Help Preserve History - Index the 1940 Census!

Hi, I’ve got some important news to share with you!

On April 2, 2012, the National Archives and Records Administration will release the 1940 United States Federal Census.  The 1940 census will be the first census to be accessible as free digital images, keep reading for information on how you can help!

The following newspaper excerpt was how the Associated Press described the census on Saturday, March 30, 1940.

The census is the romance of America all bound up in blue-green volumes. Those books tell of the joys and tragedies, successes and failures of the people who, for 150 years, have been making our land what it is today—the world’s richest and most powerful democracy.

  …130,000 enumerators are going to ring 40,000,000 doorbells between April 1 and April 30, and ask three and a quarter billion questions. These will go to 7000 special census workers in Washington, who will start them rolling through the statistical mill.

Then will come the answers, facts, the Battle of the Census—and maybe a few more keys to unlock the secrets of the nation’s future.

 

 

What was it like to live in the U.S.A. 1940?   
Here are a few interesting facts:

 

• Average salary $1,299
• Average national minimum wage 30 cents
• Average home sold for $6,550
• 55%  of U.S. home had indoor plumbing
• Automobile costs $800
• Gasoline was 18 cents/gallon
• Milk costs 34 cents/gallon
• Postage stamp was 3 cents
• Life expectancy 68.2 female, 60.8 male

  

Are you in the 1940 census, or is someone you know in the 1940 census?  I know I’m not, but my parents, grandparents and great-grandfather are all in the census!  

My Grandparents, Great Aunt & Uncle, my Father, Aunt, and Cousins

How would you like to take part in preserving history and get involved in indexing the 1940 census?

Volunteering to index the 1940 census is easy.  I have started to practice indexing the census, and now is a good time for you to get started. 

This week The 1940 Census Community Project is sponsoring a contest that you can enter.  All you will need to do is download the FamilySearch Indexing software and complete a practice batch that will mimic what indexing the 1940 census will be like. 

 That is all you have to do to enter into the contest for a chance to be the lucky winner of a $100 Visa gift card or a $50 Visa gift card! 

 

 Weekly Ambassador Contest – Get Ready to Index!

Isn’t that great news? 

So what are you waiting for?

Check out the The 1940 Census Community Project today!

As part of the1940census.com ambassador program, this blog post enters me into a drawing for an Amazon Kindle.