When using any computer software, you need to ask yourself as to what is the
end result that you wish to see? Once you know what that is you can then
enter your data to achieve that.
My end result is usually the Descendant Book or Modified Register Report.
Since this is easy to read, my data entries in the Notes field are written
as sentences. So, when entering census info, I start by using the basic
census template. Then use the following entries:
Event: Census
Description: 1850 Federal
Date: 29 Aug 1950
Place: Mentz, Cayuga County, New York
Notes: Nathan Holmes was shown as being 41 years old and
born in New York state. He was a farmer. He lived on Oxford Lane and owned
his own home and farm.
By placing the year in the Description field, it also shows up in the
Individual view easily so that I can easily see if I listed a census out of
chronological order.
In the Notes section, I place everything that appears in the census for the
individual and write it in sentences because my end result is usually the
Descendant Book. The reason that I place everything from a census in the
notes for each specific individual is that when reading the Descendant
Books, the reader is going to read one person at a time. If information
relating to a person is not found under his own entry, the reader can
overlook that data or information entirely.
My source for a census event is taken directly from the page at
Ancestry.com. The main source remains the same for everyone with the same
census year and only the Details contains any variable information.
Main Source: United States of America, Bureau of the
Census, 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. (Seventh
Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and
Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.),
Details: Year: 1850; Census Place: Mentz, Cayuga, New York;
NARA Series M432, Roll: 481; Page: 90; Image: 181. Repository:
Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah, http://www.ancestry.com/.
In this way, whenever I printed a Descendant Book it is easy to read and the
footnotes contain only footnote information and not details about a person's
life. I've looked at reports where personal data was placed into the
footnotes and I have found it to be difficult to read such reports.
But whatever you do, be consistent in your input and look at your end
results to see if you like them. And as long as someone else can read your
reports and use your sources to locate the original documentation, you know
that you have succeeded.
Happy Hunting!
Cathy-0
-----Original Message-----
From: k...@legacyfamilytree.com [mailto:k...@legacyfamilytree.com] On Behalf
Of Alan Jones
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:35 PM
To: LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com
Subject: [LegacyUG] Entering US Census Information
I have seen many post about how to document/source Census information
and the different styles and to be honest I have not made up my mind and
won't till I have really done enough to decide. What I have seen less
discussion of and really wanted to know more of is how to others
document the lines/columns in a Census or do you even bother?
1. In Legacy you have an event called Census. What others enter do and
find works best and why for the related event fields?
-Description:
-Date:
-Place:
-Notes:
2. How do you enter specific fields such as in the 1900 US Census like:
Relation, Color or Race, Attended School, Can Read, Can Write, Can
speak English, Owner or rented home, Farm or House .. or even my
favorite in the 1870 Census is "Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or
idiotic.....
Do you actually type "Can Read:" then Yes or No etc.....? For each field?
Where do you put that info so it looks right and shows up.
3. Do you do anything different if they are Head of House Hold vs not?
4. If you find an occupation field do then also enter that information
into a new occupation event? Same thing
This information sorta seems like source text, but that did not seem
like the best place to put it so it would show up "right" in most reports.
I could see how some would even put it in two places event and source
text and I don't mind doing that if that were the "best thing"
How do others handle all the fields and fun details so it shows right in
reports or do you just say they were listed in the Census and provide no
detailed information?
More details the better.
thanks for any all suggestions
Alan
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