific

results depend upon the correct determination of this

class in schedules 1 and 2.

(For reporting occupation, see remarks at the close of the

instructions in regard to this schedule.)

Property.—Column 8 will contain the value of all real

estate owned by the person enumerated, without any

deduction on account of mortgage or other encumbrance,

whether within or without the census subdivision or the

14 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
county. The value meant is the full market value, known or

estimated.

‘‘Personal estate,’’ column 9, is to be inclusive of all bonds,

stocks, mortgages, notes, live stock, plate, jewels, or furniture, but exclusive of wearing apparel. No report will be

made when the personal property is under $100.

Column 10 will contain the ‘‘Place of birth’’ of every person

named upon the schedule. If born within the United

States, the State or Territory will be named, whether it be

the State or Territory in which the person is at present

residing or not. If of foreign birth, the country will be

named as specifically as possible. Instead of writing ‘‘Great

Britain’’ as the place of birth, give the particular country,

as England, Scotland, Wales. Instead of ‘‘Germany,’’ specify

the State, as Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Wurttemburg, Hesse,

Darmstadt, etc.

The inquiries in columns numbered 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19,

and 20 are of such a nature that these columns only

require to be filled when the answer to the inquiry is

‘‘Yes.’’ If the person being enumerated had a father or

mother of foreign birth; if he or she attended school during the year; if he or she can not read or can not write; if

he is a citizen of the United States above the age of 21

years, and if, being such citizen, his right to vote is denied

or abridged on other grounds than participation in rebellion or other crime, then an affirmative mark, thus (/), will

be drawn in each of the above columns opposite the

name.

Education.—It will not do to assume that, because a person can read, he can, therefore, write. The inquiries contained in columns 16 and 17 must be made separately.

Very many persons who will claim to be able to read,

though they really do so in the most defective manner, will

frankly admit that they can not write. These inquiries will

be asked of children under 10 years of age. In regard to all

persons above that age, children or adults, male and

female, the information will be obtained.

At school.—It is not intended to include those whose education has been limited to Sunday or evening schools.

Deaf and dumb, Blind, Insane, or Idiotic.—Great care will

be taken in performing this work of enumeration, so as at

once to secure completeness and avoid giving offense.

Total blindness and undoubted insanity only are intended

in this inquiry. Deafness merely, without the loss of

speech, is not to be reported. The fact of idiocy will be

better determined by the common consent of the neighborhood, than by attempting to apply any scientific measure to the weakness of the mind or will.

Constitutional Relations

Upon the answers to the questions under this head will

depend the distribution of representative power in the

General Government. It is therefore imperative that this

part of the enumeration should be performed with absolute accuracy. Every male person born within the United

States, who has attained the age of 21 years, is a citizen

of the United States by the force of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution; also, all persons born out of the

limits and jurisdiction of the United States, whose fathers

at the time of their birth were citizens of the United States

(act of February 10,1855); also, all persons born out of the

limits and jurisdiction of the United States, who have been

declared by judgment of court to have been duly naturalized, having taken out both ‘‘papers.’’

The part of the enumerator’s duty which relates to column

19 is therefore easy, but it is none the less of importance.

It is a matter of more delicacy to obtain the information

required by column 20. Many persons never try to vote,

and therefore do not know whether their right to vote is

or is not abridged. It is not only those whose votes have

actually been challenged, and refused at the polls for

some disability or want of qualification, who must be

reported in this column; but all who come within the

scope of any State law denying or abridging suffrage to

any class or individual on any other ground than the participation in rebellion, or legal conviction of crime. Assistant marshals, therefore, will be required carefully to study

the laws of their own States in these respects, and to satisfy themselves, in the case of each male citizen of the

United States above the age of 21 years, whether he does

not, come within one of these classes.

As the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the exclusion from the suffrage of any person on

account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,

has become the law of the land, all State laws working

such exclusion have ceased to be of virtue. If any person

is, in any State, still practically denied the right to vote by

reason of any such State laws not repealed, that denial is

merely an act of violence, of which the courts may have

cognizance, but which does not come within the view of

marshals and their assistants in respect to the census.

Indians.—‘‘Indians not taxed’’ are not to be enumerated on

schedule 1. Indians out of their tribal relations, and exercising the rights of citizens under state or Territorial laws,

will be included. In all cases write ‘‘Ind.’’ in the column for

‘‘Color.’’ Although no provision is made for the enumeration of ‘‘Indians not taxed,’’ it is highly desirable, for statistical purposes, that the number of such persons not living

upon reservations should be known. Assistant marshals

are therefore requested, where such persons are found

within their subdivisions, to make a separate memorandum of names, with sex and age, and embody the same in

a special report to the census office.

Occupation.—The inquiry, ‘‘Profession, occupation, or

trade,’’ is one of the most important questions of this

schedule. Make a study of it. Take special pains to avoid

unmeaning terms, or such as are too general to convey a

Measuring America 15

U.S. Census Bureau
definite idea of the occupation. Call no man a ‘‘factory

hand’’ or a ‘‘mill operative.’’ State the kind of a mill or factory. The better form of expression would be, ‘‘works in

cotton mill,’’ ‘‘works in paper mill,’’ etc. Do not call a man

a ‘‘shoemaker,’’ ‘‘bootmaker,’’ unless he makes the entire

boot or shoe in a small shop. If he works in (or for) a boot

and shoe factory, say so.

Do not apply the word ‘‘jeweler’’ to those who make

watches, watch chains, or jewelry in large manufacturing

establishments.

Call no man a ‘‘commissioner,’’ a ‘‘collector,’’ an ‘‘agent,’’ an

overseer,’’ a ‘‘professor,’’ a ‘‘treasurer,’’ a ‘‘contractor,’’ or a

‘‘speculator,’’ without further explanation.

When boys are entered as apprentices, state the trade they

are apprenticed to, as ‘‘apprenticed to carpenter,’’ ‘‘apothecary’s apprentice.’’

When a lawyer, a merchant, a manufacturer, has retired

from practice or business, say ‘‘retired lawyer,’’ ‘‘retired

merchant,’’ etc. Distinguish between fire and life insurance

agents.

When clerks are returned, describe them as ‘‘clerk in

store,’’ ‘‘clerk in woolen mill,’’ ‘‘R.R. clerk,’’ ‘‘bank clerk,’’

etc.

Describe no man as a ‘‘mechanic’’ if it is possible to

describe him more accurately.

Distinguish between stone masons and brick masons.

Do not call a bonnet maker a bonnet manufacturer, a lace

maker a lace manufacturer, a chocolate maker a chocolate

manufacturer. Reserve the term manufacturer for proprietors of establishments; always give the branch of manufacture.

Whenever merchants or traders can be reported under a

single word expressive of their special line, as ‘‘grocer,’’ it

should be done. Otherwise, say dry goods merchant, coal

dealer, etc.

Add, in all cases, the class of business, as wholesale (wh.),

retail (ret.), importer (imp.), jobber, etc.

Use the word huckster in all cases where it applies.

Be very particular to distinguish between farmers and

farm laborers. In agricultural regions this should be one of

the points to which the assistant marshal should especially direct his attention.

Confine the use of words ‘‘glover,’’ hatter,’’ and ‘‘furrier’’ to

those who actually make, or make up, in their own establishments, all, or a part, of the gloves and hats or furs

which they sell. Those who only sell these articles should

be characterized as ‘‘glove dealer,’’ ‘‘hat and cap dealer,’’

‘‘fur dealer.’’

Judges (state whether federal or state, whether probate,

police, or otherwise) may be assumed to be lawyers, and

that addition, therefore, need not be given; but all other

officials should have their profession designated, it they

have any, as ‘‘retired merchant, governor of Massachusetts,’’ ‘‘paper manufacturer, representative in legislature.’’

If anything is to be omitted, leave out the office, and put

in the occupation.

As far as possible distinguish machinists as ‘‘locomotive

builders,’’ ‘‘engine builders,’’ etc.

Instead of saying ‘‘packers,’’ indicate whether you mean

‘‘pork packers’’ or ‘‘crockery packers,’’ or ‘‘mule packers.’’

The organization of domestic service has not proceeded

so far in this country as to render it worth while to make

distinction in the character of work. Report all as ‘‘domestic servants.’’

Cooks, waiters, etc., in hotels and restaurants will be

reported separately from domestic servants.

The term ‘‘housekeeper’’ will be reserved for such persons

as receive distinct wages or salary for the service. Women

keeping house for their own families or for themselves,

without any other gainful occupation, will be entered as

‘‘keeping house.’’ Grown daughters assisting them will be

reported without occupation.

You are under no obligation to give any man’s occupation

just as he expresses it. If he can not tell intelligibly what it

is, find out what he does, and characterize his profession

accordingly.

The inquiry as to occupation will not be asked in respect

to infants or children too young to take any part in production. Neither will the doing of domestic errands or

family chores out of school be considered an occupation.

‘‘At home’’ or ‘‘attending school’’ will be the best entry in

the majority of cases. But if a boy or girl, whatever the

age, is earning money regularly by labor, contributing to

the family support, or appreciably assisting in mechanical

or agricultural industry, the occupation should be stated.

16 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
1880 QUESTIONNAIRE-SCHEDULE 1,

‘‘INHABITANTS’’

(15′′ X 20 1/2′′, printed on two sides with space for 50

entries on each side)

Measuring America 17

U.S. Census Bureau
Instructions to Enumerators

(Duties of Enumerators)

It is by law made the duty of each enumerator, after being

duly qualified as above to visit personally each dwelling in

his subdivision, and each family therein, and each individual living out of a family in any place of abode, and by

inquiry made of the head of such family, or of the member

thereof deemed most credible and worthy of trust, or of

such individual living out of a family, to obtain each and

every item of information and all the particulars required

by the act of March 3, 1879, as amended by act of April

20, 1880.

By individuals living out of families is meant all persons

occupying lofts in public buildings, above stores, warehouses, factories, and stables, having no other usual place

of abode; persons living solitary in cabins, huts, or tents;

persons sleeping on river boats, canal boats, barges, etc.,

having no other usual place of abode, and persons in

police stations having no homes. Of the classes just mentioned, the most important, numerically, is the first, viz:

those persons, chiefly in cities, who occupy rooms in public buildings, or above stores, warehouses, factories, and

stables. In order to reach such persons, the enumerator

will need not only to keep his eyes open to all indications

of such casual residence in his enumeration district, but to

make inquiry both of the parties occupying the business

portion of such buildings and also of the police. A letter

will be addressed from this office to the mayor of every

large city of the United States, requesting the cooperation

of the police, so far as it may be necessary to prevent the

omission of the classes of persons herein indicated.

It is further provided by law that in case no person shall

be found at the usual place of abode of such family, or

individual living out of a family, competent to answer the

inquiries made in compliance with the requirements of the

act, then it shall be lawful for the enumerator to obtain

the required information, as nearly as may be practicable,

from the family or families, or person or persons, living

nearest to such place of abode.

It is the prime object of the enumeration to obtain the

name, and the requisite particulars as to personal descriptions, of every person in the United States, of whatever

age, sex, color, race, or condition, with this single exception, viz: that ‘‘Indians not taxed’’ shall be omitted from

the enumeration.

INDIANS

By the phrase ‘‘Indians not taxed’’ is meant Indians living

on reservations under the care of Government agents, or

roaming individually, or in bands, over unsettled tracts of

country.

Indians not in tribal relations, whether full-bloods or halfbreeds, who are found mingled with the white population,

residing in white families, engaged as servants or laborers, or living in huts or wigwams on the outskirts of towns

or settlements are to be regarded as a part of the ordinary

population of the country for the constitutional purpose of

the apportionment of Representatives among the states,

and are to be embraced in the enumeration.

SOLDIERS

All soldiers of the United States Army, and civilian employees, and other residents at posts or on military reservations will be enumerated in the district in which they

reside, equally, with other elements of the population.

COURTESY ON THE PART OF ENUMERATORS

It is the duty of an enumerator, in the exercise of his

authority to visit houses and interrogate members of families resident therein as provided by law, to use great courtesy and consideration. A rude peremptory, or overbearing

demeanor would not only be a wrong to the families visited, but would work an injury to the census by rendering

the members of those families less disposed to give information with fullness and exactness. It would doubtless be

found in the long run to be an injury to the enumerator

himself and to retard his work.

By the above remark it is not intended to imply that the

enumerator need enter into prolix explanations, or give

time to anything beyond the strictly necessary work of

interrogation. It is entirely possible for the enumerator to

be prompt, rapid, and decisive in announcing his object

and his authority, and in going through the whole list of

questions to be proposed, and at the same time not to

arouse any antagonism or give any offense.

THE OBLIGATION TO GIVE INFORMATION

It is not within the choice of any inhabitant of the United

States whether he shall or shall not communicate the

information required by the census law. By the fourteenth

section of the act approved March 3, 1879, it is provided:

‘‘That each and every person more than 20 years of age,

belonging to any family residing in any enumeration district, and in case of the absence of the heads and other

members of any such family, then any agent of such family, shall be, and each of them hereby is, required, if

thereto requested by the superintendent, supervisor, or

enumerator, to render a true account, to the best of his or

her knowledge, of every person belonging to such family

in the various particulars required by law, and whoever

shall willfully fail or refuse shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay

a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.’’

Enumerators will, however, do well not unnecessarily to

obtrude the compulsory feature of the enumeration. It will

be found in the vast majority of cases that the persons

18 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
called upon to give information will do so without objection or delay. No people in the world are so favorably disposed toward the work of the census as the people of the

United States. With the high degree of popular intelligence

here existing, the importance of statistical information is

very generally appreciated; and if the enumerator enters

upon his work in a right spirit, he will generally meet with

a favorable and even cordial response.

It is only where information required by law is refused that

the penalties for noncompliance need be adverted to. The

enumerator will then quietly, but firmly, point out the consequences of persistency in refusal. It will be instructive to

note that at the census of 1870 the agents of the census

in only two or three instances throughout the whole

United States found it necessary to resort to the courts for

the enforcement of the obligation to give information as

required by the census act.

It is further to be noted that the enumerator is not

required to accept answers which he knows, or has reason

to believe, are false. He has a right to a true statement on

every matter respecting which he is bound to inquire; and

he is not concluded by a false statement. Should any person persist in making statements which are obviously

erroneous, the enumerator should enter upon the schedule the facts as nearly as he can ascertain them by his own

observation or by inquiry of credible persons.

The foregoing remark is of special importance with reference to the statements of the heads of families respecting

afflicted members of their households. The law requires a

return in the case of each blind, deaf and dumb, insane or

idiotic, or crippled person. It not infrequently happens that

fathers and mothers, especially the latter, are disposed to

conceal, or even to deny, the existence of such infirmities

on the part of children. In such cases, if the fact is personally known to the enumerator, or shall be ascertained by

inquiry from neighbors, it should be entered on the schedules equally as if obtained from the head of the family.

A second class of cases under this head concerns the

reporting of the values produced in agricultural or other

occupations. The enumerator is not bound by any statement which he knows or has reason to believe to be false.

His duty is to report the actual facts as nearly as he can

ascertain them.

The enumerator is prohibited by law from delegating to

any other person his authority to enter dwellings and to

interrogate their inhabitants. The work of enumeration

must be done by the enumerator in person, and can not

be performed by proxy.

SCHEDULE NO. 1 [7-296]—POPULATION

This is the population or family schedule. Upon it is to be

entered, as previously noted, the name of every man,

woman, and child, who, on the 1st day of June, 1880,

shall have his or her ‘‘usual place of abode’’ within the

enumerator’s districts . No child born between the 1st day

of June, 1880, and the day of the enumerator’s visit (say

June 5 or 15 or 25) is to be entered upon the schedule. On

the other hand, every person who was a resident of the

district upon the 1st day of June, 1880, but between that

date and the day of the enumerator’s visit shall have died,

should be entered on the schedule precisely as if still living. The object of the schedule is to obtain a list of the

inhabitants on the 1st day of June, 1880, and all changes

after that date, whether in the nature of gain or of loss,

are to be disregarded in the enumeration.

DWELLING HOUSES

In column No. 1 of this schedule is to be entered the number of the dwelling house in the order of visitation. A

dwelling house, for the purpose of the census, means any

building or place of abode, of whatever character, material, or structure, in which a person is at the time living,

whether in a room above a warehouse or factory, a loft

above a stable or a wigwam on the outskirts of a settlement, equally with a dwelling house in the usual, ordinary

sense of that term. Wholly uninhabited dwellings are not

to be taken notice of.

FAMILIES

In the column numbered 2 is to be entered the number, in

the order of visitation, of each family residing in the district. The word family, for the purposes of the census,

includes persons living alone, as previously described,

equally with families in the ordinary sense of that term,

and also all larger aggregations of people having only the

tie of a common roof and table. A hotel, with all its

inmates, constitutes but one family within the meaning of

this term. A hospital, prison, an asylum is equally a family

for the purposes of the census. On the other hand, the

solitary inmate of a cabin, a loft, or a room finished off

above a store constitutes a family in the meaning of the

census act. In the case, however, of tenement houses and

of the so-called ‘‘flats’’ of the great cities, as many families

are to be recorded as there are separate tables.

