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PROFESSIONAL
TIP: It is very advantageous to standardize your methods for entering pre-1850 census records. This aids in the analysis of the data collected because the orderly display of information helps information to be understood. By standardizing your data entry, it is easier to conduct, focus, and design searches, and the overall final product is more attractive. The figure below shows various methods individuals have transcribed an 1830 census. This is then followed by comments on each method.
COMMENTS ON EACH FORM OF DATA ENTRY ABOVE Sample 1 would slow down your data entry considerably because most genealogy computer programs are not equipped to make columns or tabs. Thus, you would need to space over for each row. Although this might look nice at the outset, chances of everything lining up later when you change font sizes is minimal, such as when the information is printed in a different type of format, or when your data is ever migrated into a Web page or brought into another program. This type of set up would limit your options for publication with serious editing. Sample one also illustrated a non-standardized format for a record type (notice the type of record "CENSUS" was not capitalized) and for the location (the state should come before the smaller jurisdictions in data entry to speed up the research analysis process as explained fully in The Complete Beginner�s Guide to Genealogy, the Internet and Your Genealogy Computer Program). Finally, each space or line used by the computer to set up the information, takes up valuable space in the database which the genealogy computer software program is building. This is necessary for other items which may follow. This means something if when you print your materials into a Web or paper format. In conclusion, Sample 1 takes more time and effort to data enter, it allows for limited printing options later, and it is inconsistent with other documentation formats. Sample 2 is cited correctly, and less information is used, but with the information put in parenthesis a serious problem with evidentiary clues is encountered. Others not familiar with these early census records would assume the names and ages were provided in the original record which is not the case. Except for the head of household, rarely are the names of other people provided on the pre-1850 census records. If you wish to indicate who the people most likely are and their ages, put the information in brackets so others will know that these are your assumptions. Sample 3 is cited correctly, takes up the least amount of space, and is fastest to data enter. WHEN SPEED IS IMPORTANT
For speed�s sake (such as when you are being paid to do research by someone else), you might like to use a slightly different version which is demonstrated above. This format is easy to use when you must enter many individuals of the same name in counties which are situated near each other. Since all the males are listed first, only the first male is stated as such. Then only the first female is indicated as well. Once again, Sample 3 is the fastest to enter. In Sample 1 and 2, much wasted time and effort is used to type the paragraph "( )" markers which are not necessary to an understanding of the record. ASSIGNMENT You have an assignment in this week's lesson to try to locate people with the same surname as your own who live in the same location as your relative on the 1790 to 1840 census records. If you cannot find someone from your own family (or families), find any individual and data enter the information on the census as taught in this lesson. Take the time to transcribe each record and practice the data entry clues provided above. |
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