Sarah Thorndike, Chuck Thorndike, and Linda Woodward, Meredith, N.H., 1952
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=248
May 01
Urban Ancestors: Obtaining EDs for the 1940 Census in One Step
As you will notice, as of this date, the National Archives website provides five topics for the 1940 census: 1) General Information, 2) How to Start Your 1940 Census Research, 3) Indexes and Other Finding Aids, 4) Videos, and 5) Informative Articles and Online Data.
True confessions—When I discussed a process of finding urban families in my post dated the 26th of April I was hasty. I had not explored all of the avenues and suggestions on the National Archives website. Fortunately, Dr. Joel Weintraub noticed my shortcoming and he took the time to comment on that post and offer an easier alternative. The strategy that I had offered was based on suggestions offered in section 2, “How to Start Your 1940 Census Research.” So, like any good student, I went back to the drawing board and looked at all of the offerings on the National Archives website.
My goal is to find the families of 1) Nicholas Lorusso, residing in Worcester, Massachusetts, probably at 615 or 606 Franklin Street, and 2) Anthony Lorusso residing at 24 Orton Street.
“Indexes and Other Finding Aids”
Let’s zero in on the alternative, “Find Census Enumeration District Numbers” using Stephen P. Morse’s 1940 Search Engines”
Using “Obtaining EDs for the 1940 Census in One Step,” by Morse, Weintraub and Kehs, I filled in the blanks as indicated below, I very quickly received the ED for 24 Orton Street, Worcester, Massachusetts.
I used the same procedure to obtain the 1940 ED for the address of for Franklin Street in Worcester. This was did not go quite as quickly—Orton St. is a short road (unpaved in 1970), but Franklin St. is a major artery in the city of Worcester encompassing ten EDs in 1940. Locating an intersecting street near 606 Franklin (Google maps quickly provided a couple of options: Putnam Lane and Villanova St. In 1940 Villanova St. was called “Villa Nova.”
By the way, the 1910-1940 Census in One Step also provides NARA microfilm series and reel number.
Most readers will be familiar with the wonderful website, One-Step Webpapes by Steve Morse. The image below shows the current finding-aids available for the U.S population schedules for 1790–1940.
© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved
Linda@LindaGeiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=226
May 01
Pets – 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History
Marcus and Saxon
On the 1st of March I wrote a short reminiscence of my child hood pets Eric, the Norwegian Elkhound, and Tip-Tip Toes our cat. For this challenge I’ll share a couple of photos of my son, Marcus, and his first two canine pets: Saxon, a beagle, and Sir Lancelot, a Collie.
Marcus and Lance
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Apr 26
Getting Ready for the 1940 Census
It is almost time! The 1940 U.S. Population Schedule will be released in a little under one year (April 2012). In order to use the new record well, we need to study the parameters of the record as well as finding aids that will be available for us.
Did you know that the National Archives website has all of that information ready for our use as well as a blank copy of the 1940 census form? I’m using the information to begin constructing my research plan. What do I need to know before I tackle the records?
- Who do I expect to find?
- Where does each individual or family reside?
- What is the enumeration district in which they reside?
My plan for locating my son’s paternal grandparents will contain the following:
Parents: Anthony and Loretta (Curran) Lorusso
Children: Nicholas, Shirley, Anthony, Peter, and Barbara
Address: 24 Orton Street, Worcester (Worcester County), Massachusetts
Note: Anthony and Loretta were married shortly after the 1930 census, so are not listed in a household together at that time. However, their sons Nicholas and Anthony both told me that they had always lived at 24 Orton Street. I will need to explore the National Archives microfilm T1224 (Descriptions of Census Enumeration Districts, 1830-1950) to learn the number of the enumeration district.
Anthony Lorusso’s parents, Nichola and Antoinette resided at 606 Franklin Street, Worcester, in 1930. Since they were still living in 1940, I expect to find them at the same address. In 1930, 615 Franklin Street was in enumeration district 14-58 (the 14 represents Worcester County). In 1920, the family had resided at 606 Franklin Street, enumeration District 246. It is unknown whether the family physically moved between the 1920 and 1930 census or whether the street numbers were changed.
Stephen P. Morse (with Drs. Joel Weintraub and David Kehs) has a splendid tool called “Converting between 1920 and 1930 (or 1930 and 1940) Census EDs in One Step.” Using this conversion tool, if Nichola Lorusso resided in ED 14-58 in 1930, then I expect to find him in one of these three enumeration districts in 1940: 23-79, 23-80, or 23-81.
It will take a little work, but I expect to be successful!
© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=219
Apr 20
Restaurants – week 16: 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History
Our challenge this week is to discuss restaurants of our childhood. You know, that’s hard to do when your family very rarely went to a restaurant. When we lived in Loudon (until I was about 6 & 1/2) there were no restaurants around and excursions into the thriving city of Concord were few and far between. We moved west to Walpole about 1947. Again, the village did not have much to offer in the way of restaurants, even if my folks had been able to find the money to splurge. In a way we frequently ate when the weather was pleasant. Mom packed a terrific picnic! I remember items were packed in bowls or pyrex baking dishes and pitchers and then wrapped in layers and layers of newspapers to keep the food warm or cold depending on the need.
