FRPC is offering The Census Book at 25% off and including a FREE immediately downloadable PDF eBook version of the soft and hardcover books. Click on the links to order. This offer is good through Oct. 22, 2021.
Following a 20-year hiatus, William Dollarhide has again written the definitive guide to the United States Census. Written specifically for genealogists and family historians, this book details all the census schedules for 1790 through 1950. The first, and highly acclaimed Census Book was written in 1999. This all-new volume covers a lot of new ground that the earlier volume could not do. Read on for details.
Section 1 – Census Facts, Historical U.S. Censuses. This section includes many historical facts dealing with the United States Census. See the Table of Contents (below) to get a full overview of the section.
Section 2 – Population Schedules. Includes links to 630 websites, providing instant access to over 600 million indexed census records/names online. A table for each census year includes the starting FHL film roll number for each state’s population schedules, providing links to 580 FHL catalog webpages. It is the searchable roll number that gives a researcher quick access to the digital images of any census year, state, county, or town. Census substitutes have been added where available; U.S. maps of each census year are included; 1885; 1940 and 1950 census chapters are included in this edition.
Section 3 – Non-Population Schedules. This section identifies all non-population categories, with all-new statewide tables, Alabama to Wyoming, to 1935. URL links to 560 online databases. The location of the original Non-Population schedules is given, and the locations of microfilm copies features many direct links to a Family History Library online catalog webpage, in particular, those with digital images available.
Section 4 – Census Samples & Worksheets. The Census Book has 57 Samples and 42 Worksheets, including an 1890 Short Form; the 1940 Census; and the 1820, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 Manufactures Schedules.
The book is available as a soft-bound volume; hard-bound volume and PDF eBook. FRPC is currently offering the book (in all forms) at 25% off at the FRPC website. Click on the links to order.
The Census Book: Facts, Schedules & Worksheets for the U.S. Federal Censuses;William Dollarhide, 2019, 245 pages; Color printing throughout; Tables; Website links.
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-265-8. Softbound. Reg. $39.95; Item # FR0478
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-266-5. Hardbound. Reg. $59.95; Item # FR0478HARD
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-271-9. PDF eBook. Reg. $27.95; Item # FR0478-pdf
See the “Inside the Book” pdf pages at the end of this post.
The following is extracted from the Table of Contents:
Introduction
Growth of the U.S. Federal Census
Section 1 – Census Facts
- Historical U.S. Censuses
- Early Census Takers
- Censuses in U.S. Territories
- Compensation to the Census Takers
- The Census Day
- Table 1: Census Year/Day/Time Allowed
- Census Counting Machine
- Early Census Losses
- Table 2 – Statewide Census Losses
- Census Copies, 1790-1820
- Census Copies, 1830-1840
- Census Copies, 1850-1870
- Census Copies, 1880
- 1880 Short Form
- Census Copies, 1890
- 1890 Short Form
- 1890 Veterans Schedule
- Copies/Microfilm/Digitizing, 1900-1940
- Soundex Indexes, 1880-1930
- Soundex Code
- Personal Census Search
- County Boundary Changes
- Table 3: Statistics, 1790-1940 Censuses
- References
Section 2 – Population Schedules
Contents – Section 2
Table 4: Availability of U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1950
- First Census of the U.S. – 1790
- Second Census of the U.S. – 1800
- Third Census of the U.S. – 1810
- Fourth Census of the U.S. – 1820
- Fifth Census of the U.S. – 1830
- Sixth Census of the U.S. – 1840
- Seventh Census of the U.S. – 1850
- Eighth Census of the U.S. – 1860
- Ninth Census of the U.S. – 1870
- Tenth Census of the U.S. – 1880
- State Censuses Taken in 1885
- Eleventh Census of the U.S. – 1890
- Table 5 – 1884-1896 State Censuses
- Twelfth Census of the U.S. – 1900
- Thirteenth Census of the U.S. – 1910
- Fourteenth Census of the U.S. – 1920
- Fifteenth Census of the U.S. – 1930
- Sixteenth Census of the U.S. – 1940
- Seventeenth Census of the U.S. – 1950
Section 3 – Non-Population Schedules Contents – Section 3
Table 6: Availability of Non-Population Schedules
Descriptions of the Non-Population Schedules, 1820-1935
State Availability Tables:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- American Samoa
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Dakota Territory (1861-1889)
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota (1889-1935)
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota (1889-1935)
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virgin Islands of the U.S.
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Section 4 – Census Samples & Worksheets
Contents – Section 4
Population Schedules:
- 1790 Federal Census
- 1800 Federal Census
- 1810 Federal Census
- 1820 Federal Census
- 1830 Federal Census
- 1840 Federal Census
- 1850 Federal Census
- 1860 Federal Census
- 1870 Federal Census
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1880 Short Form
- 1885 State Census – 5 states
- 1890 Short Form
- 1890 Veterans Schedule
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
Industry/Manufactures Schedules:
- 1820 Manufactures
- 1850 Products of Industry
- 1860 Products of Industry
- 1870 Products of Industry
- 1880 Manufactures-Products of Industry
- 1880 Manufactures-Boots, Shoes
- 1880 Manufactures-Flour & Grist Mills
- 1880 Manufactures-Lumber Mills
- 1880 Manufactures-Agri. Implements
- 1885 Manufactures Schedule
Agriculture Schedules:
- 1850 Agriculture
- 1860 Agriculture
- 1870 Agriculture
- 1880 Agriculture
- 1885 Agriculture
Mortality Schedules:
- 1850 Mortality Schedule
- 1860 Mortality Schedule
- 1870 Mortality Schedule
- 1880 Mortality Schedule
- 1885 Mortality Schedule
Slave Schedules:
- 1850 Slave Schedule
- 1860 Slave Schedule
Social Statistics Schedules:
- 1850, 1860, 1870 Social Statistics
- 1880 Defective, Dependent & Delinquent Classes:
- 1880 Insane Inhabitants & Idiots
- 1880 Deaf-Mutes & Blind Inhabitants
- 1880 Homeless Children & Prisoners
- 1880 Pauper & Indigent Inhabitants
Soundex Extraction Forms:
Soundex Indexes Description & Contents
- 1880 Soundex
- 1900 Soundex
- 1910 Soundex/Miracode
- 1920 Soundex
- 1930 Soundex
Census Comparison Sheets:
- 1790-1840 Census Worksheet
- Census Comparisons Sheet
COMPARISON OF THE 1999 EDITION WITH THE 2019 EDITION OF THE CENSUS BOOK
In 1999, the first Census Book was published. The full title was The Census Book: A Genealogist’s Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes, by William Dollarhide (Publ. Heritage Quest, Bountiful, Utah, 182 pages). The original Census Book has been out of print for several years, but is still cited frequently at many genealogical websites.
