Everything you need to know to get the most out of your census research and find your ancestors. Your genealogy research will get a boost! Census records are some of the first records genealogy researchers begin with.  Let’s face it.  Finding your ancestor on a census record – or even yourself in those census pages – gives you a little thrill. It’s like a mini-version of the genealogy happy dance! Let’s get back to those census records for a little refresher. Whether you are a seasoned genealogy researcher or a brand new researcher, understanding the basics of census research is essential to finding your ancestors.  While the examples in this…

[Note: This is Part 1 of a 2 part series on the 1890 census.] The 1890 census is referred to as the “black hole” of genealogy research. How many of you have “lost” track of your ancestors because the 1890 census did not survive the Commerce Department fire of 1921? I’m waving my hand wildly over here! A bit of genealogical trivia first….. The 1890 census did not burn. It received significant water damage during the fighting of the fire.  The records then sat and sat and sat….. Well, water, paper and time are not a good combination. The 1890 census was ruined. Back to our research…. The loss of…