Excursions to the a dairy for ice-cream was a grand treat. When we were in Loudon, we drove to Laconia to Week’s Dairy Bar. Delightful home-made ice cream in many varieties. When we were in Walpole, the family would drive into Keene to McKenzie’s Dairy Bar. That was a unique experience because the dairy bar was attached to a special barn that had plate glass windows. In the early evening, we could have our ice cream and watch the cows being milked with special high tech equipment. What fun!
As an adult I always enjoy the Red Mill in Westminster and the Old Mill in Sudbury, Massachusetts. I’ve never found a wonderful spot in the Atlanta area—well, Baby Does, but that place closed over ten years ago.
© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=206
Apr 11
Military Monday: Daniel Russell Woodward in Co. E, 16th N.H. Regiment
My Great Grandfather Daniel Russell Woodward served with Company E (Captain Jonathan P. Sanborn’s Company) in the 16th New Hampshire Regiment, N.H. Volunteers. According to his Certificate of Disability found within his pension application [file #WC-711-973, National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. Daniel R. was enlisted by Sanborn on 12 September 1962 to serve 9 months. Following an accident in camp where he fell on a tree stump, he was listed as unfit for duty and and given a certificate of disability for discharge on the 27th April 1863 at New Orleans, Louisiana, where he received a disability discharge from A.W. Smyth MD.
© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=201
Apr 10
Sports – 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History
I’m very happy to have championed the New York Yankees of the 1950s. I first began to cheer for the team because the rest of the family (including Nana Perkins) were die hard Red Sox fans and were positively against the Yankees. What a boring thing it would be for everyone to agree! Of course I was always out-voted when it came to what game would be heard on the radio. But I was not daunted, I was probably the only female in our little village to subscribe to Sports Illustrated which frequently featured my Yankees—Mickey Mantel, Yogi Berra, Gil McDougald, and Phil Rizzuto, to name a few.
Around 1957 or so I clipped this article from the newspaper and carried it around with me until it nearly fell to pieces. At that time I transcribed it. Alas, it was before I learned how important it was to document my sources so I cannot provide a proper citation. I’m inclined to say that I cut it out of theConcord Daily Monitor when I was visiting my Grandmother in Loudon, New Hampshire. Anyone interested in reading the transcript can go to Musings by Linda: Anamnesis
As a high school graduation present, my Grandfather Woodward (a Boston Braves fan) awarded Peter and I with a trip to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox dual the Yankees. Dad went with us. Our seats were directly behind 3rd base (enemy territory for everyone but me) about three rows up from the Yankee dugout—I could almost reach out and touch Clete Boyer who played third base for the Yankees. What a day!
My next thrilling baseball experience was when my college beau took me into Yankee Stadium to see a game. Thank you, Dick, for that wonderful experience!
I continued to cheer for “My” Yankees until my late husband’s company moved us to Georgia. The local newspapers rarely mentioned the northern teams of the American League, after all this was now the home of the Braves. Since I loved baseball, the natural thing to do in this circumstance was to “root, root, root for the home team,” but it was never the same.
© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=189
Apr 07
Spring – 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History
Stinking Benjamin (Wake Robin)
Spring makes me think of Stinking Benjamin, skunk cabbage, and tadpoles.
Isn’t it strange that things we rebelled against as children, we often treasure as adults.
With the first sign of spring Mom would insist that we all set out to explore the meadows and woodlands for signs of wildflowers. As children, we’d moan and groan and were shamefully ungrateful for the wonderful lessons Mom taught us.
When I became an adult I treasured the stollen moments when I could wander out into nearby meadows, woodlands, and creek beds to look for the wonderful wildflowers poking their dainty leaves above the earth and later showing off their brilliant colors and delicate blossoms. I remember forcing my son to take some of those excursions with me when he was young – he hated every minute of it and every mountain trail I made him climb with me! Today (and for some time now, I’m pleased to say) some of our happiest moments together are exploring natures wonders as we hike in Oregon and Georgia.
Copyright. Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=185
Apr 06
Tartan Day 2011
Sara (Waddell) Woodward, was my paternal grandmother. Before her death in July 1955, she related some stories of her youth in a letter to her grandchildren. Within the letter she states, “I do not remember much about my grandfather who was William MacDougall from Scotland. He passed away when I was quite young. I do remember that he built sailing vessels.”
I’m posting the MacDougall tartan as a tribute to my 2nd grandfather, William MacDougall
Linda Woodward Geiger
linda@lindageiger.com
Permanent link to this article: http://www.musingsbylinda.com/MyFamily/?p=180
Mar 30
Wordless Wednesday: Church Choir
3 generations of Woodwards sang in the choir, 1959
Copyright. Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.
linda@lindageiger.com
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