[email protected] wrote: > > I am so new to this that I'm ignorant as to how to research census records. > Would you enlighten me please? > > Marilyn A. Parke > Hi Marilyn, Everyone starts somewhere!! Don't hesitate to ask questions. If you are really new, you need to start with yourself. List your birthdate, place, and then do the same for your parents, and then your grandparents. Keep in mind, you have two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, etc. The number continues to double!! If you know the birth place, list it by name as well as the county and the state. AND don't use a two-digit number for the years. ALWAYS always use the four numbers -- '87 could mean 1887 or 1987. See what I mean? Some Libraries will have genealogical material you can check. Census records were taken from 1790 and every 10 years after that. years 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 only list the head of the household and the number of residents by gender in certain age groups. In 1850, every name census was taken, and the relation of the person to the head of the household. THIS is the one census that really gives people a boost because it gives names! The last census released to the public is the 1920 census. The 1930 will be released in 2002. Each census is held for 70 years and then it takes about 2 years for copies to be made and released to the public. If you have a Latter Day Saints Family History Library (the Mormon church) near you, they can order just any microfilm that you will ever want. You do not have to be a member to use their facilities, and the assistants I have been in touch with are most helpful. A FHL has access to hundreds of thousands of microfilm rolls which cover just about any sugject you could think of. When posting a query to any mailing list or county website, give the information you know. Such as your grandfather's name, date of birth, and any other pertinent information you have -- to say I am looking for Peter Parks in Illinois doesn't give a person much to go on. But if you say I am looking for Peter Parks, born 1807 in Vermont who then moved to New York, and Michigan before settling in Illinois will give a reader much more to compare with their records. I'll warn you now -- genealogy is addictive!! But it is so rewarding when you find another family member, or generation back. Just last week, I learned of my 4 great grandfather John PARKS' father, James. I was totally thrilled. There are records for birth, death, marriage, probate, land purchases, sometimes baptisim from church records, census records, cemetery records, tax records, military records all available to us. I may have given you more information than you wanted. But if you have any questions, please let me know and I'll see what I can do to help. I can't do the research for you, but I might be able to give you some hints. Hugs from Iowa Sandra