Comments on: Kris Williams: Importance of the U.S. Census Collections http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections The official blog of Ancestry.com Thu, 23 May 2013 03:10:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Arun http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56974 Arun Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:24:58 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56974 Something you might find interesting is that the US Census is also indirectly responsible for just about every modern convenience we have -- including the internet and ancestry.com! The population of the US had grown so much that the results of the 1880 Census were still being tabulated in 1888. In order to make the 1890 Census more workable, the Census Bureau hired Herman Hollerith to come up with something better. He invented a system whereby data could be stored and tabulated on punched cards -- his company later became IBM. Just about anything we think of uses some form of machine readable data, and it all started with the 1890 census. Something you might find interesting is that the US Census is also indirectly responsible for just about every modern convenience we have — including the internet and ancestry.com!

The population of the US had grown so much that the results of the 1880 Census were still being tabulated in 1888. In order to make the 1890 Census more workable, the Census Bureau hired Herman Hollerith to come up with something better. He invented a system whereby data could be stored and tabulated on punched cards — his company later became IBM. Just about anything we think of uses some form of machine readable data, and it all started with the 1890 census.

]]> By: Lee http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56896 Lee Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:39:08 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56896 ancestry.com ROCKS!! I have traced my family back to the 1400's. In researching my family, I actually feel as though I personally knew each member of my family. I have discovered so many surprises, heroes, skeletons, hardships and triumphs in my family, and none of it could have been done without ancestry. Not only that, but courteous and patient people are only a phone call away from helping the millions of people on ancestry. If you haven't signed up yet, then I have to ask; "What are you waiting for?" Thankyou ancestry, you are the absolute best. Lee ancestry.com ROCKS!! I have traced my family back to the 1400′s. In researching my family, I actually feel as though I personally knew each member of my family. I have discovered so many surprises, heroes, skeletons, hardships and triumphs in my family, and none of it could have been done without ancestry. Not only that, but courteous and patient people are only a phone call away from helping the millions of people on ancestry. If you haven’t signed up yet, then I have to ask; “What are you waiting for?” Thankyou ancestry, you are the absolute best. Lee

]]> By: james stanfield http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56892 james stanfield Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:40:10 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56892 FREE MEANS FREE. I went onto the website, and it was not free. I just wanted to see if it was worth paying the fee to join, but when the page comes up with result 1 of 200, I am wondering if it is again worth it or a headache. FREE MEANS FREE. I went onto the website, and it was not free. I just wanted to see if it was worth paying the fee to join, but when the page comes up with result 1 of 200, I am wondering if it is again worth it or a headache.

]]> By: Linda http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56891 Linda Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:55:47 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56891 I am just about out of patience with your site and the freebies that slow down the servers to the point where the paying clients cannot do the research we pay to do. How about you concentrate on fixing the service we have purchased instead of accumulating new members who will be gone in two weeks? I am just about out of patience with your site and the freebies that slow down the servers to the point where the paying clients cannot do the research we pay to do.
How about you concentrate on fixing the service we have purchased instead of accumulating new members who will be gone in two weeks?

]]> By: Alicia http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56888 Alicia Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:28:11 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56888 I have seen all kinds of craziness from census records. They are not always entirely accurate but they do help! Names can be spelled wrong and a persons age can easily be ten years off. In regards to census records prior to 1850, wish back then they wrote down EVERYONE living in the household along with their relationship to each other. To anyone reading this that is just starting out with their research... Don't be afraid to talk to other members and ask where they got their information. Don't assume other peoples "trees" are accurate and copy them entirely. I have seen people make records work for them because it would tie them to someone who is well known. Another issue is duplicates, always check to see if someone is already in your tree. You will be happy you did! I have around 7,000 people in my tree now and am still weeding out the duplicates. I have seen all kinds of craziness from census records. They are not always entirely accurate but they do help! Names can be spelled wrong and a persons age can easily be ten years off.

In regards to census records prior to 1850, wish back then they wrote down EVERYONE living in the household along with their relationship to each other.

To anyone reading this that is just starting out with their research…

Don’t be afraid to talk to other members and ask where they got their information. Don’t assume other peoples “trees” are accurate and copy them entirely. I have seen people make records work for them because it would tie them to someone who is well known.

Another issue is duplicates, always check to see if someone is already in your tree. You will be happy you did! I have around 7,000 people in my tree now and am still weeding out the duplicates.

]]> By: Kris Williams http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56884 Kris Williams Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:22:41 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56884 yes 1790! Hey Bruce they still come with the membership, the census is just open to everyone through the 3rd-members and non members. ;) Kris yes 1790!

Hey Bruce they still come with the membership, the census is just open to everyone through the 3rd-members and non members. ;)

Kris

]]> By: charlene.maultsby Jones http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56883 charlene.maultsby Jones Mon, 03 Sep 2012 04:50:43 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56883 I enjoy ancestry.com but I can't get anything before or after 1880 on my mothers,mothers family the Fry's and I wanted to know how can I proceed I checked everything on ancestry.com and nothings coming up Please help me.My mom would like to know what heritage really is as a child she was told she was part cherokee part Blackfoot and she wanted to know the truth before she passes. Any help will be so grateful and thanks very much. I enjoy ancestry.com but I can’t get anything before or after 1880 on my mothers,mothers family the Fry’s and I wanted to know how can I proceed I checked everything on ancestry.com and nothings coming up Please help me.My mom would like to know what heritage really is as a child she was told she was part cherokee part Blackfoot and she wanted to know the truth before she passes. Any help will be so grateful and thanks very much.

]]> By: Bruce James http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56881 Bruce James Mon, 03 Sep 2012 03:56:10 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56881 Are you saying that census records will no longer come with membership? Or that there will be additional charges for members to do research? Are you saying that census records will no longer come with membership? Or that there will be additional charges for members to do research?

]]> By: Quick peek http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56879 Quick peek Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:01:51 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56879 Do you mean "Since 1790" not "1970?" 1790 was the first federal population census. Do you mean “Since 1790″ not “1970?” 1790 was the first federal population census.

]]> By: Kirk Sellman http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2012/09/02/kris-williams-importance-of-the-u-s-census-collections/#comment-56878 Kirk Sellman Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:55 +0000 http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/?p=8148#comment-56878 Did you mean, 'Since 1790'? Did you mean, ‘Since 1790′?

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