It was a little bit of both - here is a link to an interesting article on the fate of the 1890 census: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/spring/1890-census-1.html Chris Staats RogerCubs@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 10/9/2007 4:40:09 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, proactive@base1778.freeserve.co.uk writes: What was it, fire or flood? Dorothy.