NAMES

In column numbered 3 is to be entered the name of every

person whose ‘‘usual place of abode’’ on the 1st day of

June, 1880, was in that family.

The census law furnishes no definition of the phrase,

‘‘usual place of abode,’’ and it is difficult, under the American system of a protracted enumeration, to afford administrative directions which will wholly obviate the danger

that some persons will be reported in two places and others not reported at all. Much must be left to the judgment

of the enumerator, who can, if he will take the pains, in

the great majority of instances satisfy himself as to the

Measuring America 19

U.S. Census Bureau
propriety of including or not including doubtful cases in

his enumeration of any given family. In the cases of boarders at hotels or students at schools or colleges, the enumerator can, by one or two well directed inquiries, ascertain whether the person concerning whom the question

may arise has, at the time, any other place of abode within

another district at which he is likely to be reported. Seafaring men are to be reported at their land homes, no matter

how long they may have been absent, if they are supposed to be still alive. Hence, sailors temporarily at a sailors’ boarding or lodging house, if they acknowledge any

other home within the United States, are not to be

included in the family of the lodging or boarding house.

Persons engaged in internal transportation, canal men,

express men, railroad men, etc., if they habitually return

to their homes in the intervals of their occupations, will be

reported as of their families, and not where they may be

temporarily staying on the 1st of June, 1880.

In entering names in column 3, the name of the father,

mother, or other ostensible head of the family (in the case

of hotels, jails, etc., the landlord, jailer, etc.) is to be

entered first of the family. The family name is to be written first in the column, and the full first or characteristic

Christian or ‘‘given’’ name of each member of the family in

order thereafter. It is desirable that the children of the

family proper should follow in the order of their ages, as

will naturally be the case. So long as the family name

remains the same for the several members, it need not be

repeated, provided a distinct horizontal line or dash be

drawn in the place it would occupy, thus:

Smith, John.

_____, Elizabeth.

_____, J. Henry.

Personal Description

The columns 4, 5, and 6, which relate to age, sex, and

color, must in every case be filled. No returns will be

accepted where these spaces are left blank.

Ages.—The exact age in figures will be inserted in column

6 whenever the same can be obtained; otherwise, the

nearest approximation thereto. Children who, on the 1st

of June, 1880, were less than a year old, will have their

age stated by the fractional part of the year, as (1 month),

1/12; (3 months), 3/12; (9 months), 9/12, etc. In all other

cases months will be omitted.

Color.—It must not be assumed that, where nothing is

written in this column, ‘‘white’’ is to be understood. The

column is always to be filled. Be particularly careful in

reporting the class mulatto. The word is here generic, and

includes quadroons, octoroons, and all persons having

any perceptible trace of African blood. Important scientific

results depend upon the correct determination of this

class in schedules 1 and 5.

OCCUPATION

In the column number 13 is to be reported the occupation

of each person 10 years of age and upward. (See instructions for 1870, col. 7.)

PLACE OF BIRTH

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS FOR 1870, COL. 10.)

20 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
1880 QUESTIONNAIRE-SCHEDULE 1, ‘‘INDIAN

DIVISION’’

(27′′ X 11′′, folded to provide cover and three pages, 9′′ X

11′′). The annual Report of the Superintendent of the Census...1889 (p.26), states, ‘‘An attempt was made...to enumerate [Indians living on reservations] upon a very elaborate plan, and of many of the tribes, particularly those on

the west coast, a full enumeration was obtained; but the

investigation was stopped by the failure of the appropriation, and was not resumed.’’

The manuscript consists of four volumes in Record Group

29 in the National Archives (Preliminary Inventory 161,

page 101, item 298): I and II, schedules for Indians near

Fort Simcoe and at Tulalip, Washington Territory; III, Indians near Fort Yates, Dakota Territory; and IV, Indians in

California. All schedules are arranged within the volumes

by name of tribe.

The 1880 Indian schedule made the following inquiries:

Name (Indian name, English translation of Indian name,

other name habitually used); relationship to head of

household; civil condition (single, married,

widowed/divorced, whether a chief or war chief); whether

Indian of full or mixed blood; whether adopted into the

tribe; time in years and fractions person has lived on a

reservation; time in years and fractions person has worn

‘‘citizen’s dress’’; language spoken; sex; age; occupation;

whether sick or disabled (if so, what is the sickness or disability); whether vaccinated; whether maimed, crippled,

bedridden, or otherwise disabled; whether blind, deaf and

dumb, idiotic, or insane; whether attending school; literacy; number of livestock owned (horses, cattle, sheep,

swine, dogs); whether the household possess a firearm;

acreage owned and type of ownership; time cultivating

land; whether self-supporting or supported by other entity

(self, family, or government) or occupation (hunting, fishing, or ‘‘natural products of the soil,’’ i.e. roots, berries,

etc.).

Measuring America 21

U.S. Census Bureau
1890 QUESTIONNAIRE

(11 1/2′′ X 18′′, printed on both sides)

22 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
1890 Questionnaire

Measuring America 23

U.S. Census Bureau
THE PLAN OF ENUMERATION IN INSTITUTIONS.

Instructions to Enumerators

The statistics of population and other special data concerning persons residing in institutions will be taken by

institution enumerators; that is, some official or other

trustworthy person connected with the institution, who

will be appointed specially for the purpose.

This plan of enumeration will not be extended to all institutions, but the appointment of special institution enumerators will be determined partly by the size of the institution and partly by its nature.

For those institutions where this plan of enumeration is to

be carried out the enumerators for the districts in which

such institutions are located will have no responsibility.

Each enumerator will receive in advance of the enumeration due notification from the supervisor for his district as

to the institutions which are not to be taken by him. It

should be the duty of the enumerator, however, if there is

any institution in his district, whatever may be its size or

character, to satisfy himself by personal inquiry of the

officer in charge whether a special institution enumerator

has been appointed, and if not, to proceed to enumerate

the population as in the case of all other houses visited by

him. On the other hand, if a special institution enumerator

has been appointed for it, then it has been withdrawn

from his district, and he will leave it to be enumerated by

the special institution enumerator.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS

All soldiers of the United States Army, civilian employees,

and other residents at posts or on military reservations,

will be enumerated in the same manner as has been provided for institutions, by the appointment of a special resident enumerator; and in all such cases where the district

enumerator has been so notified such posts or military

reservations should not be included as a part of his district. For posts not garrisoned, and any other posts not so

withdrawn, the district enumerator will make the necessary inquiries, and if no special enumerator has been

appointed he will include the residents of such posts as a

part of his district equally with other elements of the

population.

In a similar way all sailors and marines stationed on vessels, and at the United States navy yards, as well as resident officers, with their families, will be specially enumerated, and need not be taken by the district enumerator if,

upon inquiry or by notification, he knows that such special provision has been made.

SPECIAL ENUMERATION OF INDIANS

The law provides that the Superintendent of Census may

employ special agents or other means to make an enumeration of all Indians living within the jurisdiction of the

United States, with such information as to their condition

as may be obtainable, classifying them as to Indians taxed

and Indians not taxed.

By the phrase ‘‘Indians not taxed’’ is meant Indians living

on reservations under the care of Government agents or

roaming individually or in bands over unsettled tracts of

country.

Indians not in tribal relations, whether full-bloods or halfbreeds, who are found mingled with the white population,

residing in white families, engaged as servants or laborers, or living in huts or wigwams on the outskirts of towns

or settlements, are to be regarded as a part of the ordinary

population of the country, and are to be embraced by the

enumeration.

The enumeration of Indians living on reservations will be

made by special agents appointed directly from this office,

and supervisors and enumerators will have no responsibility in this connection.

Many Indians, however, have voluntarily abandoned their

tribal relations or have quit their reservations and now

sustain themselves. When enumerators find Indians off of

or living away from reservations, and in no [ways] dependent upon the agency or Government, such Indians, in

addition to their enumeration on the population and

supplemental schedules, in the same manner as for the

population generally, should be noted on a special schedule [7-917] by name, tribe, sex, age, occupation, and

whether taxed or not taxed.

The object of this is to obtain an accurate census of all

Indians living within the jurisdiction of the United States

and to prevent double enumeration of certain Indians.

Where Indians are temporarily absent from their reservations the census enumerators need not note them, as the

special enumeration for Indian reservation will get their

names.

SCHEDULE NO. 1—POPULATION

The schedule adopted for the enumeration of the population is what is known as the family schedule; that is, a

separate schedule for each family, without regard to the

number of persons in the family. Three forms of this

schedule are provided for the use of enumerators, according as the families to be enumerated are made up of a

large or small number of persons.

The single-sheet schedules [7-566a] are provided for use

in enumerating families containing from 1 to 10 persons,

the double-sheet schedules [7-556b] for use in enumerating families containing more than 10 but not over 20 persons, and the additional sheets [7-556C] for use in enumerating families containing more than 20 persons. In the

case of large families, boarding houses, lodging houses,

hotels, institutions, schools, etc., containing more than 20

24 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
persons use the double sheet for 1 to 20 persons, and

such number of the additional sheets as may be necessary. Wherever the additional sheets are used, be careful

to write on each sheet, in the spaces provided therefor,

the number of the supervisor’s district, enumeration district, dwelling house, and family, and also the name of the

institution, school, etc., as the case may be. Also, at the

heads of the columns in which the information concerning

the several persons enumerated is entered, fill in the

‘‘tens’’ figures on the dotted lines preceding the printed

unit figures, and continue to number the columns consecutively, as 21, 22, etc., until all persons in the family

have been enumerated.

Upon one or the other of these forms of the population

schedule, according to the size of the family to be enumerated, is to be entered the name of every man, woman, and

child who on the 1st day of June, 1890, shall have his or

her usual place of abode within the enumerator’s district.

No child born between the 1st day of June, 1890, and the

day of the enumerator’s visit (say June 5, June 15, etc., as

the case may be) is to be entered upon the schedule. On

the other hand, every person who was a resident of the

district upon the 1st day of June, 1890, but between that

date and the day of the enumerator’s visit shall have died,

should be entered on the schedule precisely as if still living. The object of the schedule is to obtain a list of the

inhabitants on the 1st of June, 1890, and all changes after

that date, whether in the nature of gain or loss, are to be

disregarded in the enumeration.

In answering the several inquiries on the population and

other schedules the space provided for each answer

should be filled by a definite statement or a symbol used

to denote either that the inquiry is not applicable to the

person for whom the answers are being made or that the

information can not be obtained. In all cases where the

inquiry is not applicable use the following symbol: (X). If

for any reason it is not possible to obtain answers to

inquiries which are applicable to the person enumerated,

use the following symbol to denote this fact: (=). The enumerator must bear in mind, however, that where he has

every reason to suppose that he can supply the answer

himself it is better than the symbol; and in any case the

symbol should not be used until he has made every effort

to ascertain the proper answer from the persons in the

family or in the neighborhood, as required by law.

Illustrative examples of the manner of filling the population and the use of these symbols are contained in printed

sheets which are supplied to enumerators.

SUPERVISORS’ AND ENUMERATION DISTRICTS

The first thing to be entered at the head of each schedule

is the number of the supervisor’s district and of the enumeration district in which the work is performed. These

numbers must be repeated for each family enumerated,

and where additional sheets are used these numbers are

to be carried to those sheets, as already stated.

CIVIL DIVISIONS

Be careful to enter accurately the name of the city, town,

township, precinct, etc., and distinguish carefully between

the population of villages within townships and the

remainder of such townships. The correct enumeration of

the population of these minor civil divisions is especially

important, and is of interest in the presentation in the

printed reports of details concerning these small bodies of

population. So far as possible, also, the population of

small unincorporated villages and hamlets should be separately reported. Also enter at the head of each schedule, in

the spaces provided therefor, the name of the county and

State or Territory in which the minor subdivision is

located. In cities the street, street number, and ward

should be entered in the proper spaces, and in those cities

where special sanitary districts have been established for

the purposes of the census enumeration the letters used

to designate them should be added in some convenient

space at the head of each schedule and encircled thus: (A),

(B), (C), etc., according to the special letters used to distinguish these sanitary districts.

Institutions

Whenever an institution is to be enumerated, as, a hospital, asylum, almshouse, jail, or penitentiary, the full name

and title of the institution should be entered, and all persons having their usual place of abode in such institution,

whether officers, attendants, inmates, or persons in confinement, should then be entered consecutively on the

schedules as one family. If, as sometimes may be the case,

a sheriff, warden, or other prison official may live in one

end of the prison building, but separated by a partition

wall from the prison proper, his family (including himself

as its head) should be returned on a separate schedule,

and should not be returned on the schedule upon which

the prisoners are entered. Where the officers or attendants, or any of them, do not reside in the institution

buildings, but live with their families in detached dwellings, no matter whether the houses are owned by the

institutions or located in the same grounds, they should

be reported on separate schedules, but should be included

as a part of the work of the special institution enumerator,

where one is appointed, and should not be left to be taken

by the district enumerator. It may happen also that some

of the officers or attendants may reside wholly outside of

the institution precincts, either in rented houses or houses

owned by the institution, or by themselves, and in such

cases they should be enumerated by the district enumerator and not by the special institution enumerator. The tour

of duty of the special institution enumerator should not

extend beyond the boundaries of the institution grounds,

but should include all those persons and inmates whose

usual places of abode are clearly within the territory controlled by the institutions.

Measuring America 25

U.S. Census Bureau
Persons, Families, and Dwellings

A. Number of dwelling house in the order of visitation.

In the space against the inquiry marked A is to be

entered the number of the dwelling house in the order

of visitation. The object of this inquiry is to ascertain

the total number of dwelling houses. A dwelling house

for the purposes of the census means any building or

place of abode, of whatever character, material, or

structure, in which any person is living at the time of

taking the census. It may be a room above a warehouse or factory, a loft above a stable, a wigwam on

the outskirts of a settlement, or a dwelling house in

the ordinary sense of that term. A tenement house,

whether it contains two, three, or forty families,

should be considered for the purposes of the census

as one house. A building under one roof suited for

two or more families, but with a dividing partition wall

and separate front door for each part of the building,

should be counted as two or more houses. A block of

houses under one roof, but with separate front doors,

should be considered as so many houses, without

regard to the number of families in each separate

house in the block. Wholly uninhabited dwellings are

not to be counted.

B. Number of families in this dwelling house.

The inquiry marked B calls for the number of families,

whether one or more, in each dwelling house. Where

there is more than one family in a dwelling house, this

inquiry should be answered only on the schedule for

the first family enumerated and omitted on the schedules for the second and subsequent families enumerated in the same house, to avoid duplication of results;

the space on the schedules for the second and subsequent families should be filled, however, by an X, as

not being applicable. An example of this character is

given on the printed sheets illustrative of the manner

of filling schedules.

C. Number of persons in this dwelling house.

The inquiry marked C calls for the number of persons

in each dwelling house, and where there is more than

one family in the house the answer should represent

the total number of persons included in the several

families occupying the same house. Where there is but

a single family to a house, the answer to this inquiry

should be the same as for Inquiry E. Where there is

more than one family in a dwelling house, this inquiry,

as in the case of Inquiry B, should be answered only on

the schedule for the first family enumerated.

D. Number of family in the order of visitation.

In answer to the inquiry marked D enter the number,

in the order of visitation, of each family residing in the

district. The fact that more than one family is often

found in a house makes the family number exceed,

necessarily, the house number, as called for by Inquiry

A.

The word family, for the purposes of the census,

includes persons living alone, as well as families in

the ordinary sense of that term, and also all larger

aggregations of people having only the tie of a common roof and table. A hotel, with all its inmates, constitutes but one family within the meaning of this

term. A hospital, a prison, an asylum is equally a family for the purposes of the census. On the other hand,

the solitary inmate of a cabin, a loft, or a room finished off above a store, and indeed, all individuals living out of families, constitute a family in the meaning

of the census act.

By ‘‘individuals living out of families’’ is meant all persons occupying lofts in public buildings, above stores,

warehouses, factories, and stables, having no other

usual place of abode; persons living solitary in cabins,

huts, or tents; persons sleeping on river boats, canal

boats, barges, etc., having no other usual place of

abode, and persons in police stations having no

homes. Of the classes just mentioned the most important numerically, is the first viz: Those persons,

chiefly in cities, who occupy rooms in public buildings, or above stores, warehouses, factories, and

stables. In order to reach such persons, the enumerator will need not only to keep his eyes open to all indications of such casual residence in his enumeration

district, but to make inquiry both of the parties occupying the business portion of such buildings and also

of the police. In the case, however, of tenement

houses and of the so-called ‘‘flats’’ of the great cities

as many families are to be recorded as there are separate tables.

A person’s home is where he sleeps. There are many

people who lodge in one place and board in another.

All such persons should be returned as members of

that family with which they lodge.

E. Number of persons in this family.

The answer to this inquiry should correspond to the

number of columns filled on each schedule, and care

should be taken to have all the members of the family

included in this statement and a column filled for each

person in the family, including servants, boarders,

lodgers, etc. Be sure that the person answering the

inquiries thoroughly understands the question, and

does not omit any person who should be counted as a

member of the family.

