Tuesday, April 27, 2021

The 1950 Census - How to find addresses beforehand

      We are now less than a year away from the release of the 1950 US Federal Census. Are you prepared for it? You are probably saying, "Yes!" but have you really sat down and prepared for its release? Don't forget it won't be indexed immediately after it becomes available. That will take time. And if you are like me, after waiting 10 years (since the release of the 1940 census) you don't want to wait any longer than you have to. So you better get to work.

Census Bureau enumerator interviewing mother with two children

What can you do to prepare?

     There are a few things you can do to prepare for the release of the 1950 census. That way when it does become available, you can dive right in.

  • Make a list of the ancestors you definitely want to look up on this census
  • Review the facts and sources you currently have to find your ancestors' addresses around 1950
  • Once you have those addresses, visit SteveMorse.org to find the Enumeration Districts (EDs) and the maps for those locations
  • Write down all the Enumeration Districts (EDs) you will need to look up once the census goes live
  • Plan some easy meals for yourself and your family for those days cause we know you are not going to want to stop to cook dinner. haha!
     There you go! Once you have all this information, you can dive right in to the 1950 census. Ok, that last bullet point is optional, but take it into consideration. You will thank me later. The hardest part of all of this will be narrowing down the location of your ancestors around the 1950 census. So let's talk about where to look for those addresses.

Where to Find Addresses for Your Ancestors

     There are plenty of sources you can check out to determine approximately (or exactly) where your ancestors were living during the time the 1950 census was taken. Some are more obvious while others are more obscure. I compiled this list from my own research and from some suggestions from Lisa Louise Cook of Genealogy Gems. She has a great video on the 1950 census available now on her YouTube Channel. Now, what is available to me, not always be available to you or others. So after you take a look at this list, make your own list of possible sources you could look up. But here is my suggested list.

