Penn State University Libraries - 1910 Census

Objective: To locate a specific person who lived in Pennsylvania in 1910.  In this example we are tracking Sarah Lockhart, who lived in Pennsylvania and should have been counted during the Federal Population Census for Pennsylvania in 1910 Census.  We want to confirm this information and determine any other information about her family collected by the census enumerator in 1910. 

The Internet can be a valuable tool to aid in your Census search.  There are many sites that provide information.  Census Online contains over 44,000 links to US census records, census calculators, and census forms from 1790-1930.  The microfilm information and the internet information can be used together to complete a search for an individual.  Links to Internet sources have been inserted throughout this document that complement and, in some cases, replace the print indexes or the census microfilm.  Please note that the microfilm constitutes the primary source and should be consulted for errors in transcription.  A blank 1910 US Census form is at the end of this document.

Please ASK the staff at the News and Microforms Library Reference Desk at any time for additional help or clarification about how to locate the sources or information.

In indexing the 1910 census, the Miracode code was used for Pennsylvania.  The Miracode is the same as the Soundex code with the exception of getting a volume, an enumeration district and a family number with the Miracode versus an enumeration district, sheet, and line citation with the Soundex Code.  It is a code for indexing names by the way they sound instead of the way they are spelled.  Miracode/Soundex can help find a surname in the census documents even though it may have been recorded under various spellings.  For example, Smith, Smithe, and Smyth all have the same Miracode/Soundex Code of S-530.  The Miracode was only used during the 1910 Census. 

Step 1:  Begin by finding the Miracode/Soundex Code for the name of the person you are trying to locate. Visit Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter to identify the Miracode/Soundex Code. For information about how Miracode/Soundex codes are calculated, see the article on Soundex Explained.

Eastman’s site provides the Soundex Code for (L-263) for Sarah Lockhart.

Step 2: Determine which microfilm reel contains the Miracode/Soundex Index for the person you are researching.  In the News and Microforms Library, the microfilm reels for the Index (Miracode) to the 13^th census, 1910: PA are located at HA216.P4 1910 (Reels 1-688) The Miracode/Soundex Code is listed on the outside of the reel boxes.  In some instances, there will be more than one reel for a specific Miracode.  In these cases, you will find the Miracode with a range of first names listed.  For our example, Reel 268 contains the Miracode Index for L-260 Raymond A thru L-320 Andrew.      

Alternatively, a list of the Miracode Index for Pennsylvania in 1910 can be accessed online at the National Archives.  Scrolling through the list will indicate: 268.  L-260 Raymond A.--L-320 Andrew. The Miracode/Soundex Index for Pennsylvania has also been transcribed into this printable document.

At this point you will need to use a microfilm reader/printer/scanner in the News and Microforms Library to locate and read the Soundex Index for Sarah Lockhart. Please ASK the staff at the Reference Desk for help if you are unfamiliar with the machines. You can also view the PA 1910 Soundex online at the Internet Archive.

Step 3:  Locate the person you are researching in the Miracode Index.  For our example, scroll through roll 268.  Locate L263 initially, and then scroll the first names which are in alphabetical order until you find Lockhart, Sarah.  The code 0047 is the Enumeration District, and the code 0017 is the Dwelling Number.  See example 1.

The National Archives has a listing of the abbreviations and terms used in the index.

From the Miracode Index we know the following:  Sarah Lockhart was a 26 year old white female.  She was born in Ireland and she lived in Allegheny County, PA.  The SE to the right of her name indicates that she was a servant.    The head of the household was George Hardy.     

With the additional information from the Soundex Index, visit US GenWeb Census Project to determine if any census information is recorded online for Sarah Lockhart.  For this example, as of 5/23/08, the census records for 1910 for Allegheny County are only partially completed:  Sarah Lockhart and George Hardy are not listed.

Step 4: In cases where the complete Census information is not available online, the original ledger entry can be viewed through the microfilm at the News & Microforms Library.  To do this, be sure to write down the following information from the index:

• Head of Family: Hardy, George
• County: Allegheny
• E.D. (Enumeration District) :47
• Visitation Number : 17

If you need any help locating this call number in the News and Microforms Library microfilm cabinets, please ASK the staff at the Reference Desk.

Step 5:  Locate the 1910 Census: Pennsylvania on microfilm in the News and Microforms Library in the microfilm cabinets under the call number HA217.U5P4 1910 (reels 1292 – 1435).

The reels are arranged by call number in alphabetical order by county.  Many counties take up more than one roll of microfilm, in these cases it is necessary to have the E.D. (Enumeration District) information so you can determine which roll has the person you are researching.

Sarah Lockhart is located on Reel 1293 (County:  Allegheny ED: 17-29, 36-64.)  The National Archives lists the contents, including enumeration district, for the 1910 Federal Population Census Microfilm Reels.  In addition, a description of the Census Enumeration Districts for 1910, can be found in the News and Microforms Library in the microfilm cabinets under the call number HA214.D47 1910 (reel 37). This information has also been transcribed into a chart at the end of this document.

At this point you will need to use a microfilm reader/printer/scanner machine in the News and Microforms Library to locate and read the entry for Sarah Lockhart. Please ASK the staff at the Reference Desk for help if you are unfamiliar with the machines.

Step 6:  Now, using our example, Sarah Lockhart, you will need to find Allegheny, and then scroll through to Enumeration District (47 in this example.)  From the enumeration district, look for the Visitation Number (17 in this example) which is listed under column 1.  See example 2 and 3.

Step 7:  Locate and review the information collection for Sarah Lockhart in the 1910 census.  See example 4.  A blank 1910 census form can be viewed and printed for completion. A blank form has been provided at the end of this document.

Names of individuals are not in alphabetical order on the ledger page. Read the page carefully to locate Sarah Lockhart’s name.  The 19^th Century script and the microfilm quality can sometimes present interesting challenges for the researcher!

In 1910, the following 32 columns of information were collected.

1. Dwelling Number
2. Number of Family, in the order of visitation
3. Name:  of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910 was in this family
4. Relation – relationship of each person to the head of the family
5. Sex
6. Color or Race
7. Age at last birthday
8. Whether single, married, widowed, divorced
9. Number of years in present marriage
10. Number born
11. Number now living
12. Place of birth of this person
13. Place of birth of Father of this person
14. Place of birth of Mother of this person
15. Year of Immigration to the United States
16. Whether naturalized or Alien
17. Whether able to speak English; or, if not, give language spoken
18. Trade or profession of, or particular kind of work done by this person
19. General nature of industry, business, or establishment in which this person works
20. Whether an employer, employee, or working on own account
21. If any employee - whether out of work on April 15, 1910
22. If an employee – number of weeks out of work during 1909
23. Whether able to read
24. Whether able to write
25. Attended school any time since Sept. 1, 1909
26. Owned or Rented
27. Owned Free or Mortgaged
28. Farm or House
29. Number of farm schedule
30. Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy
31. Whether blind (both eyes)
32. Whether deaf and dumb

Referencing the original ledger page we now get additional information including the following:  Sarah Lockhart was a 26 year old female.  She and her parents were born in IreEnglish.  She immigrated to the US in 1904 and was employed as a servant in a private family.   The head of the household was George Hardy.  There were 10 people in this household.