Names, Relationship to Head of Family, and

Whether Survivors of the War of the Rebellion

1. Christian name in full, initial of middle name, and surname.

26 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
Opposite to the inquiry numbered 1 on the schedule are

to be entered the names of all persons whose usual

place of abode on the 1st day of June, 1890, was in the

family enumerated.

The census law furnishes no definitions of the phrase

‘‘usual place of abode;’’ and it is difficult, under the

American system of protracted enumeration, to afford

administrative directions which will wholly obviate the

danger that some persons will be reported in two

places and others not reported at all. Much must be left

to the judgment of the enumerator, who can, if he will

take the pains, in the great majority of instances satisfy

himself as to the propriety of including or not including

doubtful cases in his enumeration of any given family.

In the cases of boarders at hotels or students at schools

or colleges the enumerator can by one or two well

directed inquiries ascertain whether the person concerning whom the question may arise has at the time

any other place of abode within another district at

which he is likely to be reported. Seafaring men are to

be reported at their land homes, no matter how long

they may have been absent, if they are supposed to be

still alive. Hence, sailors temporarily at a sailors’ boarding or lodging house, if they acknowledge any other

home within the United States, are not to be included in

the family of the lodging or boarding house. Persons

engaged in internal transportation, canal men, expressmen, railroad men, etc., if they habitually return to their

homes in the intervals of their occupations, will be

reported as of their families, and not where they may

be temporarily staying on the 1st of June, 1890.

In entering the members of a family the name of the

father, mother, or other ostensible head of the family (in

the case of hotels, jails, etc., the landlord, jailor, etc.) is

to be entered in the first column. It is desirable that the

wife should be enumerated in the second column, and

the children of the family proper should follow in the

order of their ages, as will naturally be the case. The

names of all other persons in the family, whether relatives, boarders, lodgers, or servants, should be entered

successively in subsequent columns.

The Christian name in full and initial of middle name of

each person should be first entered and the surname

immediately thereunder, as shown in the illustrative

example.

1. Whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the civil

war (United States or Confederate), or widow of such

person.

Write ‘‘Sol’’ for soldier, ‘‘Sail’’ for sailor, and ‘‘Ma’’ for

marine. If the person served in the United States

forces add ‘‘U.S.’’ in parentheses, and if in the Confederate forces add ‘‘Conf.’’ in parentheses, thus: Sol

(U.S.); Sail (U.S.); Sol (Conf.), etc. In the case of a

widow of a deceased soldier, sailor, or marine, use the

letter ‘‘W’’ in addition to the above designations, as W.

Sol (U.S.), W. Sol (Conf.), and so on.

The enumeration of the survivors of the late war,

including their names, organizations, length of service, and the widows of such as have died, is to be

taken on a special schedule prepared for the purpose,

as provided for by the act of March 1, 1889, and

relates only to those persons, or widows of persons,

who served in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the

United States in the late war. The inquiry concerning

the survivors of both the United States and Confederate forces is made on the population schedule so as to

ascertain the number now living and the number who

have died and have left widows.

2. Relationship to head of family.

Designate the head of a family, whether a husband or

father, widow or unmarried person of either sex, by

the word ‘‘Head;’’ other members of a family by wife,

mother, father, son, daughter, grandson, daughter-inlaw, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, servant, or other

properly distinctive term, according to the particular

relationship which the person bears to the head of the

family. Distinguish between boarders, who sleep and

board in one place, and lodgers, who room in one

place and board in another. If an inmate of an institution or school, write inmate, pupil, patient, prisoner,

or some equivalent term which will clearly distinguish

inmates from the officers and employees and their

families. But all officers and employees of an institution who reside in the institution building are to be

accounted, for census purposes, as one family, the

head of which is the superintendent, matron, or other

officer in charge. If more than one family resides in

the institution building, group the members together

and distinguish them in some intelligible way. In addition to defining their natural relationship to the head

of the institution or of their own immediate family,

their official position in the institution, if any, should

be also noted, thus: Superintendent, clerk, teacher,

watchman, nurse, etc.

COLOR, SEX, AND AGE

4. Whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon,

Chinese, Japanese, or Indian.

Write white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian, according to the color or

race of the person enumerated. Be particularly careful

to distinguish between blacks, mulattoes, quadroons,

and octoroons. The word ‘‘black’’ should be used to

describe those persons who have three-fourths or

more black blood; ‘‘mulatto,’’ those persons who have

from three-eighths to five-eighths black blood; ‘‘quadroon,’’ those persons who have one-fourth black

blood; and ‘‘octoroon,’’ those persons who have oneeighth or any trace of black blood.

Measuring America 27

U.S. Census Bureau
5. Sex.

Write male or female, as the case may be.

6. Age at nearest birthday. If under one year, give age in

months.

Write the age in figures at nearest birthday in whole

years, omitting months and days, for each person of

one year of age or over. For children who on the 1st of

June, 1890, were less than one year of age, give the

age in months, or twelfths of a year, thus: 3/12, 7/12,

10/12. For a child less than one month old, state the

age as follows: 0/12. The exact years of age for all

persons one year old or over should be given whenever it can be obtained. In any event, do not accept

the answer ‘‘Don’t know,’’ but ascertain as nearly as

possible the approximate age of each person. The

general tendency of persons in giving their ages is to

use the round numbers, as 20, 25, 30, 25, 40, etc. If

the age is given as ‘‘about 25,’’ determine, if possible,

whether the age should be entered as 24, 25, or 26.

Particular attention should be paid to this, otherwise it

will be found when the results are aggregated in this

office that a much more than normal number of persons have been reported as 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, etc.,

years of age , and a much less than normal at 19, 21,

24, 26, 29, 31, etc.

CONJUGAL CONDITION AND CHILDREN

AND CHILDREN LIVING

7. Whether single married, widow, or divorced.

Write single, married, widowed, or divorced, according

to the conjugal condition of the person enumerated.

No matter how young the person may be, the conjugal

condition, if ‘‘single,’’ should be always stated.

8. Whether married during the census year (June 1,

1889, to May 31, 1890).

Write yes or no, as the case may be.

9. Mother of how many children, and number of these

children living.

This inquiry is to be made concerning all women who

are or have been married, including those widowed or

divorced. The answers should be given in figures, as

follows: 6 5; that is, mother of six (6) children, of

which five (5) are living. If a woman who is or has

been married has had no children, or if none are living, state the fact thus: 0 0 or 3 0, as the case may be.

Place of Birth and Parent Nativity

10. Place of birth.

Give the place of birth of the person whose name

appears at the head of the column opposite inquiry

1, and for whom the entries are being made.

11. Place of birth of father.

Give the place of birth of the father of the person for

whom the entries are being made.

12. Place of birth of mother.

Give the place of birth of the mother of the person

for whom the entries are being made.

If the person (inquiry 10), or father (inquiry 11), or

mother (inquiry 12) were born in the United States,

name the state or territory, or if of foreign birth name

the country. The names of countries, and not of cities, are wanted. In naming the country of foreign

birth, however, do not write, for instance, ‘‘Great Britain,’’ but give the particular country, as England,

Scotland, or Wales.

If the person, or father, or mother were born in a foreign country of American parents, write the name of

the country and also the words ‘‘American citizen.’’ If

born at sea write the words ‘‘At sea;’’ if in the case of

the father or mother the words ‘‘At sea’’ be used, add

the nationality of the father’s father or mother’s

father.

If born in Canada or Newfoundland, write the word

‘‘English’’ or ‘‘French’’ after the particular place of

birth, so as to distinguish between persons born in

any part of British America of French and English

extraction respectively. This is a most important

requirement, and must be closely observed in each

case and the distinction carefully made.

NATURALIZATION

Inquiries 13, 14, and 15 should be made concerning only

those adult males of foreign birth who are 21 years of age

or over.

13. Number of years in the United States.

Give the answer in figures as 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, etc.,

according to the number of years such person (as

stated above) may have resided in the United States.

14. Whether naturalized.

Write ‘‘Yes’’ or ‘‘No,’’ as the case may be.

15. Whether naturalization papers have been taken out.

If naturalized (Inquiry 14), use the symbol X; if not

naturalized (Inquiry 14), write ‘‘Yes’’ or ‘‘No,’’ as the

case may be, in answers to this inquiry (15).

Profession, Trade, or Occupation, and Months

Employed

16. Profession, trade, or occupation.

This is a most important inquiry. Study these instructions closely, and in reporting occupations avoid the

28 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
use of unmeaning terms. A person’s occupation is the

profession, trade, or branch of work upon which he

chiefly depends for support, and in which he would

ordinarily be engaged during the larger part of the

year. General or indefinite terms which do not indicate the kind of work done by each person must not

be used. You are under no obligation to give a person’s occupation just as he expresses it. If he can not

tell intelligibly what he is, find out what he does, and

describe his occupation accordingly. The name of the

place worked in or article made or worked upon

should not be used as the sole basis of the statement

of a person’s occupation. Endeavor to ascertain

always the character of the service rendered or kind

of work done, and so state it.

The illustrations given under each of the general

classes of occupations show the nature of the

answers which should be made to this inquiry. They

are not intended to cover all occupations, but are

indicative of the character of the answers desired in

order to secure, for each person enumerated, properly descriptive designations of service rendered or

work done by way of occupation and as the means of

gaining a livelihood.

AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.—Be careful to distinguish

between the farm laborer, the farmer, and farm overseer;

also between the plantation laborer, the planter, and plantation overseer. These three classes must be kept distinct,

and each occupation separately returned.

Do not confuse the agricultural laborer, who works on the

farm or plantation, with the general or day laborer, who

works on the road or at odd jobs in the village or town.

Distinguish also between woodchoppers at work regularly

in the woods or forests and the laborer, who takes a job

occasionally at chopping wood.

Make a separate return for farmers and planters who own,

hire, or carry on a farm or plantation, and for gardeners,

fruit growers, nurserymen, florists, vine growers, etc.,

who are engaged in raising vegetables for market or in

cultivation of fruit, flowers, seeds, nursery products, etc.

In the latter case, if a man combines two or more of these

occupations, be careful to so state it, as florist, nurseryman, and seed grower.

Avoid the confusion of the garden laborer, nursery

laborer, etc., who hires out his services, with the proprietor gardener, florist, nurseryman, etc., who carries on the

business himself or employs others to assist him.

Return as dairymen or dairywoman those persons whose

occupation in connection with the farm has to do chiefly

with the dairy. Do not confuse them with employees of

butter and cheese or condensed milk factories, who

should be separately returned by some distinctive term.

Return stock herders and stock drovers separately from

stock raisers.

Do not include lumbermen, raftsmen, log drivers, etc.,

engaged in hauling or transporting lumber (generally by

water) from the forest to the mill, with the employees of

lumber yards or lumber mills.

FISHING.—For fishermen and oystermen describe the occupation as accurately as possible. Be careful to avoid the

return of fishermen on vessels as sailors. If they gain their

living by fishing, they should be returned as ‘‘fishermen,’’

and not as sailors.

MINING AND QUARRYING.—Make a careful distinction

between the coal miners and miners of ores; also between

miners generally and quarrymen. State the kind of ore

mined or stone quarried.

Do not return proprietors or officials of mining or quarrying companies as miners or quarrymen, but state their

business or official position accurately.

PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS.—This class includes actors, artists and teachers of art, clergymen, dentists, designers,

draftsmen, engravers, civil engineers, and surveyors,

mechanical and mining engineers, government clerks and

officials, journalists, lawyers, musicians and teachers of

music, physicians, surgeons, professors (in colleges and

universities), teachers (in schools), and other pursuits of a

professional nature. Specify each profession in detail,

according to the fact. These are cited simply as illustrations of these classes of pursuits.

Distinguish between actors, theatrical managers, and

showmen.

Make a separate return for government clerks occupying

positions under the National, State, county, city, or town

governments from clerks in offices, stores, manufacturing

establishments, etc.; also distinguish government officials.

Return veterinary surgeons separately from other surgeons.

Distinguish journalists, editors, and reporters from

authors and other literary persons who do not follow journalism as a distinct profession.

Return separately chemists, assayers, metallurgists, and

other scientific persons.

DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL SERVICE.—Among this class of

occupations are comprised hotel keepers, boarding-house

keepers, restaurant keepers, saloon keepers, and bartenders; housekeepers, cooks, and servants (in hotels, boarding houses, hospitals, institutions, private families, etc.);

barbers and hairdressers; city, town, and general day

laborers; janitors, sextons, and undertakers; nurses and

midwives; watchmen, policemen, and detectives. Specify

each occupation or kind of service rendered in detail,

according to the fact. The above are given only as

Measuring America 29

U.S. Census Bureau
examples of the occupations which would naturally be

included under this general class of work.

Distinguish carefully between housekeepers, or women

who receive a stated wage or salary for their services, and

housewives, or women who keep house for their own

families or for themselves, without any gainful occupation. The occupation of grown daughters who assist in the

household duties without fixed remuneration should be

returned as ‘‘Housework—without pay.’’

As stated under agricultural pursuits, do not confuse day

laborers, at work for the city, town, or at odd jobs, with

agricultural laborer, at work on the farm or plantation or in

the employ of gardeners, nurserymen, etc. State specifically the kind of work done in every instance.

Clerks in hotels, restaurants, and saloons should be so

described and carefully distinguished from bartenders. In

many instances bartenders will state their occupation as

‘‘clerk’’ in wine store, etc., but the character of the service

rendered by such persons will readily determine whether

they should be classed as ‘‘bartenders’’ or not.

Stationary engineers and firemen should be carefully distinguished from engineers and firemen employed on locomotives, steamboats, etc.

Soldiers, sailors, and marines enlisted in the service of the

United States should be so returned. Distinguish between

officers and enlisted men, and for civilian employees

return the kind of service performed by them.

PURSUITS OF TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION.—Distinguish

carefully between real estate agents, insurance agents,

claim agents, commission agents, etc. If a person is a real

estate agent and also an auctioneer, as is often the case,

return his occupation as real estate agent and auctioneer.

Return accountants, bookkeepers, clerks, cashiers, etc.,

separately, and state the kind of service rendered, as

accountant—insurance; bookkeeper—wholesale dry goods;

clerk—gas company; cashier—music store.

Do not confound a clerk with a salesman, as is often done,

especially in dry goods stores, grocery stores, and provision stores. Generally speaking, the persons so employed

are to be considered as salesmen, unless the bulk of their

service is in the office on the books and accounts; otherwise they should be returned as salesman—dry goods;

salesman—groceries, etc.

Stenographers and typewriters should be reported separately, and should not be described simply as ‘‘clerks.’’

Distinguish carefully between bank clerks, cashiers in

banks, and bank officials, describing the particular position filled in each case. In no case should a bank cashier

be confounded with cashiers in stores, etc.

Distinguish between foremen and overseers, packers and

shippers, porters and helpers, and errand, office, and messenger boys in stores, etc., and state in each case the

character of the duties performed by them, as foreman

wholesale wool house; packer—crockery; porter—rubber

goods; errand boy—dry goods; messenger boy—telegraph.

State the kind of merchants and dealers, as dry goods

merchant, wood and coal dealer, etc. Whenever a single

word will express the business carried on, as grocer, it

should be so stated.

In the case of hucksters and peddlers also state the kind

of goods sold, as peddler—tinware.

Distinguish traveling salesmen from salesmen in stores,

and state the kind of goods sold by them.

Return boarding and livery stable keepers separately from

the hostlers and other stable employees.

Distinguish also between expressmen, teamsters, draymen, and carriage and hack drivers.

Steam railroad employees should be reported separately,

according to the nature of their work, as baggagemen,

brakemen, conductors, laborers on railroad, locomotive

engineers, locomotive firemen, switchmen, yardmen, etc.

Officials of railroad, telegraph express, and other companies should be separately returned and carefully distinguished from the employees of such companies.

Boatmen, canal men, pilots, longshoremen, stevedores,

and sailors (on steam or sailing vessels) should be separately returned.

Telegraph operators, telephone operators, telegraph linemen, telephone linemen, electric-light men, etc., should be

kept distinct, and a separate return made for each class.

MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL PURSUITS.—In reporting occupations pertaining to manufactures there are

many difficulties in the way of showing the kind of work

done rather than the article made or the place worked in.

The nature of certain occupations is such that it is well

nigh impossible to find properly descriptive terms without

the use of some expression relating to the article made or

place in which the work is carried on.

Do not accept ‘‘maker’’ of an article or ‘‘works in’’ mill,

shop, or factory, but strive always to find out the particular work done.

Distinguish between persons who tend machines and the

unskilled workman or laborer in mills, factories, and workshops.

Describe the proprietor of the establishment as a ‘‘manufacturer,’’ and specify the branch of manufacture, as cotton

30 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
manufacturer, etc. In no case should a manufacturer be

returned as a ‘‘maker’’ of an article.

In the case of apprentices, state the trade to which

apprenticed, as apprentice-carpenter, etc.

Distinguish between butchers, whose business is to

slaughter cattle, swine, etc., and provisions dealers, who

sell meats only.

