From Parchments to Printouts: History of the Census from 1790 to 1950

National Archives Museum
Online

Every census is a snapshot of our country at a particular point in time. As America has grown and changed, the U.S. census has evolved with it. As the first census after World War II, the 1950 Census marked the beginning of pivotal changes in every aspect of our society: economically, demographically, and technologically. Sharon Tosi Lacey, Chief Historian for the U.S. Census Bureau, will trace the arc of progress from 1790 to 1940, then provide the context for how the Census Bureau collected, processed, and analyzed the 1950 Census data. Learn more about the 1950 Census with our Genealogy Series.