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Archiver > TMG > 2005-09 > 1125628553


From: "Kevin Sholder" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Proper Terminology
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 22:35:53 -0400
In-Reply-To: <2005831233256.632607@Terry3>


Terry,

I'd like to thank you for taking some time to review those instructions. I
have them as well, I just haven't reviewed each of them in detail as I'm
still digging up people in 1840 - 1860 census for a research project. Which
was the point of the question. As I have other original document indicating
town and "kingdom," of course after 1807, which is historically accurate.

Kevin L. Sholder

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Reigel [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 11:33 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [TMG] Proper Terminology

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 21:31:15 -0400, Kevin Sholder wrote:

> I'm curious as to how other people handle the fact that in the US
> census records (1850, 1860, 1870) so often it shows the country or
> birth as Germany. When in fact this is incorrect. Obviously to
> record the census information accurately, this is used. But for the
> actual birth place, if you don't actually know, I would rather not use
> "Germany." What do you do in this case to indicate that they came
> from somewhere in a German speaking part of Europe?

Apparently the instructions to the enumerators changed over time. In 1850 it
said simply to record the country of birth if not in the US.
In 1860 it said "To insert simply Germany would not be deemed a sufficiently
specific localization of birth place, unless no better can be had. The
particular German State should be given-- as Baden, Bavaria, Hanover." There
was similar wording in 1870, 80, and 90.

Then in 1900 the instructions say: "By country is meant usually a region
whose people have direct relation with other countries. Thus, do not write
Prussia or Saxony, but Germany. To this rule, however, note the following
exceptions: Write Ireland, England, Scotland, or Wales rather than Great
Britain. Write Hungary or Bohemia rather than Austria for persons born in
Hungary or Bohemia, respectively. Write Finland rather than Russia for
persons born in Finland. Note, also, that the language spoken is not always
a safe guide to the birthplace.
this is especially true of Germans, for over one-third of the Austrians and
nearly three-fourths of the Swiss speak German. In case a person speaks
German, therefore, inquire carefully whether the birthplace was Germany,
Austria, or Switzerland." Instructions for 1910 were similar.

In 1920 the instructions included "If a person says he was born in Austria,
Germany, Russia, or Turkey as they were before the war, enter the name of
the Province (State or Region) in which born, as Alsace-Lorraine, Bohemia,
Bavaria, German or Russian Poland, Croatia, Galicia, Finland, Slovakland,
etc.; or the name of the city or town in which born, as Berlin, Prague,
Vienna, etc."

In 1930 they said "Since it is essential that each foreign-born person be
credited to the country in which his birthplace is now located, special
attention must be given to the six countries which lost a part of their
territory in the readjustments following the World War." Then followed
specific notes for many countries in Europe and the Middle East.

So, in short, even if the enumerators tried to follow these changing
instructions, we are not sure what we might get. If I have other information
that is more specific, I use that, and simple note that the census "shows
country, as Germany" or the like. If I don't have anything else, I've found
no better solution than to just use "Germany."

Terry Reigel


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