Distinguish also between glover, hatter, or furrier who

actually make or make up in their own establishments all

or part of the gloves, hats, or furs which they sell, and the

person who simply deals in but does not make these

articles.

Do not use the words ‘‘factory operative,’’ but specify in

every instance the kind of work done, as cotton mill spinner; silk mill weaver, etc.

Do not describe a person in a printing office as a ‘‘printer’’

where a more expressive term can be used, as compositor,

pressman, press feeder, etc.

Make the proper distinction between a clock or watch

‘‘maker’’ and a clock or watch ‘‘repairer.’’ Do not apply the

word ‘‘jeweler’’ to those who make watches, watch chains,

or jewelry in large establishments.

Avoid in all cases the use of the word ‘‘mechanic,’’ and

state whether a carpenter, mason, house painter, machinist, plumber, etc.

Do not say ‘‘finisher,’’ ‘‘molder,’’ ‘‘polisher,’’ etc., but state

the article finished, molded, or polished, as brass finisher,

iron molder, steel polisher, etc.

Distinguish between cloakmakers, dressmakers, seamstresses, tailoresses, etc. In the case of sewing-machine

operators, specify the work done.

OTHER OCCUPATIONS.—When a lawyer, merchant, manufacturer, etc., has retired from practice or business, say

retired lawyer, retired merchant, etc.

The distinction to be made between housewives, housekeepers, and those assisting in housework has already

been stated under ‘‘Domestic and Personal Service.’’ For

the large body of persons, particularly young women, who

live at home and do nothing, make the return as ‘‘No occupation.’’ With respect to infants and children too young to

take any part in production or to be engaged in any state

occupation, distinguish between those at home and those

attending school. For those too young to go to school, or

who for some reason did not attend school during the census year, write the words ‘‘At home,’’ and for those who

attended school during some part of the school year write

the words, ‘‘At school—public,’’ or ‘‘At school—private,’’

according to the kind of school. If taught by a governess

or tutor, it should be so stated. The student at college or

engaged in special studies should be reported separately

from scholars in public or private schools.

The doing of domestic errands or family chores out of

school hours, where a child regularly attends school,

should not be considered an occupation. But if a boy or

girl, whatever the age, is earning money regularly by

labor, contributing to the family support, or appreciably

assisting in mechanical or agricultural industry, the kind of

work performed should be stated.

17. Months unemployed during the census year (June 1,

1889, to May 31, 1890).

If a person having a gainful occupation was unemployed during any part of the census year it should

be so stated in months and parts of months. If, as

may often happen, a person was unemployed at his

usual occupation for some time during the census

year and yet found other temporary employment for

some part or the whole of the time, this fact should

be clearly stated. For instance, a person’s occupation

may be that of ‘‘farm laborer,’’ at which he may have

had no employment for three months during the census year. During two of these three months, however,

he may have worked in a shoe shop, so that, so far

as actual idleness is concerned, he was only out of

work one month. In all such cases, where the nonemployment returned in answer to inquiry 17 does not

represent actual idleness as regards the person’s

usual actual occupation given in answer to inquiry

16, indicates the number of months unemployed at

occupation by inserting the figures, in parenthesis,

after the name of the occupation itself. In the case

just cited, and as shown in the ‘‘illustrative example,’’

the answer to inquiry 16 would appear as ‘‘Farm

laborer (3)’’ and the answer to inquiry 17 as ‘‘1.’’ For

all persons not engaged in gainful occupation the

symbol ‘‘X’’ should be used.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ILLITERACY, AND

LANGUAGE SPOKEN

18. Attendance at school (in months) during the census

year (June 1, 1889, to May 31, 1900).

For all persons between the ages of 5 and 17, inclusive, the attendance at school during the census year

should be in all cases stated in months and parts of

months. Where a person within the above ages did

not attend school at all during the census year write

‘‘0,’’ and for all other persons to whom the inquiry is

not applicable use the symbol ‘‘X.’’

Inquiries numbered 19 and 20 relate to illiteracy, and

are to be made only of or concerning persons 10

years of age or over.

19. Able to read.

Write ‘‘Yes’’ or ‘‘No,’’ as the case may be.

Measuring America 31

U.S. Census Bureau
20. Able to write.

Write ‘‘Yes’’ or ‘‘No,’’ as the case may be.

A person may not be able to read or write the English

language, and yet may be able to read or write (or

both) their native language, as French, Spanish, Italian, etc. If in such cases a person can read or write

(or both) some language, the answer to Inquiry 19

and Inquiry 20 should be ‘‘Yes,’’ according to the fact.

If not able to so read or write the answer should be

‘‘No.’’ For all persons under 10 years of age use the

symbol ‘‘X.’’

21. Able to speak English. If not, the language or dialect

spoken.

This inquiry should also be made of or concerning

every person 10 years of age or over. If the person is

able to speak English so as to be understood in ordinary conversation, write ‘‘English;’’ otherwise, write

the name of the language or dialect in which he usually expresses himself, as ‘‘German,’’ ‘‘Portuguese,’’

‘‘Canadian French,’’ ‘‘Pennsylvania Dutch,’’ etc. For all

persons under 10 years of age use the symbol ‘‘X.’’

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEFECTS, ETC.

22. Whether suffering from acute or chronic disease,

with name of disease and length of time afflicted.

If a person is suffering from acute or chronic disease

so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or

duties, give the name of the disease and the length

of time that it has lasted.

23. Whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech,

or whether crippled, maimed, or deformed, with

name of defect.

If a person is mentally or physically defective, state

the nature of the defect.

24. Whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper.

If the person is a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or

pauper, be careful to so state, as ‘‘prisoner,’’ ‘‘pauper,’’

etc.

25. Supplemental schedule and page.

If answers are required to inquiries 22, 23, or 24,

indicate in this space the number of the supplemental schedule and page of schedule on which the special inquiries relating to such person have been

answered. (See instructions concerning supplemental

schedules.)

OWNERSHIP OF HOMES AND FARMS

26. Is the home you live in hired, or is it owned by the

head or by a member of the family?

If hired, say ‘‘Hired;’’ if owned, say ‘‘Owned,’’ and

indicate whether owned by head, wife, son, daughter, or other member of family, as ‘‘Owned—head;’’

‘‘Owned— wife;’’ ‘‘Owned—son,’’ etc. If there is more

than one son or daughter in the family, and the home

is owned by one of them, indicate which one by

using the figure at the head of the column in which

the name, etc., of the person is entered, as

‘‘Owned—son (4).’’

27. If owned by head or member of family, is the home

free from mortgage encumbrance?

If free from encumbrance, say ‘‘Free;’’ if mortgaged,

say ‘‘Mortgaged.’’

28. If the head of family is a farmer, is the farm which he

cultivates hired, or is it owned by him or by a member of his family?

To be answered in the same manner as for inquiry

26.

29. If owned by head or member of family, is the farm

free from mortgage encumbrance?

To be answered in the same manner as for inquiry

27.

30. If the home or farm is owned by head or member of

family, and mortgaged, give the post-office address

of owner.

In answer to this inquiry the post-office address of the

owner of a mortgaged home or farm must be correctly

stated; that is, the post office at which the owner (whether

head of family, wife, son, daughter, etc.) usually receives

his or her mail.

In all cases where it can not be definitely ascertained

whether the home or farm is mortgaged or not return the

post-office address of the owner, so that this office can

communicate with such persons.

In connection with the definition of mortgage encumbrance it should be stated that judgment notes or confessions of judgment, as in Pennsylvania and Virginia, the

deeds of trust of many States, deeds with vendor’s lien

clause, bonds or contracts for title that are virtually mortgages, crop liens or mortgages upon crops, and all other

legal instruments that partake of the nature of mortgages

upon real estate, are to be regarded as such; but mechanics’ liens are not to be regarded as mortgage encumbrances upon homes or farms.

The enumerator should be careful to use the local name

for the mortgage encumbrance when making the inquiries, and should not confine himself to the word ‘‘mortgage’’ when it will be misunderstood.

Some of the difficulties which will arise in connection with

the prosecution of the inquiries concerning homes and

farms, and how they are to be treated, may be mentioned,

as follows:

1. A house is not necessarily to be considered as identical with a home and to be counted only once as a

32 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
home. If it is occupied as a home by one or more tenants, or by owner and one or more tenants, it is to be

regarded as a home to each family.

2. If a person owns and cultivates what has been two or

more farms and lives on one, they are not to be taken

as more than one farm.

3. If a person owns and cultivates what has been two or

more farms and all are not mortgaged, the several

farms are to be counted as one farm and as mortgaged.

4. If a person hires both the farm he cultivates and the

home he lives in, or owns both, the home is to be considered as part of the farm.

5. If a person owns the home he lives in and hires the

farm he cultivates, or owns the farm he cultivates and

hires the home he lives in, both farm and home are to

be entered upon the schedule, and separately.

6. If the tenant of a farm and its owner live upon it,

either in the same house or in different houses, the

owner is to be regarded as owning the home he lives

in and the tenant as hiring the farm he cultivates. If

the owner simply boards with the tenant, no account

is to be made of the owner.

7. If the same person owns and cultivates one farm and

hires and cultivates another farm, he is to be entered

upon the schedule as owning the farm he cultivates.

8. The head of a family may own and cultivate a farm

and his wife may own another farm which is let to tenant, perhaps to her husband. In such case only the

farm which is owned by the head of the family is to be

considered, but the rented farm is to be taken account

of when its tenant’s family is visited.

9. A person who cultivates a farm is not to be regarded

as hiring it if he works for a definite and fixed compensation in money or fixed quantity of produce, but

he is to be regarded as hiring it if he pays a rental for

it or is to receive a share of the produce, even though

he may be subject to some direction and control by

the owner.

Measuring America 33

U.S. Census Bureau
1900 QUESTIONNAIRE—POPULATION

(19 1/2′′ X 18 5/8′′, printed on two sides, space for 50

entries on each side; reverse side was identical except for

line numbers).

34 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
Instructions to Enumerators

(Name and Relationship)

108. Column 3. Name of each person

enumerated.—Enter the name of every person

whose usual place of abode (see paragraph 111) is

in the family or dwelling place for which the enumeration is being made. The census day, that is, the

day as of which the enumeration is made, is June 1,

1900. Include, therefore, every person living on

June 1, 1900, or during any part of that day, and

omit children born after that date.

109. It is intended that the name of every man, woman,

and child whose usual place of abode on the first

day of June, 1900, was within your district shall be

entered on the population schedule,but no entry is

to be made of a child born between the first day of

June, 1900, and the day of your visit, say June 5,

June 15, etc., as the case may be.

110. On the other hand, every person who was a resident of your district upon the first day of June,

1900, but between that date and the day of your

visit shall have died, should be entered on the

schedule precisely as if still living. The object of the

schedule is to obtain a list of the inhabitants on the

first day of June, 1900, and all changes after that

date, whether in the nature of gain or loss, are to be

disregarded.

111. The census law furnishes no definitions of the

phrase ‘‘usual place of abode;’’ and it is difficult to

guard against the danger that some persons will be

reported in two places and others not reported at

all. Much must be left to the judgement of the enumerator, who, if he will take the pains, can satisfy

himself, in the great majority of instances, as to the

propriety of including or not including doubtful

cases in his enumeration of any given family.

112. In the case of boarders at hotels, students at

schools or colleges, and inmates of institutions,

ascertain whether the person concerning whom the

question may arise has at the time any other place

of abode within another district at which he is likely

to be reported. Seafaring men are to be reported at

their land homes, no matter how long they may

have been absent, if they are supposed to be still

alive. Hence, sailors temporarily at a sailors’ boarding or lodging house, if they acknowledge any other

home within the United States, are not to be

included in the family of the lodging or boarding

house.

113. Persons engaged in internal transportation, canal

men, expressmen, railroad men, etc., if they habitually return to their homes in the intervals of their

occupations, will be reported as of their families,

and not where they may be temporarily staying on

June 1, 1900.

114. The transient guests of a hotel are not to be enumerated as of the hotel, unless they are likely otherwise to be omitted from the enumeration; but the

proprietor and his family, and those boarders,

employees, and servants who regularly sleep there

are to be so included.

115. The inmates of transient lodging-houses are to be

so enumerated, if they claim no other home or have

no other place of abode.

116. All inmates of hospitals or other institutions are to

be enumerated; but if they have some other permanent place of residence, write it in the margin of the

schedule on the left-hand side of the page.

117. If a soldier, sailor, or marine (officer or enlisted

man), or civilian employee in the service of the

United States at a station at home or abroad, is a

member of a family living in your district, he should

be enumerated as a member of that family, even

though he may be absent on duty at the time of the

enumeration.

118. Summer boarders at hotels or country houses and

persons temporarily residing in foreign lands

should be enumerated as part of their family at

their home or usual place of abode.

119. The floating population in vessels, steamboats, and

house boats at wharves and piers or river landings

should be enumerated on the morning of June 1, as

far as possible, by the enumerators of the districts

contiguous to the water front, including in the enumeration all persons who claim to be residents of

the United States, even though they have no other

home than on board the craft where they are found;

but the officers and crew of a foreign ship only temporarily in the harbor are not to be enumerated.

120. It is important to ascertain beyond a doubt whether

the information given by the person supplying the

same covers all the persons in the family, including

not only the immediate members of the family, as

the head, wife, and children, but also other relatives

living with the family, servants (if they sleep in the

house), and persons who live with the family, as

boarders, lodgers, etc.

121. In the case of families reported ‘‘out’’ at the first

visit, but enumerated at a later visit, no spaces

should be left blank on the population schedule for

the entries concerning the members of such a family, as you can have no knowledge, in most cases,

of the number of members constituting the family,

and hence of the number of lines to be left blank.

The enumeration of the family is to be made on that

sheet of the population schedule on which you are

at work on the day when the information concerning such family is finally obtained by you.

Measuring America 35

U.S. Census Bureau
122. In the case, however, of boarders, lodgers, or other

persons living in a family, for whom no information

can be obtained at the first visit, but which is supplied later, either in person or through the lady of

the house, you should duly enter the name of such

person as a member of the family so enumerated,

and arrange to secure by a second or third visit, if

necessary, the information needed to complete the

record for such person. It is important that the person should be recorded by name at least as a member of the family with whom he resides, as otherwise the enumeration of that family will be

incomplete, and if omitted from its proper place on

the population schedule, such person is likely to be

counted, when finally enumerated, as a family of

one, which is not the fact.

123. Enter the members of each family in the following

order, namely: Head first, wife second, children

(whether sons or daughters) in the order of their

ages, and all other persons living with the family,

whether relatives, boarders, lodgers, or servants.

124. Enter first the surname, then the given name in full,

and the initial of the middle name, if any. Where the

surname is the same as, that of the person on the

preceding line indicate this by drawing a horizontal

line (___) thereunder, as shown in illustrative

example.

125. Column 4. Relationship to head of family. Designate

the head of the family, whether a husband or father,

widow or unmarried person of either sex, by the

word ‘‘Head;’’ for other members of a family write

wife, mother, father, son, daughter, grandson,

daughter-in-law, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece,

boarder, lodger, servant, etc., according to the particular relationship which the person bears to the

head of the family. Occupants of an institution or

school, living under a common roof, should be designated as officer, inmate, pupil, patient, prisoner,

etc., and in case of the chief officer his title should

be used, as warden, principal, superintendent, etc.

Institutions whose inmates occupy different buildings should be enumerated as though they occupied one institution building. If more than one family resides in the institution building or buildings,

group the members together and distinguish them

in some intelligible way. If two or more persons

share a common abode as partners, write ’’head‘‘ for

one and ‘‘partner’’ for the other or others.

PERSONAL DESCRIPTION

126. Column 5. Color or race. Write ‘‘W’’ for white; ‘‘B’’ for

black (negro or negro descent); ‘‘Ch’’ for Chinese;

‘‘Jp’’ for Japanese, and ‘‘In’’ for Indian, as the case

may be.

127. Column 6. Sex. Write ‘‘M’’ for male and ‘‘F’’ for

female, as the case may be.

128. Column 7. Date of birth. The object of this question

is to help in getting the exact age in years of each

person enumerated. Many a person who can tell the

month and year of his birth will be careless or forgetful in stating the years of his age, and so an

error will creep into the census. This danger can not

be entirely avoided, but asking the question in two

forms will prevent it in many cases.

129. Enter in the first division of column 7 the name or

abbreviation of the month in which the person was

born, thus: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July,

Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., or Dec.

130. Enter in the second division the year in which the

person was born, thus: 1841, 1897, etc.

131. Column 8. Age at last birthday. The object of this

question is to get the age of each person in completed years, or in the case of a child under one

year of age in completed months.

132. For each person of one year of age or over, enter

the age at last birthday in whole years, omitting

months and days. For children who, on the first day

of June, 1900, were less than one year of age, enter

the age in months, or twelfths of a year, thus 3/12,

7/12, 8/12. For a child less than one month old,

enter the age as follows: 0/12.

133. Endeavor to ascertain in each case the month and

year of birth called for in column 7, but where this

is impossible get as nearly as possible the exact

years of age. An answer given in round numbers,

such as ‘‘about 30,’’ ‘‘about 45,’’ is likely to be

wrong. In such cases endeavor to get the exact age.

