Excitement is in the air because on Monday, 2 April 2012, the National Archives (www.archives.gov) will release the 1940 U.S. Federal Census at 9 a.m. EST.
The official website is located on http://www.1940census.archives.gov/. This is where researchers may see the actual digital images from the census.
A short video on the 1940 U.S. Federal Census may be viewed at http://tiny.cc/1940Census.
Both FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) and Ancestry (www.Ancestry.com) have been counting the days until this important census will be available.
Of course the census records will not be indexed at the time the public can look at them.
Still it is possible to locate families in the digital images of the National Archives by knowing the enumeration districts where our families lived.
In the months ahead, FamilySearch Indexing (www.familysearchindexing.org) and Ancestry will be asking for assistance in transcribing the digital images to their database indices.
It is possible that the public will be so anxious to research their families on the 1940 U.S. Federal Census that the websites might be overloaded.
Why is the 1940 U.S. Federal Census so vital?
It is the last census for the Greatest Generation prior to World War II. So many of these great men and women who fought with the United States Military will appear on the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.
Many of them laid down their lives for the freedoms of others and thus will not be enumerated in the 1950 U.S. Federal Census when it becomes available in 2022.
It is also the census documenting the effects of the Great Depression on families throughout the United States.
There is a wealth of information in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.
For instance, the enumerators documented personal information, including the level of education completed by each individual.
There are many questions about the employment status and occupations of all individuals 14 years old and older.
Not only were military veterans documented but so were their wives, widows, or minor age children.
We can also learn if an individual has a social security number and whether or not deductions were contributed to Social Security.
The number of marriages for each woman, as well as the number of children she ever bore (excluding stillbirths), are also part of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.
Of course, as common in earlier census enumerations, the birthplaces of individuals and their parents are also recorded in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.
If we are interested in the lives of our family members who were living in 1940, we need to take time to be familiar with the census and learn how to locate people on it.
This is a great opportunity for researchers to gain greater understanding of the United States in 1940. It is also a significant occasion for us to learn about our own specific families.
Hopefully, we can take time to use the 1940 U.S. Federal Census to add another facet to the lives of our ancestors and even ourselves (if we were born prior to 1940).
The next few months are an exciting time for family history researchers in the United States.
Good luck with locating your families in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census!
