African American Heritage

Home > Research Our Records > African American Heritage > Guide to Black History: Record Group Clusters > Record Group 29 - Records of the Bureau of the Census

Record Group 29 - Records of the Bureau of the Census


Black History Guide:
Browse by Record Group or Collection

Please click on the National Archives Identifier (NAID) to go to the full records description in the National Archives Catalog.

 

    The Bureau of the Census conducts decennial censuses of population and housing; and quinquennial censuses of agriculture, state and local governments, manufactures, mineral industries, distributive trades, construction industries, and transportation. The records of the Census Bureau are an important resource for researchers interested in African American history and genealogy. In addition to published census data, information about free and enslaved persons of color was captured in the first decennial census of 1790 and continued through 1870. These records will not contain information specific to individuals, but contain large amounts of numerical data spanning various demographic categories.

    Clusters: Genealogical

    People of interest:

    Joseph A. Hill (1860–1938) graduated from Harvard University in 1885 and earned his Ph. D. from University of Halle (Germany) in 1892. In 1898 Hill began work as a statistician for the U. S. Census Bureau and became Chief Statistician in 1909. As Chief Statistician, he oversaw publication of reports on child labor, illiteracy, marriage and divorce, women at work, and a report for the Immigration Commission on occupations of immigrants. Dr. Hill was appointed Assistant Director of the Census Bureau in 1921.

    Textual Records

    Files of Director Kenneth Prewett, 1998–2001

    National Archives Identifier: 1102935
    Some of these records may be subject to copyright restrictions.

    First Count Tabulations of Enumeration Districts, ca. 1930

    National Archives Identifier: 3144723

    Minority Advisory Committee Files, 1982–1993

    National Archives Identifier: 1137821
    These records may be restricted due to privacy concerns under FOIA (b)(6) Personal Information.

    Report on Population, 1870

    National Archives Identifier: 2838898

    Subject Files, ca. 1899–1950

    National Archives Identifier: 2990148
    Some of these records may be subject to copyright restrictions.

    Summaries of Census Returns, 1850

    National Archives Identifier: 2825262

    Electronic Records

    [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 1990: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Supplemental Tabulation Files

    National Archives Identifier: 623497
    Electronic Records Reference Report: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

    [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2000: Special Equal Employment Opportunity Tabulation Files

    National Archives Identifier: 657376
    Electronic Records Reference Report: Electronic Records Relating to Civil Rights.

    [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2000: Voting Rights Data Files

    National Archives Identifier: 657168

    Summary Statistic Data Files from the 21st Census of Population and Housing, 1990–1997

    National Archives Identifier: 594337
    Electronic Records Reference Report: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

    Summary Statistic Data Files from the 22nd Census of Population and Housing, 2000–2007

    National Archives Identifier: 590217

    Survey of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Summary Files, 1982–2002

    National Archives Identifier: 575385

    Selected Categories
    • Survey of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, 1987: Black-Owned Firms - U.S. by Standard Industrial Classification Code (2-Digit) by Year, 1987 and 1982 ( 640658)
    • Survey of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, 1987: Black-Owned Firms - States by Year, 1987 and 1982 ( 640659)
    • Survey of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, 1987: Black-Owned Firms - States and Metropolitan Areas by Sector ( 640662)
    • Survey of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, 1987: Black-Owned Firms - States, Counties, and Places ( 640666)
    • Survey of Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, 1987: Black-Owned Firms - Legal Form of Organization, Receipts Size, and Employment Size by Sector ( 640670)

    Maps and Charts

    Block Statistics, 1970–1971

    National Archives Identifier: 3682030; Local Identifier: 029BLOCKSTATS1970

    Published Record Set of Decennial Census Maps, 1860–2002

    National Archives Identifier: 719190; Local Identifier: 029PUBCENSUSMAPS

    Moving Images

    Moving Images Related to the Taking of the Census, 1937–1980

    National Archives Identifier: 7005; Local Identifier: 29

    Level of Description Selected Records
    Item
    • Counting the Jobless (1937?) ( 7010)
    • Who We Are (1960) ( 7017)
    • How We Make a Living (1960) ( 7018)
    • How We Live (1960) ( 7019)
    • Urbanization (1960) ( 7020)
    • Elvin Hayes [professional basketball player] (1980) ( 7026)
    • Lou Brock [professional baseball player] (1980) ( 7028)
    • Franco Harris [professional football player] (1980) ( 7029)
    • Sugar Ray Leonard [professional boxer] (1980) ( 7031)
    • Data for Decision (1960) ( 7014)

    Some of these records may be subject to copyright restrictions.

    Photographic Materials

    Decennial Census Posters, 1980

    National Archives Identifier: 513300

    Return to Browse By Record Groups Main Page

    Top