  • City Directories (The obvious first choice)
    • If you are lucky, you can find your ancestors listed in the city directory for the year 1950 which will give you the address of your ancestor
    • If there isn't one available or you can't find them in the 1950 city directory, look at years before and after; if they are listed at the same address before 1950 and after, then there is a good chance they were still living there in 1950
    • If you check city directories before and after and get two different addresses, check EDs for both addresses; you might come up lucky
  • Previous Census
    • Even though it is 10 years in between the censuses, it's at least a place to start
    • If you are lucky, your ancestor didn't move around a lot so they could be at the same location; I have a couple of families that lived in the same house for 20+ years
  • Death Certificates/Registers
    • If your ancestor died soon after the 1950 census (Like my husband's great-grandfather) the address where he lived prior to his death should be written on it; same for the spouse or a child of an ancestor
    • Did your family have a relative living with them (like my Papa's Aunt Agnes) during the time of the 1950 census? Check their death certificate as well for the address
    • Don't forget to look at the informants on Death Certificates; Sometimes they list their addresses
    • On Registers, sometimes an address is given where the person lived or died
  • Military File/Records
    • The Korean War began in the year 1950, so any military records from that time could contain an address
    • Just like WWI and WWII the draft (or Selective Service System) was still active, so there are Korean War Draft Records available at the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; If you know for sure your ancestor/relative fought in the Korean War, you can write to the National Archives. Click here for more information. Written requests should be mailed to: National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 - Source: FamilySearch.org Wiki (At this time, there is no known info on whether or not these cards will be made available to the public like the WWI & WWII Draft Cards)
    • The National Archives in St. Louis also maintains the Korean War Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)
      Note: In 1973, there was a disastrous fire at the National Archives building that destroyed approximately 18 million Personnel Files, so be prepared if they do not have the OMPF of your ancestor/relative
  • Baptismal/Church Records
    • Sometimes addresses are listed on the records or if anything a town; on my dad's baptism in 1952 the town of Times Beach, MO was listed (It's a small town that I was able to find the ED Map for to get the EDs from the area)
    • If no address is given, check the address of the church to narrow down the District your ancestor may have lived in (If they lived in a farming community, this may not be an option)
    • Don't forget about siblings who were born, baptized, or even died around this time
  • Newspapers
    • Birth; Birth announcement could contain an address
    • Death; Sometimes funerals were held in the family home or notice of a gathering at the relative's home after the service is mentioned
    • Marriage; a celebration could have taken place at someone's place of residence
    • Family Gatherings were mentioned in newspapers especially in smaller towns
    • Other mentions such as a crime, fire, advertisements (if the relative worked out of the home), retirement, etc; Glean all newspaper clippings about your ancestor for possible address
  • Social Security Records
    • There are social security indexes online, but you can access the original applications for your ancestors; these applications will have addresses listed on them
    • There is a Social Security Death Index available online, but sometimes the last known address is incorrect so beware
  • Ask Living Relatives (Of course!)
    • You would be surprised how many living relatives will be on the 1950 census (My mother and in-laws will be; dad passed away this year); they might be able to give you some clues as to where they lived
    • Even if they can't give you an address, ask them to tell you stories/memories from their childhood; maybe some of those can lead you to where they were living (based on where my dad said he was attending school, I was able to determine where they lived in 1950)
  • Your Own Personal Collection of Records
    • It is always said, Begin your research first at home; glean what you can from the records that are already in your possession or in living relatives
    • Items such as these are not available anywhere else, but in your house; these are suggestions from my own personal collection
      • Union Dues Book (I have my Papa's; based on the dates stamped, that could tell you if and when he lived at the address in the front of the book)
      • Business Cards (I have an old Business card of my Papa's; he was a carpenter)
      • Tax Returns (My Aunt Patty has the family's old tax returns from around 1950 which has the address listed)
      • Passports (We have the original passports that belonged to my Hubby's grandparents)
      • Letters (I have a few letters that were sent during WWII and Vietnam which list addresses on the envelope, so check with your parents for things such as this)
      • Occupational Records (You might be able to access these from an old place of employment, such as my Great-grand father who worked at the St. Louis Post Dispatch)
      • Photographs
        • The backs of photos could have a location (and date) written on the back; sometimes they are written on the front
        • Check the backgrounds of photos for any details that will help you determine the location (I have some photos of my Uncle when he was born taken in front of the house and you can see the house numbers in the background; based on previous city directories I can determine if this is an address I already have)
     How about that? I bet you didn't know there were many options available to you to help find your ancestors address for the 1950 census. And you can even use these to help with other censuses if you can't find your ancestors by doing a search in the index. If you have any other suggestions where you can look for addresses, please share them below in the comments.
     Now there may be some families that moved around a lot (like my dad's family between 1945-1952) or some that no matter what you do, you just can't find a recent address for. For some families, you may just have to wait until the census is indexed and hope that they will show up. You may still run into some problems, but do the best you can. For more information on the 1950 census, click here to see my blog post: "The 1950 Census - Everything You Need To Know".

What are you waiting for?? Get researching! 
You only have less than a year left!



Thursday, April 22, 2021

Cardinals - A visitor from Heaven?

“A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you. Look for them, they’ll appear.” – author unknown


     Cardinals are so beautiful. We always loved seeing them in our backyard when I was a kid. Although sometimes they were few and far between. My dad used to build birdhouses and feeders to sell at Craft Fairs and I have so many good memories of that. I can remember the sound of the saw, the smell of the sawdust and the stain, and the feel of the rough wood when dad would let me help. I remember going to the craft fairs and seeing everything set up. Dad had a system for how he displayed his birdhouses. Thank goodness he took pictures.

