exploring the 1940 u.s. census in the virgin islands

EXPLORING THE 1940 U.S. CENSUS

IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Al Cohen’s Plaza, Raphune Hill

CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY LIBRARY


Workshop Info and Etiquette

Sign In Sheet Workshop Package Cellular Phones Personal Break Questions 1 Hours

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Caribbean Genealogy Library

• Founded 2000• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization• Funded by

– Membership Dues– Tax-exempt contributions to

the Caribbean Genealogy Library Fund of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

• Al Cohen’s Plaza, Raphune Hill

About CGL


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Genealogyis

the study of the origin and descent of families

Why Census Records?


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To do this genealogists use

RECORDS

RECORDS

RECORDS

Why Census Records?


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GenealogistsDo the research

Consider the evidenceProve or disproveDraw conclusionsDocument findings

Share results with others

Why Census Records?


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Census records are:

Indexed & SearchableConsistently Recorded

ContemporaryProvide Family Information

Why Census Records?


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• Overview of Census Records in the Virgin Islands– Danish West Indies– United States

• Locating Census Records– US government website– Family History Library– Ancestry.com– Caribbean Genealogy Library

• Genealogical Research with Census Records– Enumeration Districts– Data points– Research tips

Workshop Objectives


Census Recordsat

Caribbean Genealogy

Library


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Census Records – Content: U.S. and D.W.I.

Danish West Indies Census Records• ProGenealogist: Gary Horlacher’s

Genealogy Guide to the U.S. Virgin Islands


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• Population Census Records at Caribbean Genealogy Library

– Danish West Indies, 1841-1917– United States, 1920-1940

Census Records at CGL


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• Danish West Indies, 1841-1917– Microfilms available at CGL

1841 18701846 18801850 18901855 19011857 1911

1860



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• Danish West Indies, 1841-1917– Free and Unfree census for 1841 &

1846– Town (STT & STX)– Rural Areas & STJ



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• Danish West Indies, 1841-1917



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• Danish West Indies, 1841-1917– Geography & Maps– 3 Quarters of Charlotte Amalie– Street numbering system– Police Station, Fort, Prison,

Asylum, Hospital





• 1846 DWI census, No. 2 “Annanas” Strade, Blyden family, Edward age 10

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• U.S. Population Census 1920-1940– Released 72 years after recorded– US 1920 = DWI 1917– Searchable on Ancestry.com (and

microfilms too)



Locating 1940 Census Records


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• Locating 1940 Census Records– US government website– Family History Library– Caribbean Genealogy Library– Ancestry.com



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• Finding Guy Benjamin, 1940



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• US Government Census Websites–www.census.gov/1940census/



http://www.census.gov/1940census/

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• US Government Census Websites–www.census.gov/1940census/



http://www.census.gov/1940census/

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• US Government Census Websites–1940census.archives.gov/



http://1940census.archives.gov/

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• Family History Library website– familysearch.org/1940census/



https://familysearch.org/1940census/

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• Family History Library website– familysearch.org/1940census/



https://familysearch.org/1940census/

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• Caribbean Genealogy Library Website– rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vicgl/1940.dwt



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• Ancestry.com website–www.ancestry.com/1940-census



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Genealogical Researchwith

Census Records


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•Genealogical Research with Census Records–Enumeration Districts–Data points–Research tips

Genealogical Research with Census Records


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•Genealogical Research with Census Records

Instructions to Enumeratorswww.census.gov/history/pdf/1940instructions.pdf



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Instructions to Enumerators



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Instructions to Enumerators



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• Enumeration Districts– Organization system for enumerators and data– For 1940’s Virgin Islands census:

St. Croix: 14 districts 1-1 through 1-14St. John: 5 districts 2-1 through 2-5St. Thomas: 17 districts 2-6 through 2-22

– Geographically designated– Two pages per sheet within a district– Some sheets are are uninhabited locations



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• Enumeration Districts– St. John



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• Enumeration Districts– St. Thomas



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• Data Points– Census Sheet Legend gives blank field names and listing

of Symbols and Explanatory notes1940census.archives.gov/downloads/1940-census-schedule.pdf



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• Data Points– Census Sheet Legend gives blank field names and listing

of Symbols and Explanatory notes1940census.archives.gov/downloads/1940-census-schedule.pdf



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• Data Points– Guy Benjamin example



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• Data Points– Naval Station



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• Data Points– Naval Station



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• Data Points– East End, St. Thomas



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• Data Points– East End, St. Thomas



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• Research Tips– Ancestry name searches : Broad searches first,

try last name only– Use 1930’s census locations as guide for area

to limit page by page searches– If no matches in Ancestry, try relatives and look

nearby– Page by page searching as last resort…we do it

with microfilm



EXPLORING THE 1940 U.S. CENSUS

IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Start Your Research Today!


exploring the 1940 u.s. census in the virgin islands

Documents

dwi census

population census records

census records content

overview of census records

unfree census

hospitalcensus records

microfilms toocensus

virgin islandsal cohens