In 2019, an all new Census Book was published. The full title: The Census Book: Facts, Schedules & Worksheets for the U.S. Federal Censuses, by William Dollarhide (Publ. Family Roots Publishing Co., LLC, Orting, WA, 245 pages). The many references to CD-ROM publications were replaced with many more direct links to Internet databases. There are a total of 1,770 links to Internet websites, giving access to over one billion census records/names. The references to printed countywide census indexes were removed, replaced by links to census databases and substitute publications. Specific changes in each Section were as follows:
Comparison of Section 1 – Census Facts, Historical U.S. Censuses. The original concept and layout was enhanced with extensive editing and added features.
Comparison of Section 2 – Population Schedules. The 1999 edition had no references to the Internet for census population schedules – the 2019 edition has links to 630 websites, providing instant access to over 600 million indexed census records/names online. In the first Census Book, each census year had a table showing CD-ROM indexes and any printed book indexes available. In the new Census Book, a table for each census year now includes the starting FHL film roll number for each state’s population schedules, providing links to 580 FHL catalog webpages. It is the searchable roll number that gives a researcher quick access to the digital images of any census year, state, county, or town. Census substitutes were added where available; better U.S. maps of each census year were included; and 1940 and 1950 census chapters were added. Also, a new census chapter was inserted for 1885, when 14 states took state censuses – they are good substitutes for the lost 1890 census.
Comparison of Section 3 – Non-Population Schedules. This section identifies all non-population categories, adding those after 1900. All new statewide tables, Alabama to Wyoming, were expanded to 1935, and reorganized for appearance and adding URL links to 560 more online databases. The location of the original Non-Population schedules is given, and the locations of microfilm copies now features many direct links to a Family History Library online catalog webpage, in particular, those with digital images available.
Comparison of Section 4 – Census Samples & Worksheets. The 1999 Census Book had no Samples and 34 Census Worksheets; the new 2019 Census Book has 57 Samples and 42 Worksheets. New worksheets were added for the 1890 Short Form; the 1940 Census; and the 1820, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 Manufactures Schedules.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Dollarhide is best known as the co-author and cartographer of the classic Map Guide to the U.S.Federal Censuses, 1790-1920, a book of 393 census-year maps, and one of the best selling books ever published in the field of genealogy. He released the first edition of The Census Book in 1999, a book that is still cited frequently at many genealogical websites. He has also written numerous Censuses & Substitutes guidebooks for genealogical research; e.g., a 3-volume regional set; and a 52-volume set (for each U.S. state, DC, and U.S. Territories). His other works include New York State Censuses & Substitutes, referred to as “the definitive guide,” by the NY Genealogical & Biographical Society; Managing a Genealogical Project, a manual for organizing genealogical documents; Map Guide to American Migration Routes, 1735-1815, a review of the U.S. wagon roads in place before steam engines; and Genealogical Resources of the Civil War Era, a review of Military and Civilian name lists; and several other publications.
REVIEWS
“Bill Dollarhide is the authority on U.S. federal censuses. The first edition of The Census Book was the bellwether for census research and has remained the go-to reference. The new edition is updated to include Internet resources and contains a wealth of insightful information, graphics of the schedules, and essential worksheets to help your federal census analyses. This book should be on every genealogist’s bookshelf and in every genealogical library collection. Bravo!” – George G. Morgan, co-host of The Genealogy Guys Podcast, lecturer, and genealogy writer.
Following are a few pages from “Inside the Book” (Click on the links, then on the thumbnail image to view the PDF page):
The Census Book – Page 9 The Growth of the US Census – RS
The Census Book – Page 25 Co Boundary & Statistics – RS
The Census Book – Page 26 Co Boundaries & Statistics – RS
The Census Book – Page 39 1810 Census – RS
The Census Book – Page 108 Non-Population_Schedules_Table – RS
The Census Book – Page 109 Non-population Schedules Description – RS
The Census Book – Page 128 Michigan Non-population Schedules – RS
The Census Book – Page 147 Census Samples and Forms_Contents – RS
The Census Book: Facts, Schedules & Worksheets for the U.S. Federal Censuses; William Dollarhide, 2019, 245 pages; Color printing throughout; Tables; Website links – Click on the following links to order:
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-265-8. Softbound. Reg. $39.95; Item # FR0478
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-266-5. Hardbound. Reg. $59.95; Item # FR0478HARD
- ISBN: 978-1-62859-271-9. PDF eBook. Reg. $27.95; Item # FR0478-pdf
Again, FRPC is offering currently offering The Census Book at 25% off and includes a free immediately downloadable PDF eBook version of the soft and hardcover books. Offer ends December 31, 2020. Click on the links to order – and get yours today!