Northwest Craft Fair
1984

Sperreng Craft Fair
1985

     And of course, once they were done, one of my chores was filling the bird feeders with bird food. When we would visit St. Louis (before we moved back), that became one of Sancia's favorite chores to help Papa with. 
Sani & Papa filling bird feeders
Dec 2006

     Now you are probably asking, "What does this have to do with Cardinals and a visitor from Heaven?" Well, let me tell you. This spring has brought a special surprise to my mom's front yard. For the first time ever, a Cardinal has made its nest in one of Mom's bushes out front. Never before have they had that happen. And now there are babies! Mom was just so excited to see them. Then I explained to her about the Cardinal being a sign of a visitor from Heaven. She was just beside herself with joy. To know that God sent some Cardinals to her for comfort and to know that Dad is still with us.
     Now, I don't know how deep this really goes as far as it actually being Dad visiting, but I do feel that God sent that Cardinal for comfort and a reminder. I know Dad is in Heaven with family right now. Sometimes we just need that reminder that we are not alone, God hasn't left us, and he will always be there to comfort us. Whatever the case may be, the Cardinals are bringing my mom some much-needed joy. Here are the birds.


Have you had Cardinals visit you after the passing of a loved one? Share your encounters below.


Sunday, April 11, 2021

The 1950 Census - Everything You Need To Know


President Truman & wife taking the 1950 census
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

      The time has come for the 1950 census to be released to the public from the US Census Bureau. Genealogists and Historians have been waiting for this release, well, since the last census (1940) was released in April 2012. This census will have many people on it including our parents and grandparents, and you may even find yourself on it! Now you may have some questions: 

  • When will it be available?
  • What questions were asked?
  • How do I find my ancestors if they are not indexed?
  • How do I access the ED maps associated with the census?
  • What can I do to prepare for the release?
  • and many more!
     To help answer these questions, I have put together a list of links all about the 1950 census. I am by far not an expert but have compiled a list of those who ARE experts. This will be an ever-growing list of links as more information becomes available. If you have any helpful links you would like to share, please leave them in the comments. I hope these help you in your research! And thank you to all the YouTubers, bloggers, and researchers who have taken the time to share their knowledge and the information they have acquired with us.  

History and Helpful information 




Family Search Blog - 1950 Census Main Hub:

Volunteer to Index the 1950 Census:
 
Climbing Your Family Tree - Are You Ready for the 1950 Census?:

History Hub - Countdown to the 1950 Census:

History Hub - 1950 Blog Series

NARA Blog - Preparing for the 1950 Census:

NARA - Information about the 1950 Census

Ancestry.com - 1950 Census Main Hub

Ancestry.com - Information about the 1950 Census

Lisa Lisson - What To Know Before The Release

MyHeritage - 1950 census page: 
https://myheritage.com/census/us/

MyHeritage - Blog post sharing more details about the release of the 1950 census: 

Family History Fanatics - Prepare for the April 2022 Release of the 1950 Census


The 1950 Census




Blank (fillable) 1950 Census Form - Population (Scroll to the bottom)


Instructions transcribed:

Enumerator's Manual for the 1950 Census (Original):

Supplement to the Enumerator's Manual for the 1950 Census (Original):

Urban & Rural Enumerator's Workbook Population Housing & Agriculture:

Infant Cards:



Enumerator talking with family
Photo courtesy of Census.gov


Research 

Helpful tools through SteveMorse.org – Maps, Enumeration District info, In-depth Census info, etc.: 

Enumeration District Maps: 

Wards, Tracts, and Block Maps:

Enumeration District Locator: 

Deciphering Occupation Codes: 

Finding Ancestors Addresses Beforehand

Enumerator at mobile home park
Photo courtesy of Census.gov


Instructional & Helpful YouTube Videos

Lisa Louise Cook: 
The 1950 Census for Genealogy
Show Notes: 

Questions asked in the 1950 Census
Show Notes:

JDW Talks: 

Genealogy TV with Thomas McEntee: https://youtu.be/LaeK3GLbCsM

Family Search

I've created a playlist on YouTube of videos that have to do with the 1950 Census. The videos above are on the playlist along with some other special goodies. Check it out!


Images & Other Documents

Official Census Bureau Operations & Activity Photos
1950 Census Photos start on Page 9

Flow Charts from the National Archives

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 Census

Portfolio Control Label

Population Cards per State


There is so much you can do to prepare for the coming release of the 1950 census.
You better get on it now!


