census survey

[corrado]

I was told that in addition to the no-record found from USCIS, I need a cunsus survey. I called the regional national archives in chicago, they said I have to do the look up and they will then up a seal on the paper, they don't do a lookup. hhhmmm this doesn't sound right. Did anyone get one of these and how do you do it? If I have to go there myself I will.

[matta]

I was told that in addition to the no-record found from USCIS, I need a cunsus survey. I called the regional national archives in chicago, they said I have to do the look up and they will then up a seal on the paper, they don't do a lookup. hhhmmm this doesn't sound right. Did anyone get one of these and how do you do it? If I have to go there myself I will.

Which census do you need?

If it's an early census (1890-1930), then the best thing to do is search on your own on Ancestry.com or Footnote.com Once you find the record on their site, you can go to NARA's website and order a certified copy using the Page Number and Enumeration District listed on the copy you found. That will really speed up the process and helps to avoid a situation where you pay for a record and it turns out to be the wrong person.

If it's 1940 or later, well, I guess you just have to submit a request. I would still recommend using the eservices website on NARA.gov in order to create a paper trail.

[whymse]

matta - It sounds like you requested one of these from NARA. I requested 3 certified census pages (one each from 1900, 1910, and 1920) and I was able to include ed#, ad#, etc.
You mentioned including that info speeds up the process. Did you find their estimate of 60-90 days to send out the document to be accurate, or was it hopefully less than that? They were so fast for my naturalization documents, so I hope they are as quick for the census.

Thanks.

[corrado]

whymse- I called the regional archives here in chicago, they said if I come down there they would do it on the while I waited, for some of you that may not be as easy if you don't have one close. I know that the chicago office covers 5 states.

[matta]

You mentioned including that info speeds up the process. Did you find their estimate of 60-90 days to send out the document to be accurate, or was it hopefully less than that?

I sent NARA two census requests (for two different records, both from 1930). The first request didn't include the page number and enumeration district, while the second one did. The first request took 60 days, the second request took 22 days.

I have heard of people going and receiving copies from NARA on the same day for naturalization paperwork, but I didn't realize that was possible for census pages. I assumed census copies were done in a different office (all my requests were from Philly, and while the naturalization documents were postmarked from the Philadelphia, the census documents were postmarked from DC).

[corrado]

It sounded like they wanted you to come in and get them so they didn't have to go look for them. If you found them and printed them, they would certify on the spot. In any case this is all easy compared to getting the letter of non-existance. And again if you are in a city that has a NRA office...