Are you Indexing the 1940 Census?

The 1940 census is finally here! I hope all of my readers have had the opportunity to locate someone in the census. In order to make it easier for everyone to find their ancestors we need to participate in the 1940 US Census Community Project by indexing. This week's prize for indexing is an Amazon Kindle Fire. Here's what you need to do to be entered into the drawing for one.

1. If you haven't already, sign up for 1940 Census Project contests on the Games and Prizes page.
2. Then go into the indexing software and start indexing. Not set up to index yet? Just go to The 1940 Census website to get started.
3. All the details are on this week's Weekly Contest post at the main blog.

Join the project and index a batch of the 1940 census. We all will benefit. Remember, if everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot.



As part of the1940census.com ambassador program this blog post enters me into a drawing for a Yeti Microphone and two $50 Amazon gift cards.

© 2012, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Search the 1940 US Census - 21COFH

The release of the 1940 US Census is less than 24 hours away! This week, take the opportunity to dig in and search for your relatives. Spend a little time indexing too.

Personally, I am looking for parents. I want to find their family's entries and then inquire about the information their parents provided as well as looking at the neighborhood. I see the 1940 census as a huge memory trigger for my parents and in-laws. They won't be around forever so now is the time to gather those tidbits of information from them.

Hopefully they will be able to tell us some good stories about that time of their life, the neighbors and neighborhood they lived in.

Good luck this week!

© 2012, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Get organized for the 1940 Census - 21COFH Week 13

Can you believe it? The 1940 US Census will be released in 1 week! Who are you going to search for first? Or are you going to wait for the index to come out and contribute to it's creation in the meantime?

This week get prepared for the big day on April 2nd by:

1. Completing 1940 U.S. Census simulation batch. Did you know you can win prizes? Good stuff like VISA gift cards. Just go to the 1940 indexing practice contest post for all of the instructions.  If you haven't signed up to index yet, go to the 1940 Census Project website. Signing up is easy.
2. Locating your ancestor's Enumeration District in the 1930 census or use city directories, draft registrations, old letters or address books to figure out where they were living in 1940. Steve Morse has the Unified 1940 Census ED Finder to assist you. If you are ready with your ancestor's 1940 ED, locating them will go faster.

Remember, if we all do a little indexing, nobody has to do a lot!

Disclaimer: As part of the1940census.com ambassador program this blog post enters me into a drawing some prizes.
URL for this post: http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/2012/03/get-organized-for-1940-census-21cofh.html

© 2012, copyright Michelle Goodrum

If Everyone Does a Little...

...no one has to do a lot.

That was the mantra of the parents of our childrens' elementary school PTO in its early days when the school had first opened. We were a close knit bunch, much like the genea blogging community, and we accomplished so much for our children. It was all because everyone chipped in and helped a little.

I haven't previously helped out with any indexing projects but am ready to jump in when the 1940 US Census comes out in 33 DAYS! So I'll make you a deal. I'll do some indexing and you do some indexing. If we all do a little indexing, no one will have to do a lot and I'm betting that one of us will index the family of someone in our genea community. So let's get on it!

You can sign up to help with indexing at the 1940 US Census Community Project. They say it's easy and I believe it. After all if we can track down dead people, how difficult can it be to index a few names?

You can apply to become an ambassador for the 1940 US Census Community Project here.

Remember, on April 2nd the 1940 US Census will be available at NARA's 1940 Census website. I hope they are ready for us!

URL for this post: © 2012, copyright Michelle Goodrum