It is a federal law, known as the privacy act, that only permits federal census information to become available to the public after it is 73 years old. However, you may inquire at the Social Security Office for a form to obtain copies of later censuses on yourself and family. You may send the forms to the Federal Census Bureau. Do not be disturbed if ages and other information varies from one census to another. Remember we do not know who was giving the information, or the one doing the writing.
Phonetic spelling is most common.
There are several sources for census records available. One is published by the Federal Government. Ask the librarian to see a copy. It will tell you many sources of information. Military records, Indian records and many others are available through the Federal Archives.