134. Column 9. Whether single, married, widowed, or

divorced. Write ‘‘S’’ for single or unmarried persons,

‘‘M’’ for married, ‘‘Wd’’ for widowed (man or

woman), and ‘‘D’’ for divorced.

135. Column 10. Number of years married. Enter in this

column for all persons reported as married (column

9) the number of years married (to present husband

or wife), as 5, 9, 29, etc.; for person married during

the census year, that is, from June 1, 1899, to May

31, 1900, write ‘‘0;’’ for all other persons leave the

column blank. Notice that this question can not be

answered for single persons and need not be for

widowed or divorced persons.

136. Columns 11 and 12. Mother of how many children

and number of these children living. This question

applies only to women, and its object is to get the

number of children each woman has had, and

whether the children are or are not living on the

census day. Stillborn children are not to be counted.

36 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
137. Enter in column 11 the figure showing the number

of children born to this woman, as 1, 2, 3, 6, 10,

etc. If she has had none, write ‘‘0.’’ Enter in column

12 the figure showing the number of these children

living on the census day. Whether the children are

living in your district or elsewhere makes no difference. If the woman has had no children, or if they

are all dead, write ‘‘0.’’

NATIVITY

138. Column 13. Place of birth of person. The object of

this question is to get the birthplace of every person living in your district. If the person was born in

the United States, enter in column 13 the state or

territory (not city or town) of the United States in

which he was born. A person born in what is now

West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Oklahoma should be reported as so born, although at

the time of his birth the particular region may have

had a different name.

139. If the person was born outside the United States,

enter in column 13 the country (not city or district)

in which he was born. By country is meant usually a

region whose people have direct relation with other

countries. Thus, do not write Prussia or Saxony, but

Germany. To this rule, however, note the following

exceptions.

140. Write Ireland, England, Scotland, or Wales rather

than Great Britain. Write Hungary or Bohemia rather

than Austria for persons born in Hungary or Bohemia, respectively. Write Finland rather than Russia

for persons born in Finland.

141. Note, also, that the language spoken is not always a

safe guide to the birthplace. This is especially true

of Germans, for over one-third of the Austrians and

nearly three-fourths of the Swiss speak German. In

case a person speaks German, therefore, inquire

carefully whether the birthplace was Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

142. In case the person speaks Polish, as Poland is not

now a country, inquire whether the birthplace was

what is now known as German Poland or Austrian

Poland or Russian Poland, and enter the answer

accordingly as Poland (Ger.), Poland (Aust.), or

Poland (Russ.).

143. If the birthplace reported is Canada or Newfoundland, ask whether the person is of English or French

decent. Write Canada English or Canada French,

according to the answer.

144. If the person was born abroad of American parents,

write in column 13 both the birthplace and ‘‘Am.

Cit.;’’ that is, American citizen.

145. If the person was born at sea, write ‘‘at sea.’’

146. Spell out the names of states, territories, and countries, and do not abbreviate, except for American

Citizen, as mentioned in paragraph 144.

147. Columns 14 and 15. Place of birth of father and

mother. Apply the instructions for filling column 13

to these two columns; but where either the father

or mother was born at sea, write in the proper column, besides the words ‘‘at sea,’’ the birthplace of

the father’s father or mother’s mother.

CITIZENSHIP

148. Column 16. Year of immigration to the United

States.—If the person is a native of the United

States, leave the column blank. If he was born

abroad, enter the year in which he arrived in the

United States.

149. Column 17. Number of years in the United

States.—If the person is a native of the United

States, leave the column blank. If he was born

abroad, enter the number of years since his arrival

in the United States. Disregard all fractions of a

year. If the time is less than one year, write ‘‘0.’’

Endeavor to get the exact number of years in all

cases.

150. The question of immigration (columns 16 and 17)

applies to all foreign-born persons, male and

female, of whatever age. It does not apply to persons born in the United States.

151. Column 18. Naturalization.—If the person is a

native of the United States, leave the column blank.

If he was born abroad, and has taken no steps

toward becoming an American citizen, write ‘‘Al’’

(for alien). If he has declared his intention to

become an American citizen and taken out his

‘‘first’’ papers, write ‘‘Pa’’ (for papers). If he has

become a full citizen by taking out second or final

papers of naturalization, write ‘‘Na’’ (for naturalized).

152. The question of naturalization (column 18) applies

only to foreign-born males 21 years of age and

over. It does not apply to foreign-born minors, to

foreign-born females, or to any person, male or

female, who was born in the United States, either of

native or foreign parentage.

OCCUPATION, TRADE, OR PROFESSION

153. NOTE.—The following instructions concerning the

return of the occupation, trade, or profession in column 19 do not, in the main, form a part of the

instructions contained in the portfolio or the

Measuring America 37

U.S. Census Bureau
instructions printed at the bottom of the illustrative

example. These instructions are very important, however,

and must be not only read but studied carefully.

154. Column 19. Occupation.—This question applies to

every person 10 years of age and over who is at

work, that is, occupied in gainful labor, and calls for

the profession, trade, or branch of work upon

which each person depends chiefly for support, or

in which he is engaged ordinarily during the larger

part of the time. (See paragraph 223.)

155. This is a most important question. In reporting

occupations avoid the use of general or indefinite

terms which do not indicate the kind of work done.

You need not give a person’s occupation just as he

expresses it. If he can not tell intelligibly what he is,

find out what he does, and describe his occupation

accordingly. Endeavor to ascertain always the kind

of work done, and so state it.

156. Indicate in every case the kind of work done or

character of service rendered. Do not state merely

the article made or worked upon, or the place

where the work is done. For example, the reply

‘‘carriage builder,’’ or ’’works in carriage factory,‘‘ is

unsatisfactory, because men of different trades,

such as blacksmiths, joiners, wheelwrights, painters, upholsterers, work together in building carriages. Such an answer, therefore, does not show

what kind of work the person performs.

157. Return every person according to his own occupation, not that of his employer. For example,

describe a blacksmith employed by a manufacturer

of carriages as a carriage blacksmith and not as a

carriage builder, or a cooper employed by a brewery

as a cooper and not a brewer, etc.

158. If a person has two occupations, enter the more

important one, that is, the one from which he gets

the more money. If you can not learn that, enter the

one in which he spends the more time. For

example, describe a person who gets most of his

income by managing a farm, but also preaches, as a

‘‘farmer,’’ but if he gets more income from his

preaching, describe him as a ‘‘preacher’’ and not as

a farmer.

159. Sometimes you will find a person engaged in one

occupation, but claiming a different one. This will

be common in certain resorts for invalids. Such persons often take up for the time occupations different from those followed at home. For example, you

may find a clergyman canvassing for books or a

physician herding cattle. In such a case ask from

which occupation the person gets the more money

or to which he gives more time during the year.

160. If a married woman has a gainful occupation, return

the occupation accordingly, whether she does the

work at her home or goes regularly to a place of

employment, and whether she is regularly or only

occasionally so employed. For example, ‘‘milliner,’’

‘‘dressmaker,’’ ‘‘nurse,’’ etc.

161. In farming sections, where a farm is found that is

under the management or supervision of a woman

as owner or tenant, return the occupation of such

woman as ‘‘farmer’’ in all cases.

162. Report a student who supports himself by some

occupation according to the occupation, if more

time is given to that, but as a student, if more time

is given to study. Thus report a student who does

stenographic work as a student unless more of his

time is spent in stenography. Report a salesman in a

grocery store, who attends a night school as ‘‘salesman, groceries,’’ because most of his day is spent in

the store. (See paragraph 219.)

163. Many a person who does not follow any occupation

still has an income. In that case indicate the source

of the income. Report a person whose income

comes from the rent of lands or buildings as ‘‘landlord.’’ Report a person who receives his income, or

most of it, from money loaned at interest, or from

stocks, bonds, or other securities, as a ‘‘capitalist.’’

164. Abbreviations.—The space in column 19 is somewhat narrow, and it may be necessary to use the

following abbreviations (but no others):

Agric. agriculture

Mfr. manufacturer

Agt. agent

Prest. president

Asst. assistant

R.R. railroad or railway

Co. company

Sch. school

Comsn. commission

Secy. secretary

Dept. department

Supt. superintendent

Fcty. factory

Teleg. telegraph

Insur. insurance

Telph. telephone

Merch. merchant

Trav. traveling, or traveler

Mfg. manufacturing

Treas. treasurer

165. The illustrations given under this head show the

nature of the answers which should be made to this

inquiry. They are not intended to cover all occupations, but are merely examples of the answers

38 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
desired in order to secure a proper description of

the character of the service rendered or kind of

work done by each and every person engaged in

gainful labor.

Agricultural Pursuits

166. Do not confuse a farmer with a farm laborer. If a

person works on a farm for a stated wage (in

money or its equivalent), even though he may be a

son or other relative of the person who conducts

the farm, he should be entered as a farm laborer,

and not as a farmer. On the other hand, if a person

owns or rents a farm, or operates it with or for

another person, for a fixed share of the products,

he should be entered as a farmer, and not as a farm

laborer. Enter the older children of a farmer (who

work on the farm) as farm laborers, except when a

father and son (or sons) jointly operate the farm for

fixed shares of the product.

167. Do not confuse a day laborer at work for the city,

town, or at odd jobs with a farm laborer at work on

the farm or plantation or in the employ of gardeners, nurserymen, etc. Do not say simply ‘‘laborer,’’

but state in every case the kind of work done as

day laborer, farm laborer, garden laborer, etc. If a

person is a laborer in a mill, workshop, or factory,

specify the fact, in addition to the word laborer, as

laborer (cement works), etc.

168. Distinguish between a woodchopper at work regularly in the woods or forests and an ordinary laborer

who takes a job occasionally at chopping wood.

169. Distinguish between a farmer or a planter who

owns, hires, or carries on a farm or plantation, and

a gardener, fruit grower, nurseryman, florist, or

vine grower, etc., who is engaged in raising vegetables for market or in the cultivation of fruit,

flowers, seeds, nursery products, etc.

170. Avoid the confusion of the garden laborer, nursery

laborer, etc., who hires out his services, with the

proprietor gardener, florist, nurseryman, etc., who

carries on the business himself or employs others

to assist him.

171. Return as a dairyman or dairywoman any person

whose occupation in connection with the farm has

to do chiefly with the dairy. Do not confuse such a

person with an employee of a butter and cheese or

condensed milk factory, who should be separately

returned by some distinctive term.

172. Return a stock herder or stock drover separately

from a stock raiser.

173. Do not include a lumberman, raftsman, log driver,

etc., engaged in hauling or transporting lumber

(generally by water) from the forest to the mill with

an employee of a lumber yard or a lumber mill.

Fishing

174. For a fisherman or oysterman describe the occupation as accurately as possible. Be careful to avoid

the return of a fisherman on a vessel as a sailor. If

he gains his living by fishing, he should be returned

as a ‘‘fisherman,’’ and not as a sailor.

Mining and Quarrying

175. Make a careful distinction between a coal miner and

a miner of ores; also between a miner and a quarryman. State the kind of ore mined or stone quarried.

176. Do not return a proprietor or official of a mining or

quarrying company as a miner or quarryman, but

state his business or official position accurately.

Professional Pursuits

177. Specify each profession in detail, according to the

fact, as follows: actor, artist or teacher of art, clergyman, dentist, designer, draftsman, engraver, civil

engineer or surveyor, mechanical or mining engineer, government clerk or official, journalist, lawyer, librarian, musician or teacher of music, physician, surgeon, professor (in college or university),

teacher (in school), or other pursuits of a professional nature.

178. Distinguish between an actor, a theatrical manager,

and a showman.

179. Return a government official, in the service of the

national, state, county, city, or town government,

by the title of his office, if that is the occupation

upon which he depends chiefly for a livelihood; otherwise by his usual trade or profession.

180. Distinguish between a government clerk occupying

a position under the national, state, county, city, or

town government and a clerk in an office, store,

manufacturing establishment, etc.

181. Return a veterinary surgeon separately from

another surgeon.

182. Distinguish a journalist editor, or reporter from an

author or other literary person who does not follow

journalism as a distinct profession.

183. Return a chemist, assayer, metallurgist, or other

scientific person by his distinctive title.

Domestic and Personal Service

184. Specify each occupation or kind of service rendered

in detail, according to the fact, as hotel keeper,

boarding-house keeper, restaurant keeper, saloon

keeper, or bartender; housekeeper, cook, or servant

(in hotel, boarding-house, hospital, institution, private family, etc.); barber or hairdresser; janitor,

Measuring America 39

U.S. Census Bureau
sexton, or undertaker; nurse or midwife; watchman,

policeman, or detective. The above are given only as

examples of the occupations which would naturally

be included under this general class of work.

185. Return as a housekeeper a woman who receives a

stated wage or salary for her services, and do not

confuse her with a woman who keeps house for her

own family or for herself, without any gainful occupation, or with a grown daughter who assists in the

household duties without pay. A wife or daughter

who simply keeps house for her own family should

not be returned as a housekeeper in any case. (See

paragraph 218.)

186. A clerk in a hotel, restaurant, or saloon should be

so described and carefully distinguished from a bartender. In many instances a bartender will state his

occupation as ‘‘clerk’’ in wine store, etc., but the

character of the service rendered by such a person

will readily determine whether he should be classed

as a ‘‘bartender,’’ or as a ‘‘clerk.’’

187. A stationary engineer or fireman should be carefully distinguished from a locomotive engineer or

fireman.

188. A soldier, sailor, or marine enlisted in the service of

the United States should be so returned. Distinguish

between an officer and an enlisted man, and for a

civilian employee state the kind of service performed by him.

Pursuits of Trade and Transportation

189. Distinguish carefully between a real estate agent,

insurance agent, claim agent, or commission agent,

etc.

190. If a person combines two or more of these occupations, as is often the case, return the occupation

from which he derives the larger share of his

income.

191. Return an accountant, bookkeeper, clerk, cashier,

etc., according to his distinctive occupation, and

state the kind of service rendered, as

accountant—insurance; bookkeeper—wholesale dry

goods; clerk—gas company; cashier—music store.

192. Do not confound a clerk with a salesman, as is

often done, especially in dry goods stores, grocery

stores, and provision stores. Generally speaking, a

person so employed is to be considered as a salesman, unless most of his service is in the office on

the books and accounts; otherwise he should be

returned as salesman—dry goods;

salesman—groceries, etc.

193. A stenographer or typewriter should be reported as

such, and should not be described simply as a

‘‘clerk.’’

194. Distinguish carefully between a bank clerk in bank,

cashier in bank, or bank official, describing the particular position filled in each case. In no case should

a bank cashier be confounded with a cashier in a

store, etc.

195. Distinguish between a foreman and overseer, a

packer and shipper, a porter and helper, and an

errand, office, and messenger boy in a store, etc.,

and state in each case the character of the duties

performed by him, as foreman—wholesale wool;

packer—crockery; porter—rubber goods; errand

boy—dry goods; messenger boy—telegraph.

196. State the kind of merchant or dealer, as dry goods

merchant, wood and coal dealer, etc. Whenever a

single word will express the business carried on, as

grocer, it should be used.

197. In the case of a huckster or peddler also state the

kind of goods sold, as peddler—tinware.

198. Distinguish a traveling salesman from a salesman in

a store, return the former as a ‘‘commercial traveler,’’ and state the kind of goods sold by him.

199. Return a boarding or livery stable keeper separately

from a hostler or other stable employee.

200. Distinguish also between an expressman, teamster,

drayman, and carriage and hack driver.

201. A steam railroad employee should be reported

according to the nature of his work, as baggageman, brakeman, conductor, railroad laborer, locomotive engineer, locomotive fireman, switchman,

yardman, etc.

202. An official of a railroad, telegraph, express, or

other company should be returned by his title and

carefully distinguished from an employee of such

company.

203. Return a boatman, canalman, pilot, longshoreman,

stevedore, or sailor (on a steam or sailing vessel)

according to his distinctive occupation.

204. A telegraph operator, telephone operator, telegraph

lineman, telephone lineman, electric-light man, etc.,

should be reported according to the nature of the

work performed.

Manufacturing and Mechanical Pursuits

205. In reporting this class of occupations there are

many difficulties in the way of showing the kind of

work done rather than the article made or the place

worked in. The nature of certain occupations is

40 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
such that it is well-nigh impossible to find properly

descriptive terms without the use of some expression relating to the article made or place in which

the work is carried on.

206. Do not accept ‘‘maker’’ of an article or ‘‘works in’’

mill, shop, or factory, but strive always to find out

the particular work done.

207. Do not use the words ‘‘factory operative,’’ but

specify the kind of work done, as cotton

mill—spinner; silk mill—weaver, etc.

208. Avoid in all cases the use of the word ‘‘mechanic,’’

and state whether a carpenter, mason, house

painter, machinist, plumber, etc.

209. Do not say ‘‘finisher,’’ ‘‘molder,’’ ‘‘polisher,’’ etc., but

describe the work done as brass finisher, iron

molder, steel polisher, etc.

210. Distinguish between a person who tends machines

and the unskilled workman or laborer in mills, factories, and workshops.

