The 1940 Census 

Records Release

Mar

Webinar access i

Toll free number: 88

Passcode: 19

URL: https://www.mymeetings.c

Conference/meeting number: P

Conference/meeting passcode: 19
Today’s Speakers

Host Michael Cook

Public Affairs SpecialistPublic Information Office

Speakers David M. Pemberton

HistorianU.S. Census BureauConstance PotterArchivistNational Archives and Records AdministraRebecca Warlow1940 Census project managerNational Archives and Records Administra
The First Stop for You 

For individual 1940 Census records:http://1940census.archives.govFor information about the 1940 Census:http://www.census.gov/1940census/

Information on upcoming eventsFacts and photosLinks to other resources
The Creation of the 1940 Ce

• Evaluating the effectiveness of New 

Deal programs

• Growing business demand for 

statistics

• Growth of the social sciences

Source: Library of Con
First Housing Census

“One-third of a nation illhoused, ill-clad, ill-nourished”Housing a huge focus of the New DealThe Census Bureau did not preserve the housing schedules

Source: Library of Congress
Measuring Employment 

and Economic Dislocation

• Usual occupation and new 

workers

• Receipt of relief aid• Number of trained workers in 

case of war

• Enumerating transients

Source: Library of Congress
1940 Census on Labor Fo

• Persons 14 years old and over (versus 10-13 in 1930 

years + on later censuses)

• 1930 gainful employment concept versus 1940 emplo

status

• Workers for relief agencies

Source: U.S. Census Bureau History Staff
Income and Wealth

New questions attempted to compare the effects of the Great Depression on different groups• Income question and its 

limitations

• Education attained• Value/rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau History Staff
Census Sample Survey

• Asked most frequently of pe

lines 14 and 29

• Supplementary questions inc

– Parents’ place of birth– Veterans status– If person had a Social Se

(not the person’s numbe

– Usual occupation and in– Age at first marriage– Number of children ever 

To reconcile exploding demand for new questions with a public balking at answering and technology straining to make that many tabulations: 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau History Staff
The “72-Year” Rule

• For 72 years, only the person named on 

census record or their legal heir can reqcensus records

• After 72 years, census records are relea

the public

• The National Archives (NARA) distribu

records to their facilities for public use
Enumeration Instr

http://www.census.goInformation about how question was askedAbbreviations used

Source: U.S. Census Bureau History Staff
1940 Census

Constance Potter, National Archives and Records Administration
Abridged Instructions to th

Enumerators

 Not just a shorter version of the earlier instruc

includes additional information

 Page 61: missed the day of the census Page 81: transients
Person Giving the Informatio

Column 7
Highest Grade of School Comple

Column 14
Employment Status: Columns 2
Emergency Public Works: Colum
Not Working: Column 25

 H-Housework U-Unable to work S-Student Ot-Other
Employment Status: 

Columns 26-29
Class of Worker: Column 3

 PW Wage or salary worker in privat GW Wage or salary worker in gover

work

 E Employer OA Work on own account NP Unpaid family worker NW New Worker
Income in 1939: Columns 32 an
Territories and Possessions

 Alaska American Samoa Guam Hawaii Panama Canal Zone Virgin Islands (U.S.) Puerto Rico (the only schedule in Spanish)
THE 1940 CENSUS

Rebecca C. Warlow, National Archives and Records Administration
The 1940 Census Goes Onli

 For the first time the National 

Archives will release the census online.

 http://1940census.archives.gov Available on any computer any 

where with internet access.

 Site is free of charge. The only site that will have the 

entire census on April 2.
Searching the 1940 Censu

 No name index. You can search by location 

or address.

 With a location or address 

you will be able to determine the enumeration district in which a person was living.

 An enumeration district or 

ED was the geographic area that a census taker covered.

 Each enumeration district is 

assigned a number.
Searching the 1940 Census M

 Search by location or 

address.

 Scan the map to locate 

an address.

 Note the enumeration 

district number.

 Search the census by the 

ED number.
Searching the 1940 Cens

Enumeration District Descrip

 Search by location 

or address.

 Read the 

descriptions to locate an address.

 Note the 

enumeration district number.

 Search the census 

by the ED number.
Searching the 1940 Censu

 Find the pages for 

an enumeration district or location.

 Browse the images 

for the names you are seeking.

1930 census for Milwauke
Saving and Sharing the 

1940 Census

 Researchers can

 Download images Share via social media Bookmark and email to 

themselves or others

 Bookmark and save in 

a personal account on the site
1940 Census Opens to the P

 The 1940 Census opens on 

April 2 at 9:00 AM (Eastern)

 Opening event begins at 8:30 

AM

 Live streamed from the 

National Archives at 1940census.archives.gov

 Remarks from David S. 

Ferreiro, Archivist of the United States, and Robert Groves, Director of the Bureau of the Census, plus others

 Q & A session with Michael 

Snow and Connie Potter.
1940 Census Online Resour

 Search: http://1940census.archives.gov for the schedules Email: 1940Census@nara.gov for questions Subscribe to NARAtions Blog posts: 

blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/?cat=163

 Follow the 1940 Census on Twitter using hashtag #1940C
Questions?
For Further Information 

Search the 1940 Census: http://1940census.archives.govView live on Ustream: http://archives.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?event_id=8National Archives and Records Administration

Email: 1940Census@nara.gov

Media U.S. Census Bureau

Public Information Office301-763-3030

General Public U.S. Census Bureau

Customer Services Center 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (46