Every time you fire up the Internet, pop in a CD-ROM or set up camp in front of the microfilm machine, use this handy checklist as a reminder of what to record in your notes:
- CD-ROM publication information and number, microfilm roll number, or Web site and the date of access
- census year
- census date (even if it’s the same as official census day)
- state and county
- page number of your family’s listing
- line number(s) where the family or person is first mentioned
- enumeration district number and sheet number (only in censuses 1880 and after)
- head of household
- family and dwelling numbers (given beside the head of household)
- local community or subdivision where the family was enumerated
- the names of everyone residing in the household (include even misspelled name or different surnames)
- all information given about each member of the household
From Family Tree Magazine‘s November 2003 Trace Your Family History.
