About Census Index
Introduction
Census Index is designed to improve access to United States Census information in library collections by providing an online index to Census publications.Records for Decennial Census publications produced between 1790 and 1997 have been entered into to the database. Each record includes basic bibliographic information about the title. Most records also include an abstract. (Record structure is outlined below.)
The records in this database represent primarily print (paper) publications. The database includes records for 1990 Decennial Census titles distributed to depository libraries in CD-ROM format. It does not include records for magnetic tapes or floppy disks. Links to online versions of publications are provided in the notes field in cases where freely accessible versions were found. (Online-only titles are not included in the database.) Similarly, information about a title's inclusion in major microform sets is included in the notes field.
Future Phases
- Image files of Tables of Contents and sample tables from selected volumes.
- Enhancing selected records with additional information about the publications.
Data Sources
The index is based on entries in print indexes produced by the Bureau of the Census --Dubester, Henry J. Catalog of United States Census Publications: 1790-1945. Washington, DC: GPO, 1950.
Bureau of the Census Catalog of Publications: 1946-1972. Washington, DC: GPO, 1974.
Bureau of the Census Catalog. Washington, DC: GPO: 1972-1984.
Census Catalog and Guide. Washington, DC: GPO: 1985-1997.
Additional works consulted include --
Cook, Kevin L. Dubester's U.S. Census Bibliography with SuDocs Class Numbers and Indexes. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1996.
Guide to U.S. Government Publications. McLean, VA: Documents Index, 2003.
Monthly Catalog
Individual census volumes
OSCAR and OhioLINK catalogs
American Statistics Index
CIS Index to U.S. Executive Branch Documents, 1789-1909
CIS U.S. Serial Set Index
Record structure
| Title: | Complete title of publication |
| Agency: | Agency name at time of publication |
| Publisher: | Usually, but not always GPO |
| Date: | Date of publication |
| Description: | Physical description, i.e. number of pages or volumes. |
| Abstract: | Based on entry in index. Also may include information from the census volume, particularly tables of contents. |
| Series: | Each record is assigned one of the following
series indicators: Abstracts and Compendium Advance Reports (1950-) Bulletins Final Reports Indexes [including classifications] Maps and Atlases Miscellaneous and Special Reports Monographs (1950-) Preliminary Reports (1950-) Preprints (1950-) Procedural Studies (1950-) Computer Files (1990)
If record is part of a numbered series, that information follows the
general series indicator. |
| Dubester: | For publications issued 1790-1945, the number assigned by
Dubester.
Year Census Dubester range For publications issued after 1945*, unique number assigned to each record.
Year Census Number range * This pattern also used for titles from earlier censuses, not included in Dubester. For example, 9900.001 and 9940.001. |
| LCNUM: | Library of Congress Classification Number as assigned in index |
| SUDOC: | Superintendent of Documents Number (Sources include OhioLink Catalog, Cook, Guide to U.S. Government Publications, and the Monthly Catalog.) |
| Category: | # Decennial Census ; year Census For example: 13th Decennial Census ; 1910 Census |
| Source: | Index used to create record. |
| Coverage: | Decade of the Census. (If volume contains significant data from prior censuses, those years are also indicated.) |
| Term: | Subject terms: Agriculture [includes farming, ranching, drainage, and irrigation] Business [distribution, retail and wholesale trade, service industries] Churches Construction Industries Fisheries Forestry Geography Governments Housing Manufactures Minerals Population [includes occupations and vital statistics] Transportation Water-Power (specific to 1880 census) |
| OSUL: | Location and call number in OSU Libraries. |
| Notes: | Related publications and other information not included above. |
Searching
Search for keyword or phrase in title, agency, series, category, or [subject] term; or
by coverage or Dubester number.
Search for category "1860 Census" to list the publications of the
1860 Census.
Search for coverage "1860" for publications that include data for
1860.
Or, conduct a boolean AND search in up to three fields.
For example, search for series "final reports" with the
subject term "agriculture" with a coverage date of "1910."
If a single record matches your search criteria, that record will display. Otherwise, a list of titles and Dubester numbers will display.
Search hints:
Series of reports were treated inconsistently in the various indexes.
Thus a series may have one entry for all reports, or each report may have its own record.
If a title search for a volume fails, also try an abstract search.
Census terminology changed over time. It may be necessary to run your search multiple times, using different terms. This is especially true for ethnic and racial categories. For example, Hispanic, Mexican, and Spanish; Black, Negro, and African American.
About Us - People involved in the project
Blake CarverWeb Librarian, 2001-2003
Sherry Engle Moeller
Government Documents Librarian
Leslie Hayden
Resident Librarian, 2001-02 academic year
Mi-Kyong Kim
Graduate Assistant, 2001-02 academic year
Additional Resources
- Breeze, Jerry.
Decennial Census Information at Columbia University Libraries.
- Farrington, Polly-Alida. Subject Index to the 1980 Census of Population and Housing.
Clifton Park, NY: Specialized Information Products: 1985.
- Lavin, Michael R., Jane Weintrop, and Cynthia Cornelius. Subject Index to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Kenmore, NY: Epoch Books: 1997.
- Schulze, Suzanne. Population Information in Nineteenth Century Census Volumes. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press: 1983.
- ---. Population Information in Twentieth Century Census Volumes: 1900-1940. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press: 1985.
- ---. Population Information in Twentieth Century Census Volumes: 1950-1980. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press: 1988.
Search Census Index | Return to Census Data Center Page
URL: http://library.osu.edu/sites/reference/govdocs/Cenindex.htm (Frames)
URL: http://library.osu.edu/sites/reference/govdocs/aboutci.htm (No Frames)
Please send any questions and comments to: moeller.63@osu.edu.
Created by: Sherry Engle Moeller. Last Modified: 20 March 2008.
- Lavin, Michael R., Jane Weintrop, and Cynthia Cornelius. Subject Index to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Kenmore, NY: Epoch Books: 1997.