211. Describe the proprietor of the establishment as a

‘‘manufacturer,’’ and specify the branch of manufacture, as cotton manufacturer, etc. In no case should

a manufacturer be returned as a ‘‘maker’’ of any

article.

212. In the case of an apprentice, state the trade to

which apprenticed, as Apprentice—carpenter, etc.

213. Distinguish between a butcher, whose business is

to slaughter cattle, swine, etc., and a provision

dealer, who sells meats.

214. Distinguish also between a glover, hatter, or furrier

who actually makes in his own establishment all or

part of the gloves, hats, or furs which he sells, and

a person who simply deals in but does not make

these articles.

215. Do not describe a person in a printing office as a

‘‘printer’’ where a more expressive term can be

used, as compositer, pressman, press feeder, etc.

216. Make the proper distinction between a clock or

watch ‘‘maker’’ and a clock or watch ‘‘repairer.’’ Do

not apply the word ‘‘jeweler’’ to those who make

watches, watch chains, or jewelry in large establishments.

217. Distinguish between a cloakmaker, dressmaker,

seamstress, tailoress, etc. In the case of a sewingmachine operator, specify the kind of work done.

Nongainful Pursuits

218. If a person is attending school write ‘‘at school.’’ No

entry in column 19 should be made, however, for a

lawyer, merchant, manufacturer, etc., who has

retired from practice or business; nor for a wife or

daughter living at home and assisting only in the

household duties without pay (see paragraph 185);

nor for a person too old to work, or a child under

10 years of age not at school.

219. The doing of domestic errands or family chores out

of school hours, where a child regularly attends

school, is not an occupation. But if a boy or girl,

above 10 years of age, is earning money regularly

by labor, contributing to the family support, or

appreciably assisting in mechanical or agricultural

industry, the kind of work performed should be

stated. (See paragraph 162.)

220. In the case of an inmate of an institution or home,

such as a hospital, asylum, home for the aged, soldiers’ home, penitentiary, jail, etc., no entry is

required in column 19 unless the inmate is actually

engaged in remunerative work for which he

receives a stated wage in addition to his board. The

occupation of an officer or regular employee of

such institution or home, however, is to be entered

in this column, the same as for all other persons

having a gainful occupation.

221. Column 20.—Months not employed. The object of

this question is to get the number of months (or

parts of months) in the census year (June 1, 1899,

to May 31, 1900) during which each person having

a gainful occupation was not employed. For those

who have no gainful occupation, leave the column

blank.

222. The law does not contemplate that this question

shall apply solely to the principal occupation in

which the person may have been engaged during

the year, but it is the intent to find out the number

of months (or parts of months) during which a person ordinarily engaged in gainful labor was not

employed at all.

223. A return is required in columns 19 and 20 for each

and every person 10 years of age and over who

was engaged in gainful labor during any part of the

census year (June 1, 1899, to May 31, 1900, inclusive), or who is ordinarily occupied in remunerative

work but during the census year was unable to

secure work of any kind. In the latter case enter his

customary occupation, as carpenter, bricklayer, etc.,

in column 19 and the figure ‘‘12’’ in column 20 to

show that, although he had an occupation or trade,

he was not employed at all during the year at that

or any other kind of work.

EDUCATION

224. Column 21.—Attended school (in months). For all

persons attending school during the year ending

June 1, 1900, enter the number of months (or parts

Measuring America 41

U.S. Census Bureau
of months) of school attendance, as 9, 8 , etc. If a

person of school age did not attend school at all

during the year, write ‘‘0.’’ For all other persons to

whom the inquiry is not applicable, leave the column blank.

225. Column 22. Can read.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for all persons

10 years of age and over who can read any language, and ‘‘No’’ for all other person of that age

who can not read in any language. For persons

under 10 years, leave the column blank.

226. Column 23. Can write.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for all persons

10 years of age and over who can write any language, and ‘‘No’’ for all other person of that age

who can not write in any language. For persons

under 10 years, leave the column blank.

227. The inquiries in columns 22 and 23 are intended to

show the literacy of all persons 10 years of age and

over, and should be answered according as they are

able to read or write the language ordinarily spoken

by them.

228. Column 24. Can speak English.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for all

persons 10 years of age and over who can speak

English, and ‘‘No’’ for all other persons of that age

who can not speak English. For persons under 10

years, leave the column blank.

OWNERSHIP OF HOME

229. Fill columns 25, 26, and 27 for each head of family

only; for every other person, leave the columns

blank.

230. Column 25.—If the home is owned, write ‘‘O.’’ If it is

rented, write ‘‘R.’’

231. Column 26.—If the home is rented, leave the column blank. If it is owned and mortgaged, write ‘‘M.’’

If it is owned free from mortgage encumbrance,

write ‘‘F.’’

232. Column 27.—If the home is a farm, write ‘‘F.’’ If it is

only a house, write ‘‘H.’’

233. Column 28.—If the home is only a house, leave the

column blank. If the home is a farm, write the number of its farm schedule; that is, the farm number

as reported on Schedule No. 2, relating to agriculture. Enter the number of each farm schedule on

the line for the member of the family by whom the

farm is operated. (See paragraph 246.)

234. Definition of home. By the word ‘‘home’’ in the

census is meant any place of abode inhabited by

any person or persons, whether it is a house, a tent,

a boat, or whatever it may be. If any such place of

abode is inhabited by more than one family, it is the

home of each of them, and it may accordingly be

counted as two or more homes instead of one. The

family is the basis for all inquiries in columns 25,

26, and 27.

235. A home occupied by a family engaged in farming,

gardening, or any other form of agricultural production includes the land cultivated. If occupied by a

family not so engaged, it includes only the dwelling

and the ground occupied by it, with the appurtenances thereto.

236. In case a family resides in a tent or boat, write in

column 27 the word ‘‘tent’’ or ‘‘boat.’’

237. If a family cultivates a farm, but resides in a house

detached from the farm, in a village or elsewhere,

the farm and the house must jointly be considered

the family home and that home a farm, unless the

chief occupation of the person operating the farm is

something other than farming. In the latter case,

the house alone is to be regarded as the home.

238. Owned or rented.—A home is to be classed as

‘‘owned’’ whenever the title, in whole or in part, is

vested in any member of the family (not a boarder)

by which the house is occupied. It is owned if any

member of the family has a life interest or estate in

it; or if it is occupied by a settler on the public

domain who has not ‘‘proved up;’’ or if it is held

under a contract or bond for a deed, or occupied

for redemption purposes after having been sold for

debt. It is not necessary that full payment for the

property should have been made. All homes not

owned as herein explained are to be classed as

‘‘rented.’’

239. In case of a farm part of which is owned and part

rented; or in case different members of the same

family operate different farms, of which one is

owned and the other rented; or in case of the cultivation of a farm by a family which does not reside

upon the farm, but elsewhere, the dwelling being

owned and the farm rented, or, on the contrary, the

farm being owned and the dwelling rented, the

principle applies that ’’part ownership is ownership.‘‘ In all these and similar cases write in column

25 the letter ‘‘O.’’

240. Following the same general rule, if a family occupies a house upon leased land for which ‘‘ground

rent’’ is paid, and the building is owned by any

member of the family (not boarder), write ‘‘O.’’ Ownership of the building and not the ground, or of the

ground and not the building, but the occupant, is

part ownership.

241. If, of two families occupying the same house, one

has an interest in it, and the other not, the home

occupied by the former is to be returned as

‘‘owned’’ but that occupied by the other as ‘‘rented.’’

42 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
242. Free or mortgaged.—The question in column 26

applies only to homes which are owned (in whole or

in part, as explained above). Its aim is to ascertain

whether the home, or so much of the home as is

owned by the occupant, has been fully paid for and

is without encumbrance of any sort, either in the

form of a mortgage or otherwise. This question has

no relation to rented property.

243. All homes which are not fully paid for, or upon

which there is any encumbrance in the form either

of a mortgage or of a lien upon which judgment has

been had in a court, are to be reported as mortgaged, but not others.

244. Liabilities or encumbrances of any sort which attach

to land occupied in connection with a home, but

not owned by the family, are not to be regarded as

mortgages upon the home. For instance, if, as mentioned in paragraphs 239 and 240, in the case of a

farm partly owned and partly rented, or in that of

two farms, one of which is owned and the other

rented, or in that of a house erected by the occupant upon ground owned by another person, there

is a mortgage upon the leased land, but not upon

the farm or portion of a farm or dwelling owned by

the occupant, the house is to be returned as free

from mortgage.

245. Farm or house.—The letter ‘‘F’’ in column 27 means

that some member of the family operates a farm,

which should be separately reported on the agricultural schedule, and its number in the order of visitation entered in column 28. In all other cases enter

in column 27 the letter ‘‘H.’’ Usually a farmer resides

upon his farm, and persons who reside on farms

are farmers. If, however, a family resides upon a

farm, but no member of the family operates it,

write ‘‘H.’’ On the other hand, if a farm is operated

by any person who does not reside upon it, but off

the farm, in a village, or elsewhere, enter against

the name of the head of the family of which such

person is a member the letter ‘‘F.’’

246. Farm number.—The serial number of each farm

reported, in the order of visitation, is to be entered

in column 28, precisely as the numbers of houses

and families enumerated are entered in columns 1

and 2. This number should, in every instance, be

the same as the number in the heading of the corresponding farm schedule. (See paragraphs 233.)

1900 QUESTIONNAIRE—INDIAN POPULATION

(19 1/2′′ X 18 3/4′′, printed on two sides, space for 20

entries on each side, reverse side contained continuation

of instructions. The top of the questionnaire contained

questions 1-28 which were identical with those on the

general schedule)

The 1900 Indian schedule collected the following information in addition to that of the general population schedule:

Other name, if any; name of Indian tribe; tribal affiliation

of mother and father; whether of full or mixed blood;

whether living in polygamy; whether taxed; year of acquiring citizenship and whether acquired by allotment;

whether living in a fixed or moveable dwelling.

Instructions for Enumerators

This modified form of Schedule No. 1 is to be used in

making the enumeration of Indians, both those on reservations and those living in family groups outside of reservations.

Detached Indians living either in white or negro families

outside of reservations should be enumerated on the general population schedule (Form 7-224) as members of the

family in which they are found; but detached whites or

negroes living in Indian families should be enumerated on

this schedule as members of the Indian families in which

they are found. In other words, every family composed

mainly of Indians should be reported entirely on this

schedule, and every family composed mainly of persons

not Indian should be reported entirely on the general

population schedule.

This schedule contains on each side twenty horizontal

lines, each running twice across the page, and it is consequently possible to enumerate on it only forty persons

(twenty persons on the A side and twenty persons on the

B side). Each Indian should be carried through from the

beginning to the end of the line on which he is entered, as

line 1, line 2, etc., and each inquiry from column 1 to column 38 which applies to the individual case should be

answered.

COLUMNS 1 to 28.—These columns are identical with

those on the general population schedule. Fill each column, so far as the inquiry applies, in accordance with the

instructions for filling the corresponding columns in the

general population schedule, but note the following additional instructions in relation to filling columns 1, 2, and

19.

COLUMNS 1 and 2.—If you are canvassing a given territory

with both the general population schedule (Form 7-224)

and this schedule for Indian population, make two independent series of numbers for these columns, one series

in each kind of schedule, so that the last numbers on the

two schedules when added together will correctly give the

whole number of dwellings and of families visited and

enumerated in your entire district.

COLUMN 19.—If the Indian has no occupation and is

wholly dependent on the Government for support, write

‘‘Ration Indian.’’ If he is partly self-supporting and partly

dependent on the Government, write the occupation and

then the letter ‘‘R’’ (for ration). If the Indian is under ten

years of age and receives rations, write ‘‘Under age R.’’

Measuring America 43

U.S. Census Bureau
INSTRUCTION CONTINUED ON ‘‘B’’ SIDE OF SHEET

(INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING THIS SCHEDULE)

The following instructions apply to columns 29 to 38:

Column 29.—Write the Indian name, if the person has one,

in addition to the English name given in column 3. If the

Indian has only one name, Indian or English, repeat the

name in this column.

Column 30, 31, and 32.—If the Indian was born in this

country answers should be obtained, if possible, to inquiries 13, 14, and 15, relating to the state of birth of the person and of his or her parents. In any event secure the

name of the tribe with which the person is connected and

the name of the tribe of his or her parents, and enter the

same in columns 30, 31, and 32.

Column 33.—If the Indian has no white blood, write 0. If

he or she has white blood, write 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, whichever

fraction is nearest the truth.

Column 34.—If the Indian man is living with more than

one wife, or if the Indian woman is a plural wife or has

more than one husband, write ‘‘Yes.’’ If not, write ‘‘No.’’ If

the Indian is single, leave the column blank.

Citizenship.—If the Indian was born in this country, no

entry can be made in columns 16, 17, or 18; but for columns 35, 36, and 37 answers must be obtained. If the

Indian was born in another country, answers will be made

both in columns 16, 17, and 18, and in columns 35, 36,

and 37, in accordance with the facts.

Column 35.—An Indian is to be considered ‘‘taxed’’ if he or

she is detached from his or her tribe and living among

white people as an individual, and as such subject to taxation, whether he or she actually pays taxes or not; also if

he or she is living with his or her tribe but has received an

allotment of land, and thereby has acquired citizenship; in

either of these two cases the answer to this inquiry is

‘‘Yes.’’

An Indian on a reservation, without an allotment, or roaming over unsettled territory, is considered ‘‘not taxed,’’ and

for such Indians the answer to this inquiry is ‘‘No.’’

Column 36.—If the Indian was born in tribal relations, but

has acquired American citizenship, write the year in which

it was acquired. If he or she has not acquired citizenship,

leave the column blank.

Column 37.—If the Indian acquired citizenship by receiving an allotment of land from the Government, write ‘‘Yes.’’

If he or she acquired citizenship by other means, write

‘‘No.’’ If he or she has not acquired American citizenship,

leave the column blank.

Column 38.—If the Indian is living in a tent, tepee, or

other temporary structure, write ‘‘movable.’’ If he or she is

living in a permanent dwelling of any kind, write ‘‘fixed.’’

44 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
1910 QUESTIONNAIRE—GENERAL POPULATION

(23’’ X 16’’, printed on two sides, space for 50 entries on

each side, reverse side identical except for line numbers).

After the schedules were printed, a question was added

concerning the ‘‘mother tongue’’ of the foreign born. The

responses were to be entered, as appropriate, in columns

12, 13, and 14. See instructions under ‘‘Nativity and

Mother Tongue.’’

Measuring America 45

U.S. Census Bureau
1910 Questionnaire

46 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
Instructions to Enumerators

92. Column 1.—Number of dwelling house in order of

visitation. In this column the first dwelling house you

visit should be numbered as ‘‘1,’’ the second as ‘‘2,’’

and so on until the enumeration of your district is

completed. The number should always be entered

opposite the name of the first person enumerated in

each dwelling house, and should not be repeated for

other persons or other families living in the same

house.

93. Dwelling house defined.—A dwelling house, for census purposes, is a place in which, at the time of the

census, one or more persons regularly sleep. It need

not be a house in the usual sense of the word, but

may be a room in a factory, store, or office building,

a loft over a stable, a boat, a tent, a freight car, or the

like. A building like a tenement or apartment house

counts as only one dwelling house, no matter how

many persons or families live in it. A building with a

partition wall through it and a front door for each of

the two parts, however, counts as two dwelling

houses. But a two-apartment house with one apartment over the other and a separate front door for

each apartment counts as only one dwelling house.

94. Column 2. Number of family in order of

visitation.—In this column number the families in

your district in the order in which they are enumerated, entering the number opposite the name of the

head of EACH family. Thus the first family you visit

should be numbered as ‘‘1,’’ the second as ‘‘2,’’ and

so on, until the enumeration of your district is completed.

95. Family defined.—The word ‘‘family,’’ for census purposes, has a somewhat different application from

what it has in popular usage. It means a group of

persons living together in the same dwelling place.

The persons constituting this group may or may not

be related by ties of kinship, but if they live together

forming one household they should be considered as

one family. Thus a servant who sleeps in the house

or on the premises should be included with the members of the family for which he or she works. Again,

a boarder or lodger should be included with the

members of the family with which he lodges; but a

person who boards in one place and lodges or rooms

at another should be returned as a member of the

family at the place where he lodges or rooms.

96. It should be noted, however, that two or more families may occupy the same dwelling house without

living together. If they occupy separate portions of

the dwelling house and their housekeeping is

entirely separate, they should be returned as separate families.

97. Boarding-house families.—All the occupants and

employees of a hotel, boarding house, or lodging

house, if that is their usual place of abode, make up,

for census purposes, a single family. But in an apartment or tenement house, there will usually be as

many families as there are separate occupied apartments or tenements, even though use may be made

of a common cafe or restaurant.

98. Institutional families.—The officials and inmates of

an institution who live in the institution building or

group of buildings form one family. But any officers

or employees who sleep in detached houses or separate dwelling places containing no inmates should be

returned as separate families.

99. Persons living alone.—The census family may likewise consist of a single person. Thus a clerk in a

store who regularly sleeps there is to be returned as

a family and the store as his dwelling place.

