Hi Shelley and zayzay, I have indexes for many state census and can look up names for you from 1790 through 1880 census as long as that particular state is on the cd. It gives you the page number so cuts down a lot of time, searching for those elusive surnames. Peg > >______________________________X-Message: #3 >Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 23:35:51 EST >From: SShock6038@aol.com >To: GenSwap-L@rootsweb.com >Message-ID: <f815945b.3664c3a7@aol.com> >Subject: Re: Census Records >Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII >Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit > >In a message dated 12/1/98 10:54:25 AM, zayzay@tca.net wrote: > >>Can anyone tell me how to look up census records? Where to look, how to >> >>read them, etc. I would appreciate any help or advice. >> >>zayzay@tca.net >> >> >> >Where do you live Zayzay? When I did my research I went to the University of >Michigan here in Ann Arbor. They had all the old state census' on microfilm at >the graduate library. I don't recall them being very easy to use. In my case, >I had to first look to see which counties are on which reel. Then, once I got >hold of the reel, I had to "browse" through it until I found the surname I was >researching. The names were not in alphabetical order -- makes it very >difficult when the records are handwritten! > >I found out the census records were at the University of Michigan by first >calling the state library in Lansing. They suggested either going to the state >library (which is quite far from me) or going to the university, which is >practically down the street. Each state, depending on where you live might >have a different way of presenting the information. If you run into a snag, >just ask the librarian, he or she will be glad to assist you. > >Shelly Clipson-Shock >