National Archives Genealogy Series: 1950 Census
Find an EventMarch, April, and May 2022
Videos and presentation materials remain available. Free and no registration!
⇒ About the program
⇒ Participation instructions
⇒ YouTube playlist
⇒ Schedule with session descriptions, handouts, and videos
Condensed Schedule (more details below)
| March 2 at 1 p.m. ET | Overview of What's on the 1950 Census |
| March 16 at 1 p.m. ET | Mapping the 1950 Census: Census Enumeration District Maps at the National Archives |
| March 30 at 1 p.m. ET | The 1950 Census Website: Design, Development, and Features to Expect |
| April 27 at 1 p.m. ET | The Story of the 1950 Census P8 Indian Reservation Schedule |
| May 11 at 1 p.m. ET | From Parchments to Printouts: History of the Census from 1790 to 1950 |
| May 18 at 1 p.m. ET | History of Census Records and the National Archives |
| May 25 at 1 p.m. ET | Historic Census Bureau Sources for Filipino, Guamanian and Chamorro, American Samoan, and Native Hawaiian Research |
SCHEDULEvideos premiere on event day and remain available
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Wednesday, March 2, at 1 p.m. ET
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Overview of What's on the 1950 Census by Claire Kluskens
Our Genealogy/Census Subject Matter Expert Claire Kluskens will provide an overview of what’s available (and not available) in the 1950 Census. |
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Wednesday, March 16, at 1 p.m. ET
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Mapping the 1950 Census: Census Enumeration District Maps at the National Archives by Brandi Oswald
A census enumeration district was an area that could be covered by a single enumerator, or census taker, in one census period. Enumeration districts varied in size from several city blocks in densely populated urban areas to an entire county in sparsely populated rural areas. This presentation will focus on locating and using census enumeration district maps, with an emphasis on maps from the 1950 census. |
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Wednesday, March 30, at 1 p.m. ET
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The 1950 Census Website: Design, Development, and Features to Expect by Michael L. Knight
This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of the design and development approach that was used in the creation of the 1950 Census website. Attendees will also learn about the various search and discovery features that will be available on the website when it is launched on April 1, 2022. |
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Wednesday, April 27, at 1 p.m. ET
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The Story of the 1950 Census P8 Indian Reservation Schedule by Cody White
As part of the 1950 population census, the Census Bureau used a special schedule on certain Native reservations nationwide. Join archivist Cody White as he explains the genesis, creation, and execution of the 1950 P8 Indian Reservation schedule, which became available online on April 1, 2022. |
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Wednesday, May 11, at 1 p.m. ET
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From Parchments to Printouts: History of the Census from 1790 to 1950 by Sharon Tosi Lacey
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. This presentation will trace the arc of progress from 1790 to 1940, then delve into the 1950 Census in order to provide the context in which the Census Bureau collected, processed, and analyzed this data.
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Wednesday, May 18, at 1 p.m. ET |
History of Census Records and the National Archives by Jessie Kratz
Join our Historian, Jessie Kratz, as she presents the history of census records in relation to the history of the National Archives. She will discuss census records before they came to the National Archives, their transfer upon the creation of the National Archives, and the history of their availability and use. |
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Wednesday, May 25, at 1 p.m. ET
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This presentation focuses on historic Census Bureau resources for Filipinos, Guamanians and Chamorros, American Samoans, and Native Hawaiians. We will explore the surveys and census history unique to those Pacific islands as well as the enumeration and representation of their populations in stateside questionnaires and reports. |
About the Program
In order to best prepare you for the opening of these long-awaited records, we are offering a special Genealogy Series focused on the 1950 Census. The series will provide family history research tools for all skill levels along with a general overview to specific topics. Broadcasts of the program sessions will take place in March, April, and May. All are welcome!
Participation Instructions
You are invited to attend, participate, and ask questions during our sessions' YouTube video premieres. Presentations are pre-recorded videos broadcast on NARA's YouTube channel. Throughout the broadcast, you will be able to ask questions, and the presenter will respond in real time. After the initial showing, the video and handouts will remain available on this web page and YouTube.
- Attend via YouTube
- Participate in chat, by first logging into YouTube and then typing your comments into the chat section
- Join us on Twitter at @USNatArchives
Captioning & Transcript
- During the event, live captioning will be available online with StreamText. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for the event, please email the coordinator of the Know Your Records program at KYR@nara.gov.
- After the broadcast, you may request a transcript taken from the live captioning by sending a request to KYR@nara.gov.
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.