NAME AND RELATION

100. Column 3. Name of each person

enumerated.—Enter the name of every person

whose usual place of abode on April 15, 1910,

waswith the family or in the dwelling place for

which the enumeration is being made. In determining who is to be included with the family, follow

instructions in paragraphs 95 to 99.

101. Order of entering names.—Enter the member of

each family in the following order, namely: Head

first, wife second, then children (whether sons or

daughters) in the order of their ages, and lastly, all

other persons living with the family, whether relatives, boarders, lodgers, or servants.

102. How names are to be written.—Enter first the last

name or surname, then the given name in full, and

the initial of the middle name, if any. Where the surname is the same as that of the person in the preceding line do not repeat the name, but draw a horizontal line (______) under the name above.

103. Column 4. Relationship to head of

family.—Designate the head of the family, whether

husband or father, widow, or unmarried person of

either sex, by the word ‘‘Head;’’ for other members

of a family write wife, father, mother, son, daughter,

grandson, daughter-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew,

niece, boarder, lodger, servant, etc., according to

the particular relationship which the person bears

to the head of the family.

104. Occupants of an institution or school, living under a

common roof, should be designated as officer,

inmate, pupil, patient, prisoner, etc.; and in the case

of the chief officer his title should be used, as warden, principal, superintendent, etc., instead of the

word ‘‘Head.’’

Measuring America 47

U.S. Census Bureau
105. If two or more persons share a common abode as

partners, write head for one and partner for the

other or others.

106. In the case of a hotel or boarding or lodging house

family (see paragraph 97), the head of the family is

the manager or the person who keeps the hotel or

boarding or lodging house.

PERSONAL DESCRIPTION

107. Column 5. Sex.—Write ‘‘M’’ for male and ‘‘F’’ for

female.

108. Column 6. Color or race.—Write ‘‘W’’ for white; ‘‘B’’

for black; ‘‘Mu’’ for mulatto; ‘‘Ch’’ for Chinese; ‘‘Jp’’

for Japanese; ‘‘In’’ for Indian. For all persons not falling within one of these classes, write ‘‘Ot’’ (for

other), and write on the left-hand margin of the

schedule the race of the person so indicated.

109. For census purposes, the term ‘‘black’’ (B) includes

all persons who are evidently fullblooded negroes,

while the term ‘‘mulatto’’ (Mu) includes all other persons having some proportion or perceptible trace of

negro blood.

110. Column 7. Age at last birthday.—This question calls

for the age in completed years at last birthday.

Remember, however, that the age question, like all

other questions on the schedule, relates to April 15,

1910. Thus a person whose exact age on April 15,

the census day, is 17 years, 11 months, and 25

days should be returned simply as 17, because that

is his age at last birthday prior to April 15, although

at the time of your visit he may have completed 18

years.

111. Age in round numbers.—In many cases persons will

report the age in round numbers, like 30 or 45, or

‘‘about 30’’ or ‘‘about 45,’’ when that is not the

exact age. Therefore, when an age ending in 0 or 5

is reported, you should ascertain whether it is the

exact age. If, however, it is impossible to get the

exact age, enter the approximate age rather than

return the age as unknown.

112. Ages of children.—Take particular pains to get the

exact ages of children. In the case of a child not 2

years old, the age should be given in completed

months, expressed as twelfths of a year. Thus the

age of a child 3 months old should be entered as

3/12, a child 7 months old as 7/12, a child 1 year

and 3 months old as 1 3/12, etc. If a child is not yet

a month old, enter the age as 0/12. But note again

that this question should be answered with reference to April 15. For instance, a child who is just a

year old on the 17th of April, 1910, should nevertheless be returned as 11/12, because that is its

age in completed months on April 15.

113. Column 8. Whether single, married, widowed, or

divorced. Write ‘‘S’’ for single or unmarried persons;

‘‘Wd’’ for widowed (man or woman); ‘‘D’’ for

divorced; for married persons, inquire whether they

have been married before, and if this is the first

marriage, write ‘‘M1,’’ but if this is the second or

subsequent marriage, write ‘‘M2’’ (meaning married

more than once).

114. Persons who were single on April 15 should be so

reported, even though they may have married

between that date and the day of your visit; and,

similarly, persons who become widowed or

divorced after April 15 should be returned as married if that was their condition on that date.

115. Column 9. Number of years of present

marriage.—This question applies only to persons

reported as married, and the answer should give

the number of years married to the present husband or wife. Thus a woman who may have been

married for 10 years to a former husband, but has

been married only 3 years to her present husband,

should be returned as married 3 years. For instance,

a person who on April 15, the census day, has been

married 3 years and 11 months should be returned

as married 3 years. For a person married less than 1

year, write ‘‘0’’ (meaning less than 1 year).

116. Column 10. Number of children born.—This question applies to women who are now married, or

who are widowed, or divorced. The answer should

give the total number of children that each such

woman has had during her lifetime. It should

include, therefore, the children by any former marriage as well as by her present marriage. It should

not include the children which her present husband

may have had by a former wife, even though they

are members of her present family. Stillborn children should not be included. If the woman has

never had any children, write ‘‘0’’ in this column and

also in column 11.

117. Column 11. Number of children now living.—This

refers again only to the children which the woman

herself has had. Include all of these children that

are living, no matter whether they are living in your

district or somewhere else. If all the children are

dead, write ‘‘0.’’

NATIVITY AND MOTHER TONGUE

118. Column 12. Place of birth of this person. If the

person was born in the United States, give the state

or territory (not county, city, or town) in which

born. The words ‘‘United States’’ are not sufficiently

definite. A person born in what is now West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Oklahoma

48 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
should be reported as so born, although at the time

of his birth the particular region may have had a

different name. Do not abbreviate the names of

states and territories.

119. If the person was born outside the United States,

enter the country (not city or district) in which born.

120. Instead of Great Britain, write Ireland, England,

Scotland, or Wales.

121. For persons born in the double Kingdom of AustriaHungary, be sure to distinguish Austria from Hungary. For person born in Finland, write Finland and

not ‘‘Russia.’’ For persons born in Turkey, be sure to

distinguish Turkey in Europe from Turkey in Asia.

122. Do not rely upon the language spoken to determine

birthplace. This is especially true of Germans, for

over one-third of the Austrians and nearly threefourths of the Swiss speak German. In the case of

persons speaking German, therefore, inquire carefully whether the birthplace was Germany, Switzerland, Austria, or elsewhere.

123. If the person was born abroad, but of American parents, write in column 12 both the birthplace and

Am. cit.— that is, American citizen. If the person

was born at sea, write At sea.

124. Mother tongue.—The question ‘‘What is your mother

tongue or native language?’’ should be asked of all

persons who were born in any foreign country, and

the answer should be written in column 12, after

the name of the country of birth. In order to save

space, the abbreviations (indicated on separate ‘‘List

of foreign countries’’) should be used for the country of birth, but the language given as the mother

tongue should be written out in full. In returning the

mother tongue observe the rules laid down in paragraphs 134 to 143.

125. For example, if a person reports that he was born in

Russia and that his mother tongue is Lithuanian,

write in column 12 Russ.—Lithuanian; or if a person

reports that he was born in Switzerland and that his

mother tongue is German, write Switz.—German.

126. Note that the name of the mother tongue must be

given even when it is the same as the language of

the country in which the person was born. Thus, if

a person reports that he was born in England and

that his mother tongue is English, write Eng.—

English; or if a person reports that he was born in

Germany and that his mother tongue is German,

write Ger.—German. This is necessary to distinguish such persons from others born in the same

country but having a different mother tongue.

127. The question of mother tongue should not be asked

of any person born in the United States.

128. Columns 13 and 14. Place of birth of father and

mother.—Enter in columns 13 and 14 the birthplace

of the father and of the mother of the person whose

own birthplace was entered in column 12. In designating the birthplace of the father and mother, follow the same instructions as for the person himself.

In case, however, a person does not know the state

or territory of birth of his father or mother but

knows that he or she was born in the United States,

write United States rather than ‘‘unknown.’’

129. Mother tongue of father and mother. Ask for the

mother tongue of any parent born abroad and write

down the answer in columns 13 and 14, following

the instructions given for reporting the mother

tongue of persons enumerated in column 12.

130. In short, whenever a person gives a foreign country

as a birthplace of himself or either of his parents,

before writing down that country ask for the

mother tongue and write the answer to both questions in columns 12, 13, or 14, as the case may be,

in the manner herein indicated.

CITIZENSHIP

131. Column 15. Year of immigration to the United

States.—This question applies to all foreign-born

persons, male and female, of whatever age. It

should be answered, therefore, for every person

whose birthplace as reported in column 12 was in a

foreign country. Enter the year in which the person

came to the United States. If he has been in the

United States more than once, give the year of his

first arrival.

132. Column 16. Whether naturalized or alien.—This

question applies only to foreign-born males 21

years of age and over. It does not apply to females,

to foreign-born minors, or to any male born in the

United States. If the person was born abroad, but

has become a full citizen, either by taking out a second or final papers of naturalization or through the

naturalization of his parents while he was under the

age of 21 years, write ‘‘Na’’ (for naturalized). If he

has declared his intention to become an American

citizen and has taken out his ‘‘first papers,’’ write

‘‘Pa’’ (for papers). If he has taken no steps toward

becoming an American citizen, write ‘‘Al’’ (for alien).

ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH

133. Column 17. Whether able to speak English; or, if

not, give language spoken.—This question applies

to all persons 10 years of age and over. If such a

person is able to speak English, write English. If he

is not able to speak English—and in such cases

only—write the name of the language which he

does speak, as French, German, Italian. If he speaks

Measuring America 49

U.S. Census Bureau
more than one language, but does not speak

English, write the name of that language which is

his native language or mother tongue. For persons

under 10 years of age, leave the column blank.

134. The following is a list of principal foreign languages

spoken in the United States. Avoid giving other

names when one in this list can be applied to the

language spoken. With the exception of certain languages of eastern Russia, the list gives a name for

every European language in the proper sense of the

word.

Albanian Italian Scotch

Armenian Japanese Servian or

Basque Lappish Croatian

Bohemian Lettish (including

Bosnian,

Dalmatian,

Herzegovinian,

and

Montenegrin)

Breton Little

Russian

Slovak

Bulgarian Lithuanian Slovenian

Chinese Magyar Spanish

Danish Moravian Swedish

Dutch Norwegian Syrian

Finnish Polish Turkish

Flemish Portuguese Welsh

French RhaetoRomanishWendish

(including

including

Ladin and

Frilulan)

Greek Roumanian Yiddish

Gypsy Russian

Irish Ruthenian

135. Do not write ‘‘Austrian,’’ but write German, Bohemian, Ruthenian, Roumanian, Slovenian, Slovak, or

such other term as correctly defines the language

spoken.

136. Do not write ‘‘Slavic’’ or ‘‘Slavonian,’’ but write Slovak, Slovenian, Russian, etc., as the case may be.

137. Do not write ‘‘Macedonian,’’ but write Bulgarian,

Turkish, Greek, Servian, or Roumanian, as the case

may be.

138. Do not write ‘‘Czech,’’ but write Bohemian, Moravian, or Slovak, as the case may be.

139. Write Magyar instead of ‘‘Hungarian.’’

140. Write Croatian instead of ‘‘Hervat.’’

141. Write Little Russian instead of ‘‘Ukrainian.’’

142. Write Ruthenian instead of ‘‘Rosniak’’ or ‘‘Russine.’’

143. Write Roumanian instead of ‘‘Moldavian,’’ ‘‘Wallachian,’’ ‘‘Tsintsar,’’ or ‘‘Kutzo-Vlach.’’

OCCUPATION

144. Column 18. Trade or profession.—An entry should

be made in this column for every person enumerated. The occupation, if any, followed by a child, of

any age, or by a woman is just as important, for

census purposes, as the occupation followed by a

man. Therefore it must never be taken for granted,

without inquiry, that a woman, or child, has no

occupation.

145. The entry in column 18 should be either (1) the

occupation pursued—that is, the word or words

which most accurately indicate the particular kind

of work done by which the person enumerated

earns money or a money equivalent, as physician,

carpenter, dressmaker, night watchman, laborer,

newsboy; or (2) own income; or (3) none (that is, no

occupation).

146. The entry own income should be made in the case

of all persons who follow no specific occupations

but have an independent income upon which they

are living.

147. The entry none should be made in the case of all

persons who follow no occupation and who do not

fall within the class to be reported as own income.

148. Persons retired or temporarily unemployed.—Care

should be taken in making the return for persons

who on account of old age, permanent invalidism,

or otherwise are no longer following an occupation.

Such persons may desire to return the occupations

formerly followed, which would be incorrect. If living on their own income the return should be own

income. If they are supported by other persons or

institutions, the return should be none. On the

other hand, persons out of employment when visited by the enumerator may state that they have no

occupation, when the fact is that they usually have

an occupation but merely happen to be idle or

unemployed at the time of the visit. In such cases

the return should be the occupation followed when

the person is employed.

149. Persons having two occupations.If a person has two

occupations, return only the more important one

that is, the one from which he gets the more money.

If you can not learn that, return the one at which he

spends the more time. For example: Return a man

50 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
as farmer if he gets most of his income from farming, although he may also follow the occupation of

a clergyman or preacher; but return him as a clergyman if he gets more of his income from that occupation.

150. Column 19. Industry.—An entry should be made in

this column in all cases where the entry in column

18 has been that of an occupation. But where the

entry in column 18 is own income or none, leave

this column blank. The entry, when made, should

consist of the word or words which most accurately

describe the branch of industry, kind of business or

establishment, line of work, or place in which this

person works, as cotton mill, general farm, drygoods store, insurance office, bank.

151. The purpose of columns 18 and 19 is thus to bring

out, on the one hand, in column 18, the specific

occupation or work performed, if any, by each person enumerated, and on the other, in column 19,

the character of the industry or place in which such

work is performed.

152. Farm workers. Return a person in charge of a farm

as a farmer, whether he owns it or operates it as a

tenant, renter, or cropper; but a person who manages a farm for some one else for wages or a salary

should be reported as a farm manager or farm overseer; and a person who works on a farm for some

one else, but not as a manager, tenant, or cropper,

should be reported as a farm laborer.

153. Women doing housework.—In the case of a woman

doing housework in her own home, without salary

or wages, and having no other employment, the

entry in column 18 should be none. But a woman

working at housework for wages should be returned

in column 18 as housekeeper, servant, cook, or

chambermaid, as the case may be; and the entry in

column 19 should state the kind of place where she

works, as private family, hotel, or boarding house.

Or, if a woman, in addition to doing housework in

her own home, regularly earns money by some

other occupation, whether pursued in her own

home or outside, that occupation should be

returned in columns 18 and 19. For instance, a

woman who regularly takes in washing should be

reported as laundress or washerwoman, followed in

column 19 by at home.

154. Women doing farm work.—A woman working regularly at outdoor farm work, even though she works

on the home farm for her husband, son, or other

relative and does not receive money wages, should

be returned in column 18 as a farm laborer. Distinguish, however, such women who work on the

home farm from those who work away from home,

by writing in column 19 either home farm or working out, as the case may require. Of course, a

woman who herself operates or runs a farm should

be reported as a farmer, and not as a ‘‘farm

laborer.’’

155. Children on farms.—In the case of children who

work for their own parents on a farm, the entry in

column 18 should be farm laborer and in column

19 home farm; but for children who work as farm

laborers for others, the entry in column 19 should

be working out.

156. Children working for parents.—Children who work

for their parents at home merely on general household work, on chores, or at odd times on other

work, should be reported as having no occupation.

Those, however, who materially assist their parents

in the performance of work other than household

work should be reported as having an occupation.

157. Keeping boarders.—Keeping boarders or lodgers

should be returned as an occupation if the person

engaged in it relies upon it as his (or her) principal

means of support or principal source of income. In

that case the return should be keeper—boarding

house or keeper—lodging house. If, however, a family keeps a few boarders or roomers merely as a

means of supplementing or eking out the earnings

or income obtained from other occupations or from

other sources, no one in the family should be

returned as a boarding or lodging house keeper.

158. Officers, employees, and inmates of institutions or

homes.—For an officer or regular employee of an

institution or home, such as an asylum, penitentiary, jail, reform school, convict camp, state farm

worked by convicts, etc., return the occupation followed in the institution. For an inmate of such institution, if regularly employed, return the occupation

pursued in the institution, whether the employment

be at productive labor or at other duties, such as

cooking, scrubbing, laundry work, etc.; but if an

inmate is not regularly employed—that is, has not

specific duties or work to perform, write none in

column 18.

159. Avoid general or indefinite terms.—Give the occupation and industry precisely. For example, return a

worker in a coal mine as a miner—coal mine,

laborer—coal mine, driver—coal mine, etc., as the

case may be.

160. The term ‘‘laborer’’ should be avoided if any more

precise definition of the occupation can be secured.

Employees in factories and mills, for example, usually have some definite designation, as weaver,

roller, puddler, etc. Where the term ‘‘laborer’’ is

used, be careful to define accurately the industry in

column 19.

