2 Replies Latest reply on Apr 7, 2022 5:31 PM by John Dohrmann

    Are others finding errors in the 1950 census schedules?

    John Dohrmann Newbie
    John Dohrmann Apr 1, 2022 3:09 PM

      I found myself and family in the 1950 Census but my father, who was born in North Dakota, is listed as born in Missouri, where we were living at the time of the census. He was asked the extra questions on the bottom of the schedule, and his father's birthplace is incorrect. I wonder if our enumerator was just going very fast. As I was only a couple of months old, I don't remember the event.

        • Re: Are others finding errors in the 1950 census schedules?
          Jason Atkinson Guide
          Jason Atkinson Expert Apr 6, 2022 10:56 AM (in response to John Dohrmann)

          Dear Mr. Dohrmann,

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          Census enumerators wrote down the information that was given to them to the best of their ability and education level. What did the respondent say? What did the census taker hear? The census taker may have misunderstood what was said. Names may be misspelled – the census taker may not have asked. The person they spoke with may have not known how to spell the name. Ages may be wrong if the respondent misremembered. There may be errors as to sex – is “Francis” or “Frances” a boy or girl? The name sounds the same. Errors in census records are common – going all the way back to the first census in 1790.

           

          We hope this is helpful.

           

            • Re: Are others finding errors in the 1950 census schedules?
              John Dohrmann Newbie
              John Dohrmann Apr 7, 2022 5:31 PM (in response to Jason Atkinson)

              I understand all of those sources of errors in general. But this is my entry. My parents were both college educated native English speakers and the discrepancies are not about obscure facts.  My best guess is that my father was out (as rural ministers often are) and my mother was preoccupied by an active 3 year old and a fussy 2-month old baby (me) and the census taker did the best they could.  Since entries about both of my parents households seem accurate in the 1940 census, I can only assume the 1950 interview didn't go smoothly.

               

              Thanks for the reply.