Anatomy of the 1920 federal census

The 1920 U. S. federal census differs slightly from those that came immediately before and immediately after it. It provides less biographical information, but also provides unique information not found in other census enumerations.

 

Also different than any other federal census, “Census Day” – the day that the census is supposed to reflect – fell on 1 January 1920. All other censuses from 1790 to 1930 reflected a date in spring or summer. When locating your ancestors in 1920, therefore, be sure to keep this in mind. Since no one had yet had their 1920 birthday, the ages would actually reflect their ages in 1919. Remember this in your calculations of birthdates.

 

The 1920 census also came during the midst of a large African-American migration to the north. Many African-Americans in Chicago and New York in particular migrated from the South around this time, and may be found in either of these two cities or in their original homes in the South, which will help your search tremendously.

 

Here is the information you can expect to find:

 

Place of Abode: In towns and cities, this column will provide the street address where the family resided. Compare this to contemporary maps and other nearby families to see who the neighbors were – could the neighbors also have been family?

 

Name/Relation: It is not uncommon to find elderly parents or in-laws (even aunts, uncles, etc.) living with the family. Use these clues to take you back into the previous generations. You will also find many young families being started by veterans of the first World War.

 

Tenancy: Was their home owned or rented? If owned, free or mortgaged? This information will lead you to possible land records – deeds, leases, mortgages, and the like.

 

Personal Description: Gender, race, age at last birthday, and marital condition. African-Americans were called “B” for “Black” or “Mu” for “Mulatto.” One should note here that the term “mulatto” did not always refer to the specific genetic mix, but often referred only to the general appearance, of the subject.

 

Citizenship: Year of immigration, whether naturalized or alien, and (if naturalized) year of naturalization. This will lead to other records for immigrant ancestors, such as ship passenger lists, and naturalization papers.

 

Education: Whether the individual attended school at any time since September 1919, whether they could read, and whether they could write. Note that reading ability and writing ability were recorded separately. Though most could do both or neither, this was not always the case. It may also lead you to check existing school records for additional information.

 

Nativity and Mother Tongue: The place of birth of each individual, his father, and his mother. The information provided here will suggest migration routes, by noting who was born where and when.

 

Whether able to speak English: Just like it says...

 

Occupation: Trade, profession, etc., and the kind of industry, business, or establishment. For example, one page has: “assistant cashier” & “National Bank;” “school teacher” & “public school;” “laborer” & “general;” and “laundress” & “at home.” Also includes whether each individual was an employer, a wage worker or on salary, or working on their “own account.”

 

Number of farm schedule: Again, you should definitely view each of your ancestral farms in the supplemental agricultural, or “farm” schedule. This will provide much more information on the amount of livestock and crops grown, providing insight into your ancestors’ daily lives.