Measuring America 51

U.S. Census Bureau
161. Avoid in all cases the use of the word ‘‘mechanic,’’

but give the exact occupation, as carpenter, painter,

machinist, etc.

162. Distinguish carefully the different kinds of ‘‘agents’’

by stating in column 19 the line of business followed.

163. Distinguish carefully between retail and wholesale

merchants, as retail merchant—dry-goods; wholesale merchant—dry-goods.

164. Avoid the use of the word ‘‘clerk’’ wherever a more

definite occupation can be named. Thus a person in

a store, often called a clerk, who is wholly or principally engaged in selling goods should be called a

salesman. A stenographer, typewriter, accountant,

bookkeeper, or cashier, etc., should be reported as

such, and not as a clerk.

165. Distinguish a traveling salesman from a salesman in

a store; the former preferably should be reported as

a commercial traveler.

166. If any person in answer to the occupation question

says that he is ‘‘in business,’’ you must find out

what branch of business and what kind of work he

does or what position he holds.

167. Illustrations of occupations.—The following

examples, in addition to the occupations given in

the illustrative schedule, will illustrate the method

of returning some of the common occupations and

industries; they will also suggest to you distinctions

which you should make in other cases:

52 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
Column 18 Column 19 Column 18 Column 19

farm laborer working out commercial traveler dry goods

farm laborer home farm salesman department store

laborer odd jobs bookkeeper department store

laborer street work cash girl department store

laborer garden cashier department store

laborer nursery cashier bank

laborer railroad conductor steam railroad

brakeman railroad conductor street car

weaver cotton mill farmer general farm

laborer cotton mill farmer truck farm

doffer cotton mill gardener private estates

engineer locomotive lawyer general practice

engineer lumber mill manager general farm

fireman lumber mill overseer truck farm

fireman fire department president life insurance co.

civil engineer general practice president bank

electrical engineer street railway superintendent steel

works

carpenter car factory foreman cotton mill

carpenter ship yard newsboy street

carpenter house newsdealer store

blacksmith carriage factory wagon driver groceries

blacksmith own shop wagon driver express

agent real estate chauffeur express wagon

agent insurance chauffeur private family

cook hotel miner coal miner

servant private family laborer coal mine

retail merchant groceries quarryman marble

wholesale merchant leather janitor house

EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE, OR WORKING ON OWN

ACCOUNT

168. Column 20. Whether employer, employee, or working

on own account. For one employing persons, other

than domestic servants, in transacting his own business, write ‘‘Emp’’ (for employer). For a person who

works for wages or a salary, write ‘‘W’’ (for wageearner). For a gainful worker who is neither an

employer nor an employee, write ‘‘OA’’ (for own

account). For all persons returned as having no occupation, leave the column blank.

169. Employer. An employer is one who employs helpers, other than domestic servants, in transacting his

own business. The term employer does not include

the superintendent, agent, manager, or other person

employed to manage an establishment or business;

and it does not include the foreman of a room, the

boss of a gang, or the coal miner who hires his

helper. All such should be returned as employees, for,

while any one of these may employ persons, none of

them does so in transacting his own business. Thus

no individual working for a corporation either as an

officer or otherwise should be returned as an

employer.

170. A person employing domestic servants in his own

home but not employing any helpers in his business

should not be returned as an employer. But, on the

other hand, a person who is the proprietor of a hotel

or boarding or lodging house and employs servants

in running that hotel or boarding or lodging house

should be returned as an employer, because he

employs these servants in his business.

171. Employee.—Any person who works for wages or a

salary and is subject to the control and direction of

an employer, is an employee, whether he be president of a large corporation or only a day laborer,

whether he be paid in money or in kind, and whether

he be employed by his own parent or by another. The

term employee does not include lawyers, doctors,

and others who render professional services for fees,

Measuring America 53

U.S. Census Bureau
and who, in their work, are not subject to the control

and direction of those whom they serve. It does

include actors, professors, and others who are

engaged to render professional services for wages or

salaries. A domestic servant should always be

returned as an employee even though, as previously

explained, the person employing a domestic servant

is not always returned as an employer.

172. Working on own account.—Persons who have a gainful occupation and are neither employers nor

employees are considered to be working on their

own account. They are the independent workers.

They neither pay nor receive salaries or regular

wages. Examples of this class are: Farmers and the

owners of small establishments who do not employ

helpers; professional men who work for fees and

employ no helpers; and, generally speaking, hucksters, peddlers, newsboys, boot-blacks, etc.,

although it not infrequently happens that persons in

these pursuits are employed by others and are working for wages, and in such case should, of course, be

returned as employees.

173. Illustrative examples.—In many occupations a man

may be either an employer, or an employee, or working on own account. For example, a physician is

working on his own account if, as explained above,

he works for fees solely and employs no helpers; if,

however, he employs an assistant in his office he

becomes an employer; but if he works for a salary,

say in a hospital or institution, he is an employee. It

may happen, however, that he receives a salary and

also works for fees, in which case he should be

classed with respect to his principal source of

income.

174. A dressmaker who works out by the day for day

wages should be returned as an employee; but a

dressmaker who works at home or in her own shop

should be returned as working on own account,

unless she employs helpers, in which case she

becomes an employer.

175. Similarly, a washerwoman or laundress who works

out by the day is an employee, but a washerwoman

or laundress who takes in washing is either working

on own account, or, it may be, is an employer.

176. Case of wife working for husband or child working

for parents.—When, in accordance with the preceding

instructions, a wife working for her husband or a

child working for its parents is returned as having an

occupation, the wife or child should be returned as

an employee, even though not receiving wages. The

husband or parent in such case should be returned

as an employer, unless, as may happen, he is working for wages, in which case he, as well as the wife

or child, should be classed as an employee.

UNEMPLOYMENT

177. What is meant by ‘‘out of work.’’—The purpose of

inquiries 21 and 22 is to ascertain the amount of

enforced unemployment—the extent to which persons want work and can not find it. Do not, therefore, include with those ‘‘out of work’’ those who are

on a strike, those who are voluntarily idle, those who

are incapacitated for any work, or those who are on

sick leave or on a vacation. School-teachers, artists,

and music teachers are often unemployed during a

portion of the year, but should not be considered as

‘‘out of work,’’ in the sense in which the term is used

for the purposes of the census.

178. Column 21. If an employee, whether out of work on

April 15, 1910.—If a person reported as an employee

(W) in column 20 was out of work on April 15, 1910,

write ‘‘Yes;’’ but if such person had work on that date,

write ‘‘No.’’ For persons other than employees, leave

the column blank.

179. Column 22. If an employee, number of weeks out of

work during year 1909.—If a person reported as an

employee (W) in column 20 was out of work during

any part of the year 1909, enter the number of

weeks out of work; but if such person was not out of

work at all during the year, do not leave the column

blank, but write ‘‘0.’’ For persons other than employees, leave the column blank.

180. Person not employed at his principal or usual occupation but engaged in some side or temporary work

is not to be considered as unemployed, the intent of

this question being to find out the number of weeks

during which the person was unable to secure any

employment.

EDUCATION

181. Column 23. Whether able to read.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for all

persons 10 years of age and over who can read any

language, whether English or some other, and ‘‘No’’

for all such persons who can not read any language.

For persons under 10 years of age, leave the column

blank.

182. For a person reported as ‘‘blind’’ (column 31), write

‘‘Yes’’ if he could read any language before becoming

blind or, if born blind, if he has been taught to read

any language.

183. Column 24. Whether able to write.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for all

persons 10 years of age and over who can write any

language, whether English or some other, and ‘‘No’’

for all such persons who can not write any language.

For persons under 10 years of age, leave the column

blank.

54 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
184. For a person reported as ‘‘blind’’ (column 31), write

‘‘Yes’’ if he could write any language before becoming

blind or, if born blind, if he has been taught to write

any language.

185. Column 25. Attended school any time since September 1, 1909.—Write ‘‘Yes’’ for any person who

attended school, college, or any educational institution at any time since September 1, 1909, and ‘‘No’’

for any person of school age—5 to 21 years—who

has not attended school since that date. For persons

below or above school age, leave the column blank,

unless they actually attended school.

OWNERSHIP OF HOME

186. Column 26. Home owned or rented.—This question

is to be answered only opposite the name of the

head of each family. If a dwelling is occupied by

more than one family it is the home of each of them,

and the question should be answered with reference

to each family in the dwelling. If the home is owned,

write opposite the name of the head of the family

‘‘O.’’ If the home is rented, write ‘‘R.’’ Make no entries

in this column for the other members of the family.

187. Owned homes.—A home is to be classed as owned if

it is owned wholly or in part by the head of the family living in the home, or by the wife of the head, or

by a son, or a daughter, or other relative living in the

same house with the head of the family. It is not necessary that full payment for the property should have

been made or that the family should be the sole

owner.

188. Rented homes.—Every home not owned, either

wholly or in part, by the family living in it should be

classed as rented, whether rent is actually paid or

not.

189. Column 27. Home owned free or mortgaged.—This

question applies only to those homes classed in column 26 as owned homes and not to rented homes.

Write ‘‘M’’ for mortgaged and ‘‘F’’ for owned free.

These entries should be made opposite the name of

the head of the family. All owned homes which are

not fully paid for, or upon which there is any encumbrance in the form either of a mortgage or of a lien

upon which judgment has been had in a court, are to

be reported as mortgaged.

190. Column 28. Farm or house.— This column is

intended merely to distinguish farm homes from

other homes. If the home is a farm home, write ‘‘F’’

(for farm) opposite the name of the head of the family. If it is not a farm home, write ‘‘H’’ (for house). A

farm home is a home located on a farm, for which a

farm schedule should be secured. Any other home is

to be reported simply as a house.

191. Column 29. Number of farm schedule.—This question applies only to farm homes. If the home is a

farm home, enter in this column simply the number

of the agricultural schedule filled out for this farm.

Make this entry opposite the name of the member of

the family operating the farm. Usually this will be the

head of the family.

SURVIVORS OF THE CIVIL WAR

192. Column 30. Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.—This question should be

asked as to all males over 50 years of age who were

born in the United States and all foreign born males

who immigrated to this country before 1865. Write

‘‘UA’’ if a survivor of the Union Army; ‘‘UN’’ if a survivor of the Union Navy; ‘‘CA’’ if a survivor of the Confederate Army; and ‘‘CN’’ if a survivor of the Confederate Navy. For all other persons leave the column

blank.

BLIND AND DEAF AND DUMB PERSONS

193. Column 31. Whether blind (both eyes).—If a person is

either totally or partially blind, in both eyes, so as

not to be able to read even with the help of glasses,

write ‘‘Bl.’’ For all other persons leave the column

blank.

194. Columns 32. Whether deaf and dumb.—If a person is

both deaf and dumb, write ‘‘DD.’’ For all other persons leave the column blank. Persons who are deaf

but not dumb, or persons who are dumb but not

deaf, are not to be reported.

SPECIAL INDIAN SCHEDULE

195. When to be used.—This schedule (Form 8 1857) is a

modified form of the general population schedule; it

is to be used principally for the enumeration of Indians living on reservations or in tribal relations, and

also by the enumerators in certain counties containing a considerable number of Indians.

196. If any copies of this schedule are enclosed in the

portfolio for your district, you are required to enumerate thereon all Indian families living in your district, in accordance with the instructions printed

upon the schedule itself.

1910 QUESTIONNAIRE—INDIAN POPULATION

(23′′ X 16′′, printed on two sides, space for 20 entries on

each side, reverse side contained continuation of instructions. The top of the questionnaire contained questions

1-28 which were identical with those on the general schedule.)

Measuring America 55

U.S. Census Bureau
INSTRUCTION FOR ENUMERATORS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING THIS SCHEDULE

This modified form of the general schedule for population

is to be used in making the enumeration of Indians, both

those on reservations and those living in family groups outside of reservations.

Detached Indians living either in white or negro families

outside of reservations should be enumerated on the general population schedule (Form 8-1589) as members of the

families in which they are found; but detached whites or

negroes living in Indian families should be enumerated on

this special Indian schedule as members of the Indian families in which they are found. In other words, every family

composed mainly of Indians should be reported entirely on

this special schedule, and every family composed mainly of

persons not Indians should be reported entirely on the general population schedule.

Spaces are provided for entries for 20 persons on each side

(A and B) of the sheet, the entries for each person running

twice to the page. Columns 1 to 46 are to be filled for each

individual case, if applicable, according to the instructions.

Columns 1 to 32.—These columns are identical with those

on the general population schedule. Fill each column, so far

as the inquiry applies, in accordance with the instructions

for filling the corresponding column in the general population schedule, but note the following additional instructions

in relation to filling columns 1 and 2, column 7, and columns 18 and 19.

Columns 1 and 2. Visitation numbers.—If, in canvassing a

given territory, you are using both the general population

schedule (Form 8-1589) and this schedule for Indian population, make two independent series of numbers for these

columns, one series in each kind of schedule, so that the

last number in column 1 on this schedule added to the last

number in column 1 on the general population schedule

will give the whole number of dwellings visited, and, likewise, the last number in column 2 on this schedule added

to the last number in column 2 on the general population

schedule will give the whole number of families visited and

enumerated in your district.

Column 7. Age at last birthday.—Some difficulty may be

met in ascertaining the exact ages of Indians, as they frequently reckon their ages from notable events occurring in

the history of the respective tribes. Endeavor to ascertain

the years in which these notable events occurred, and with

a little calculation on your part you should be able to ascertain the exact age of each Indian.

Columns 18 and 19. Occupation. If the Indian is wholly

self-supporting, enter his or her occupation in columns 18

and 19 in accordance with the general instructions for

returning occupations. If the Indian—man, woman, or

child—has no occupation and is wholly dependent on the

Government for support, write ‘‘Ration Indian’’ in column

18. If the Indian is partly self-supporting and partly dependent up the Government, write the occupation in columns

18 and 19, and then the letter ‘‘R’’ (for ration).

INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED ON ‘‘B’’ SIDE

OF SHEET INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING THIS

SCHEDULE CONTINUED FROM ‘‘A’’ SIDE OF SHEET

The following instructions apply to columns 33 to 46:

Columns 33, 34, and 35. Tribal relations. If the Indian was

born in this country answers should be obtained, if possible, to inquiries 12, 13, and 14, relating to the state or

territory of birth of the person and of his or her parents. In

any event, take particular pains to secure the name of the

tribe with which the person is connected and the name of

the tribe of each of his or her parents, and enter the same

in columns 33, 34, and 35.

Columns 36, 37, and 38. Proportions of Indian and other

blood.—If the Indian is a full-blood, write ’’full‘‘ in column

36, and leave columns 37 and 38 blank. If the Indian is of

mixed blood, write in column 36, 37, and 38 the fractions

which show the proportions of Indian and other blood, as

(column 36, Indian) 3/4, (column 37, white) 1/4, and (column 38, negro) 0. For Indians of mixed blood all three columns should be filled, and the sum, in each case, should

equal 1, as 1/2, 0, 1/2; 3/4, 1/4, 0; 3/4, 1/8, 1/8; etc.

Wherever possible, the statement that an Indian is of full

blood should be verified by inquiry of the older men of the

tribe, as an Indian is sometimes of mixed blood without

knowing it.

Column 39. Number of times married.—If the Indian is married, enter in this column the number of times he or she has

been married.

Column 40. Whether now living in polygamy.—If the Indian

man is living with more than one wife, write ‘‘Yes’’ in this

column; otherwise, write ‘‘No.’’

Column 41. If living in polygamy, whether the wives are

sisters.—If the Indian man is living with more than one

wife, and if his wives are sisters, write ‘‘Yes’’ in this column.

If his wives are not sisters, write ‘‘No.’’

Column 42. Graduated from what educational

institution.—If the Indian is a graduate of any educational

institution, give the name and location of such institution.

Column 43. Is this Indian taxed?—An Indian is to be considered ‘‘taxed’’ if he or she is detached from his or her tribe

and is living among white people as an individual, and as

such is subject to taxation (whether he or she actually pays

taxes or not); or if he or she is living with his or her tribe

but has received an allotment of land, and thereby has

acquired citizenship. In either of these two cases write

‘‘Yes’’ in this column.

56 Measuring America

U.S. Census Bureau
An Indian on a reservation, without an allotment, or roaming over unsettled territory, is considered ‘‘not taxed,’’ and

for such Indians the answer to this inquiry is ‘‘No.’’

Column 44. If Indian has received allotment, give year of

allotment.—If the Indian has received an allotment of land,

enter, in column 44, the year in which the allotment was

made.

Column 45. Residing on his own lands.—If the Indian lives

on his or her own land, write ‘‘Yes’’ in this column; if the

Indian lives elsewhere, write ‘‘No.’’

Column 46. Living in civilized or aboriginal dwelling.—If the

Indian is living in a house of civilized designs, as a log,

frame, brick, or stone house, write ‘‘Civ.’’ (for civilized) in

this column; but if the Indian is living in a dwelling of

aboriginal design, as a tent, tepee, cliff dwelling, etc., write

‘‘Abor.’’ (for aboriginal).

Measuring America 57

U.S. Census Bureau