The most exciting and significant genealogical news of 2022 is the release of the 1950 U. S. Census on April 1st. I immediately looked for as many ancestors as possible who would have appeared on the 1950 Census, and quickly had luck. Although the search mechanisms were limited at first, they were still useful and had great potential for achieving results. Access and searchability have increased and improved since.
My very first look at my very first page of the 1950 Census resulted in my finding my maternal grandfather. Of course, it helped that he lived in the very small town of Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa. He was the last name on the first page, with the rest of his household continued on the next page. This included his wife, and his sister-in-law, who is incorrectly listed as having the same last name. Here’s a transcription of the information these pages provide for Hervey Dahstrom, Mahelia Dahlstrom, and Olga Mahnke (incorrectly shown with a dash indicating her last name would be Dahlstrom, the same as the rest of the household, but her maiden name was Mahnke and she wasn’t married until 1952, when her last name became Oelke):
Iowa, Clayton County, Farmersburg Town, Enumeration District 22-15, Sheet 1, April 10, 1950:
House Number: L1-6 / B26; Dwelling Unit: 10; Not on a farm; Not 3 or more acres; Dahlstron [sic] Hervey; Head; White; Male; 52; Married; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 60 hours; Mechanic; Implement Shop; Private Employer.
The rest of the household is on the next page: Iowa, Clayton County, Farmersburg Town, Enumeration District 22-15, Sheet 2, April 10, 1950:
Line #1: Dahlstrom Mahelia; Wife; White; Female; 48; [Column for marital status oddly has the #1, not as instructed]; Born in Iowa; Housekeeping; No did not work last week; No was not looking for work; No does not have a job.
Line #2: ———– [sic, should be Mahnke], Olga; Sister-in-Law; White; Female; 46; [Column for marital status oddly has the #5, not as instructed]; Born in Iowa; Worked most of last week; Worked 60 hours; Clerk; Grocery Store; Private Employer.
Following are all of the questions for the 1950 Census. Remember also to check the bottom of the page for select questions asked as a sample of every 5th person, but varies by page, so some pages are lines 5, 10, 15, etc., but other pages are lines 6, 11, 16, etc., and so on. If your ancestor was selected, you will get answers to additional questions about education, etc.
1950 Census Questions:
1. Name of Street, Avenue, or Road
*The following questions are For Head of Household:
*2. House (number and apartment number)
*3. Serial number of dwelling unit
*4. Is this house on a farm (or ranch)? (Yes or No)
*5. If No, is this house on a place of 3 or more acres? (Yes or No)
*6. Agriculture Questionnaire Number
The following questions are For All Persons:
7. Name: What is the name of the head of this household? What is the name of all other persons who live here? List in this order: The head. His wife. Unmarried sons and daughters (in order of age). Married sons and daughters and their families. Other relatives. Other persons, such as lodgers, roomers, maids, or hired hands who live in, and their relatives.
8. Relationship: Enter relationship of person to head of household, as Head, Wife, Daughter, Grandson, Mother-in-law, Lodger, Lodger’s wife, Maid, Hired hand, Patient, etc.
9. Race: White (W), Negro (Neg), American Indian (Ind), Japanese (Jap), Chinese (Chi), Filipina (Fil), Other race – spell out
10. Sex: Male (M), Female (F)
11. How old was he on his last birthday? If under one year, enter month of birth as April, May, Dec., etc.
12. Is he now married, widowed, divorced, separated, or never married? (Mar, Wd, D, Sep, Nev).
13. What State (or foreign country) was he born in? If born outside continental United States, enter name of territory, possession, or foreign country. Distinguish Canada-French from Canada Other.
14. If foreign born—Is he naturalized? (Yes, No, or AP for born abroad of American parents).
The following questions are For Persons 14 Years of Age or Older:
15. What was this person doing most of last week—working, keeping house, or something else? (Wk, H, Ot or U for unable to work).
16. If H or Ot in item 15—Did this person do any work at all last week, not counting work around the house? (Include work for pay, in own business, profession, farm, or unpaid family work.) (Yes or No).
17. If No in item 15—Was this person looking for work? (See special cases below). (Yes or No).
18. If No in item 17—Even though he didn’t work last week, does he have a job or business? (Yes or No).
19. If Wk is Item 15 or Yes in item 16—How many hours did he work last week? (Include unpaid work or family farm or business.) (Number of hours).
Work Related Questions:
- If Employed, (Wk in Item 15 or Yes in Item 16 or Item 18), describe job or business held last week.
- If looking for work (Yes in Item 17), describe last job or business.
- For all other persons, leave blank.
20a. (Occupation) What kind of work was he doing? For example, Nails heels on shoes; Chemistry professor; Farmer; Farm helper; Armed forces; Never worked.
20b. (Industry) What kind of business or industry was he working in? For example: Shoe factory; State university; Farm; Farm.
20c. Class of Worker: For PRIVATE employer (P); For GOVERNMENT (G); In OWN business (O); WITHOUT PAY on family farm or business (NP).
Gregg B. Gronlund 