Sunday, April 4, 2021

Year of Firsts - Celebrating birthdays

      The month of March is usually a very busy one for us. We have a total of seven birthdays and one anniversary this month in our family. Three include mine, my mom, and my daughter. We have always done our best to make birthdays special for each other. Growing up I remember parties, family gatherings, cake (of course cake), and lots of great memories. As we get older, the celebration shifts to the kids to make their day special. We've had lots of birthdays and celebrations throughout the years. Unfortunately, this time things are different. Dad is not here to participate.
     The first birthday we celebrated was Mom's. Her birthday is on the 6th. Over the years there has been one constant: someone gets her yellow roses; her favorite. So I made sure we did that. And to make it extra special, I bought a ton of Minion birthday decorations to put around the house and an Ice Cream Cake from Dairy Queen, something she had been wanting for years. I also made homemade pulled pork and coleslaw for lunch/dinner. We invited Aunt Patty over to help us celebrate. We did our best to have a great time despite Dad's obvious absence. We told stories, laughed, ate great food, and just enjoyed being together.
     To be honest, dad never did anything elaborate for mom for her birthday. That is one memory I do have. Most he did was flowers and a card if he remembered. As I got older, I always made sure she had a cake, a homemade card from myself, and then when I was able, a homemade dinner. I surprised her one year with homemade fried pork chops, one of her favorite meals. Dad wasn't always a very affectionate man and was very guarded when it came to his feelings. As the years went on, he started to open up more and be more considerate. In the end, there was no doubt about what he felt about mom; he loved her dearly.
     So one birthday down, and two to go. Next was my birthday. Nothing special was planned really. We just decided to have mom over for a late lunch/early dinner and some cake on the day before my birthday. We decided on Pasta House (my favorite restaurant) and brought it home to eat. I had tried making a homemade cake for myself and that didn't work, so I bought one from Frick's (a local grocery store).
     The day was beautiful. Had the windows open to let the spring air blow through. I'm almost always sick for my birthday with a sinus infection, but so far it has held off this year. To make the house feel more festive, I decorated up the kitchen a bit with some leftover decorations. It was nice. We enjoyed good food and good conversation. There definitely was an elephant in the room we were all trying to ignore, and that was the fact Dad was not with us. It's hard getting together for meals without Dad because he was such a huge presence at mealtime.
     It's not necessarily hard that Dad wasn't there for my birthday, just that he wasn't there in general for our family gathering. I mean with Covid raging on, we did not get together for birthdays last year either. So technically this wasn't the first birthday celebrated without my Dad. We had also lived out of state for years so not seeing him for my birthday wasn't that much of a noticeable change. But not being able to talk to him or hear his voice I think is more of a sting. You don't realize how much you will miss hearing someone's voice until it's not there anymore. It makes me wish I had saved a couple voicemails he left for me. Well, two birthdays down and one more to go: Sancia's.
     We didn't do much as the pandemic is still raging on. Let her shop for a few things, got some food. She wanted a Red Velvet Cake for her birthday so we got that. I had left the decorations up from my birthday so it was all prepared. Dad's absence was definitely felt. I think we all tried to fill the void by shopping lol! While it helps temporarily, the reality is still lurking around. 
     But we made it. We made it through our first Birth Month without Dad. The pain is not as harsh right now, but I still miss him terribly. I still miss just being able to call him or see him sitting in the living room. Or calling to me from another room. Ha, it was funny the other day. Two of my Uncles came over to Mom's house to haul some trash away. I was upstairs when all of a sudden I heard a call from downstairs. Uncle Marty was yelling for me. And I kid you not, you would have thought it was Dad. It felt like old times. I told Mom, "We don't need to worry about Dad being gone, cause his brothers still make it feel like he is around."
     Anyway, I know there will be more firsts experienced as time goes on. I think the next one I'm really dreading is Father's day in June.  But who knows what else is going to happen. Today is Easter and we are just staying home. Mom is coming over today to have some food. And once again, Dad's absence will be felt. But I know he is always with us in spirit.

Happy Easter everyone!

A Banner I made for my birthday
Photos of Dad and I from my first year

My dad with all his siblings at what looks like Easter


One of my favorite photos of Dad and Sancia