With the release of the 1950 U.S. Federal Census, family historians of all levels are primed to uncover or verify key information about their ancestry. In this webinar, Lindsay Fulton discusses what information is provided and how to search the indexed and non-indexed databases, and provides tips on how the 1950 census can be a springboard to other records.Watch the Archived Lecture
Free Virtual American Inspiration Author Event
Historian Anne Hyde on Born of Lakes and Plains and the Making of the American West
Anne Hyde reveals the role of settlers, Indigenous Americans, and their families in early American history, when intermarriage linked disparate communities from Hudson’s Bay to the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest. Don’t miss her illustrated presentation looking at the cultural impact of these mixed-descent families and the challenges they faced over 400 years. April 26 at 6 p.m. (ET). Register Now
Spotlight: Cranston, Rhode Island Newspaper Database
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Cranston is located in Providence County, in eastern Rhode Island. It is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The digital newspaper archive of the Cranston Public Library collects twelve newspapers published between 1889 and 1975, comprising nearly 53,000 pages. You can search by keyword and limit results by title and date range, or browse the entire archive. Click the newspaper title and date link in the search results to view the page images of the issue. Search Now
In-Person Research Tour
Genealogical Skills Boot Camp Take your research skills to the next level with this intensive three-day research program and learn to tackle genealogical problems like a pro. Join us at the American Ancestors Research Center in Boston.
Gilded Tables: The Art of Food and Dining in Edith Wharton's New York
Join Carl Raymond, host of The Gilded Gentleman history podcast, social and culinary historian, and an Edith Wharton specialist, as he takes us into the world of food and dining in Gilded Age New York. April 29 at 4 p.m. (ET)
Join American Ancestors experts for a day of genealogical research at the Phillips Library, which houses the rare books and special collections of the Peabody Essex Museum. May 13 at 9:15 a.m.
Get $25 Off Your New American Ancestors Membership
Now is the perfect time to trace your family history. Get started today with $25 off a new American Ancestors membership! Unlock access to more than a billion searchable names, award-winning publications, unique educational resources, and more. Offer valid with code APRIL0422 before 4/30/22 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Not valid on current membership renewals. Join Now
What We’re Reading
Family Stories Aren’t Fairy Tales — But Kids Still Need to Hear Them “Stories are a way of preserving family history, but more importantly, they create a sense of continuity and resilience, and—this is the thing we often forget—they build a framework to understand painful experiences and celebrate joyful ones.”
Into the Depths: A Black Diver Finds Home Tara Roberts has spent four years researching and scuba diving for Diving with a Purpose (DWP). Composed primarily of Black scuba divers and archeologists, DWP aims to uncover stories of the slave ships that wrecked on the way from Africa to the Americas.
For Sale: Baby Names, Lightly Used “For fifteen hundred dollars, Taylor A. Humphrey, a professional baby namer, will create a bespoke list of options, parsing the semiotics of Isla vs. Calliope and Ansel vs. Balthazar.”
Last week's survey asked if you have made discoveries in the 1950 census. We received 2,631 responses. The results are:
25%, Yes, I found myself listed.
45%, Yes, I found one or both of my parents listed.
41%, Yes, I found one or more of my grandparents listed.
15%, Yes, I found earlier ancestors listed.
5%, Yes, I made a significant discovery about my family.
42%, No, I have not searched the 1950 census.
4%, No, I should be listed in the 1950 census, but haven’t found myself.
6%, No, I searched the 1950 census but I haven’t found my parents or other ancestors.
This week’s survey asks if you have any immigrants in your most recent generations of ancestors. Take the survey now
Want to share your thoughts on the survey with us? We are always happy to hear from our readers. Email us at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Readers Respond: 1950 Census
By Jean Powers, Senior Editor
Last week's survey asked if you have made discoveries in the 1950 census. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Kathy Marshall, Milford, Connecticut: The 1950 Census is the first time I made an appearance! Though the records are not yet indexed, my family lived in a small town, so it was not difficult or time-consuming to find what I was looking for. I was surprised to see that my mother worked as a census enumerator that year. After browsing through more records I found her signature on several pages. Interestingly, her penmanship remained the same throughout her life.
Virginia Hansen, Laconia, New Hampshire: I have found my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in the 1950 Census. While there were no surprises about my own family, there were surprises about my husband's family. His parents were married in 1949. I found them in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1950. His father's occupation is shown as crew leader for the U.S. Census. My husband worked the 2020 Census but never knew that his father had worked the 1950 Census until this discovery.
Bill Morris, Gordonsville, Virginia: This is the first census in which I appear (as a two-year-old). I was interested to discover that my dad worked as a cabinet inspector (I cannot decipher the name of the company but I believe it was either a furniture factory or a television cabinet factory). He had this job before he shipped out to Japan for the Korean War.
D Becker, Centralia, Washington: I have not yet searched for anyone in the 1950 census—I've been helping to index it. I feel that I, and all the rest of those contributing to the indexing project, are working for the mutual “greater good.” The people I am researching will be there when the indexing is done, and I'll probably find them more quickly as a result of this work.
Mary Day, San Diego, California: I knew I was in Massachusetts in 1950, living in a foster home. For years I wondered how that relationship would be listed. I discovered that my brothers and I were listed as "boarders.” I found a 1950 city directory showing that our parents were living together across the country in California. We were reunited, without answers, late in 1952.
New Issue of American Ancestors Magazine
The New AmericanAncestors.org: Expanding Our Vision
The spring issue of American Ancestors is now available online and will soon arrive in member mailboxes. This issue’s cover story provides a behind-the-scenes look at the recent overhaul of our website. We also present articles on researching a 19th-century orphan, an 18th-century clockmaker, and the trousseau of Prudence Merritt, as well as features on family letters, Connecticut mental health stories, and the Fairbanks House Museum of Dedham, Massachusetts. We hope you enjoy this new issue! Access Now
Database News
New Volume for Mayflower Descendent
We've recently added Volume 69 to our Mayflower Descendant database. This update adds approximately 200 new pages and 3,200 searchable names. Mayflower Descendant is an essential source of information on families with Mayflower lineage as well as many other early New England families. The journal includes transcriptions and abstracts of deeds, wills, vital records, and other original documents, and features compiled genealogies and analytical studies of genealogical problems. Search Now
