The Census Book – online and free

The Census Book, by William Dollarhide, is a comprehensive review of U.S. census schedules that will allow you to take advantage of the research possibilities revealed by census data. It provides many unknown facts and peculiarities about census records that will help your understanding.

This book is now online for your viewing. Here is the Table of Contents:

Section 1: Historical U.S. Censuses

• Why a Census?
• The Early Census Takers
• The Census Day
• The Census Counting Machine
• Early Census Losses
• Census Copies, 1790-1820
• Census Copies, 1830-1840
• Census Copies, 1850-1870
• Census Copies, 1880
• Census Copies, 1890-1920
• Changes to the Census Statistics, 1790-1920
• The 1880-1920 Soundex Indexes
• Personal Census Search
• County Boundary Changes
• References

Section 2: Published Statewide Censuses and Indexes, 1790-1930

• A Brief History of Computer-generated Census Indexes
• 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
• Location of 1880 Census Originals
• 1885 Censuses Taken With Federal Assistance
• 1890 Federal Census Schedules and Union Veterans’ Census Indexes
• 1900, 1910, and 1920 Federal Censuses
• Summary
• Street Indexes to 1910 Cities
• Census Research Aids
• Explanation of the Soundex and Miracode Index Systems
• Soundex and Miracode Coding Guide
• Coding Anomalies
• Locating a Family in the Census Schedules Using the Soundex System
• Locating a Family in the Census Schedules Using the Miracode System
• 1930 and Later Censuses
• Relationship Terms and Abbreviations Used in the Soundex and Miracode Indexing Systems

Section 3: Countywide Census Indexes

Section 4: Non-population Census Schedules

• Description of Non-population Census Schedules
• Agricultural Schedules
• Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes (1880 census only)
• Industry and Manufacturing Schedules
• Mortality Schedules
• Slave Schedules
• Social Statistics Schedules
• 1885 Non-population Census Schedules
• Location of Non-population Census Schedules
• Repositories Holding Original or Microfilm Copies of Non-population Census Schedules

Section 5: Census Forms, 1790-1930

NOTE: As of March 6, 2008, this book is no longer available.