Listers, For those who thought (as I did) that the bulk of the entire 1890 Federal Census was simply lost "in a fire" in Washington, think again. ;-) An article on the National Archives & Records Administration website entitled: "First in the Path of Firemen" The Fate of the 1890 Population Census by Kellee Blake really should be "required reading" for all citizens, especially those concerned with historical research and preservation. Part 1 of this important article begins on the following link. A link at the bottom of each page will lead you to Part 2, then on to Part 3: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/spring_1996_1890_census_1.html Allow me to pique your interest with this excerpt: "The extant record is scanty on storage and possible use of the 1890 schedules between 1922 and 1932 and seemingly silent on what precipitated the following chain of events. In December 1932, in accordance with federal records procedures at the time, the Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Census sent the Librarian of Congress a list of papers no longer necessary for current business and scheduled for destruction. He asked the Librarian to report back to him any documents that should be retained for their historical interest. Item 22 on the list for Bureau of the Census read 'Schedules, Population . . . 1890, Original.' The Librarian identified no records as permanent, the list was sent forward, and Congress authorized destruction on February 21, 1933. At least one report states the 1890 census papers were finally destroyed in 1935, and a small scribbled note found in a Census Bureau file states 'remaining schedules destroyed by Department of Commerce in 1934 (not approved by the Geographer).' " By all means, read the entire article, and pass along the link to everyone. Frankly, I think it's time we stopped perpetuating the myth that it was merely "lost in a fire"... After all, history does have an uncanny way of repeating itself. -Sandy >