POINTers In Person
Chapter 15
Northern New Jersey

P.O. Box 636
Totowa, New Jersey

 
Albert Marotta (#1018)
The Northern New Jersey  chapter of POINTers In Person met at the Elmwood Park Municipal Building on August 4, 2001.  Thirty-three people attended, including many new faces.

Annita Zalenski (#39)  opened the meeting by having the minutes of May 5 read and amended to show that Maria Androski was the member who will be Membership Chairperson.  The chapter’s first annual picnic, hosted by Annita and her family, was a great success.  Also, Annita plans to give a presentation entitled “Beginning Italian Genealogy” in October at the Wayne Public Library.

 Lillian Pappas (#2717) presented the treasurer’s report and told us that our chapter now has 51 members, although 16 members have not yet paid their dues.  Lillian then handed over the responsibility for the chapter’s finances to its new treasurer, Maryanne Graham (#3654).  The chapter thanks Lillian for her years of professional service as its founding treasurer.

 Maria Carparelli (#2100) handed out forms, so that she could update the chapter’s surname database directory.

John Celerdo, an archivist at the Northeast/NY Branch of the National Archives, gave an informative presentation entitled, “Preparing for the 1930 Census”.

The 1930 U.S. Census is scheduled to be released April 1, 2002.  Due to privacy restrictions, data from the census is not available until 72 years after the census was taken.  However, researchers can request a single line extraction for censuses taken 1930 and after by filling out Form BC-600.  This application can be accessed only if the information needed is about yourself or a deceased person.  See www.census.gov/genealogy/www/agesearch.html for details.

Unfortunately, the 1930 U.S. Census is only partially Soundex indexed.  The WPA only fully indexed Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennesee and Virginia.  Partially indexed are Kentucky and West Virginia.
After the census is released, private companies will probably attempt to index all the states.
It is important to remember that the Soundex system is not completely reliable.  This is why it is essential to find out your ancestor’s address before you search.

City directories are useful tools to find the address and to determine enumeration district.  Since most states are not indexed, the National Archives will provide, Descriptions of Census Enumeration Districts 1830-1890, 1910-1950 (T1224).  This source has the 1930 enumeration districts cross-referenced with 1920.  Check the entire conversion table and note every time the 1920 enumeration district number appears.  Remember that street names might have changed and that a street might have more than one enumeration district.  Another tool that the National Archives plans to provide are Enumeration District Maps, mostly on color microfilm.

Many of the questions on the 1930 Census were identical to those on the 1920 Census.
Among the questions on the 1930 Cenus were whether a radio set was owned, what level of education the informer had attained, the place of birth of parents, occupation, if employed, if a veteran and in which war, etc.  However, the year of naturalization is not included in the 1930 Census.

Future meetings will be held on November 3, 2001, February 2, 2002, May 4, 2002, and August 3, 2002.  At our next meeting, John Konvalinka will give a presentation on locating living relatives.

  For details, see our website: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~njpoint/

Back

Home

Next

E-mail POINTers Chapter 15