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Genealogy Talks and Resources

Joel Weintraub, PhD

****NOTE****

THIS WEBSITE IS NOW SUPERCEDED BY:

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PLEASE GO TO THE ABOVE

Current Talks by Joel Weintraub:

Introduction to the U.S. Census

Introduction to Jewish Genealogy

California Birds and A. L. Heermann

"Manifest Destiny": Names at Ellis Island

The Ellis Island Name Change Myth

Finding "Waldo" at Ellis Island

Group Simulation for Ellis Island

Searching the Censuses of New York City

Getting the Most Out of the 1940 Census Forms

Why the 72 Year Rule: Lessons for Genealogists

Crowdsourcing the Path to the 1950 U.S. Census

Genealogical Standards and the Biographies of A. L. Heermann

Joel Weintraub, a New Yorker by birth, is an emeritus Biology Professor at California State University, Fullerton and has won awards for his science teaching. He became interested in genealogy about 15 years ago, and volunteered for 9 years at the National Archives and Records Administration in southern California. Joel produced locational tools for the 1900 through 1940 federal censuses, and the New York State censuses for NYC (1905, 1915, 1925) for the Steve Morse "One-Step" website (stevemorse.org). He, Steve, and their volunteers, are currently working on 1950 U.S. census tools. If you want to help with the 1950 project, email Joel. He has published articles on the U.S. census, the name change belief at Ellis Island, searching records in NYC, and a biographical revision of biologist AL Heermann, and has given presentations on census and biographical research, immigration and naturalization, and Jewish genealogy. His hobbies include birding, collecting census memorabilia, and making interesting PowerPoint presentations.

Joel has spoken to a number of organizations on biography and genealogy topics. That includes: American Library Association Anaheim CA, Association of Professional Genealogists - Orange County CA branch, British Isles FHS-USA Los Angeles CA, California Genealogical Society, Chula Vista Genealogical Society CA, Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society, Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego CA, DearMyrtle Webinar on the 1940 Census, Escondido Family History Fair CA, Family History Center of Orange CA, International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, Jewish Genealogical Society of British Columbia, Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles CA, Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon, Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, Genealogical Society of North Orange County California, Hemet-San Jacinto Genealogical Society CA, Jewish Genealogical Society Conejo Valley and Ventura CA, Jewish Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento CA, Jewish Genealogical Society of San Diego CA, Jewish Genealogical Society of Southern Nevada, National Archives and Records Administration - Laguna Niguel CA, Los Angeles Westside Genealogical Society, Marin County Genealogical Society CA, Niguel Shores (Dana Pt) Women's Club and Men's Club CA, North San Diego County Genealogical Society CA, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at California State University Fullerton CA, OLLI at University of California Irvine, Orange County California Genealogical Society, Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society CA, Orange County Library Genealogy Series, Orange County Natural History Lecture Series CA, POINTers in Person Encinitas CA, Questing Heirs Genealogical Society Long Beach CA, Root Cellar - Sacramento Genealogical Society CA, San Bernardino Audubon Society (Redlands CA), San Diego Jewish Genealogical Society CA, San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society CA, San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society CA, Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society CA, San Diego Genealogical Society CA, Sea and Sage Audubon Society CA, South Bay Cities Genealogical Society, South Orange County California Genealogical Society CA, Southern California Genealogical Society (Burbank Jamboree), Ventura County Genealogical Society CA, Whittier Area Genealogical Society CA.

Ellis Island talks: It started as a simple 1 hour presentation on finding difficult-to-find

people on the manifest, using less than 5 strategies. Not only do I have now 9-10 different strategies, but I have added information on the Ellis Island Name Change Myth. I have an online essay on the Name Change Myth at: https://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/ellismythnames.html

Thus I offer societies a number of possible talks. A 75 minute presentation on Manifest Destiny: Names at Ellis Island emphasizing the history of Ellis Island and U.S. Immigration during it's heyday, finding difficult people with some strategies, and a short discussion on the name change myth.

I have given one hour presentations involving “Finding Waldo at Ellis Island” with

10 strategies shown. Another one hour spin off from the original talk is titled “The Ellis Island Name Change Myth”. Given that most genealogists do not accept the name change belief, it is likely that I won't be giving that presentation that often.

I try before the Ellis Island talks to involve people in a simulation of what immigrants went through going through Ellis Island. The Seattle group I talked to bought into it and had 15 members assume roles to “process” their own members with the various original immigration documents I have, IQ jigsaw puzzle test, stamping of documents, etc. that I supplied. The Boston group I talked to in June 2018 had some of their members go through a script, with me being the narrator, showing various documents and procedures before their membership. At the very least, I come dressed as an Ellis Island Inspector, and stamp members medical clearance card (which is on their handout for the talk) and ask a few questions leading to their being “chalked” (through Saranwrap). If I have more help, I can increase the types of interactions.

More Details:

"Finding “Waldo” at Ellis Island"

Have you tried and failed to find your ancestors’ names on immigration manifests from Ellis Island? Using a case study, Weintraub will demonstrate nine different strategies to help you locate the records of your elusive immigrant ancestors. We will start with a 12 year old boy on his 1907 voyage from Hamburg, Germany to New York, and then find out why some search strategies cannot find his record (including the Ellis Island search database!), and surprisingly why some other strategies can find his record!!! There will be a number of take home messages here for researchers, even those who have done many such searches, so be prepared to be entertained, confused, and educated about the assumptions behind the databases we use for immigration searches including some lesser known ones.

“What Happened At Ellis Island: The Name Change Myth”

The idea that inspectors at Ellis Island regularly Americanized immigrant names is a persistent myth. We will investigate the evidence that should exist (it doesn’t) to confirm the story as fact, and why name changing at the station was improbable given how immigrants were processed. The history of this immigration station, the types of people who passed through their doors, the legal documents (including their name) they came

with, and station detention documents generated for about 1/6 of them, will be discussed with actual examples. Note: be prepared to avoid deportation by Inspector Weintraub.

""Manifest Destiny": Names at Ellis Island"

Come feel a fraction of what our ancestors may have experienced when they arrived at Ellis Island. You will gain a greater appreciation of the Manifest as a genealogy research tool and will be prepared to successfully negotiate the "Island of Tears.” This main

immigration station into the U.S. was most active from 1892 through 1924. About 70 percent of immigrants to the U.S. during this time came through Ellis Island. The history of this immigration station, including the Wall of Honor will be discussed. The pressures of the "Great Migration" eventually led to immigration quotas. The persistent myth of name changes at Ellis Island will briefly be discussed. Twenty percent of immigrants ended up listed on detention sheets and we will find out where those can be found. Finally, using a case study, Joel will detail a number of name search utilities you can explore later.

Another recent talk that Joel developed concerns the biographies of an important mid-19th century collector of natural history in California and the Southwest. Forty years after the death of Adolphus Heermann, the first biography appeared based mainly for personal information on two people who knew him. Very little is presented on his early years. The next biography relied on information provided on the family by a granddaughter of his father, and that turned out to be inaccurate, but most subsequent studies used the same information. By using modern approaches to family research, Joel has been able to document the true date of birth and death of this naturalist, and to fill in many important details of his fascinating life. The talk emphasizes, in a case study, the pitfalls and promises of genealogy research and what is the nature of documentation and genealogy "facts." When this talk was given to natural history groups, the collecting experiences of A. L. were emphasized. (This research was published in the Journal Cassinia. To see a scan of the article: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12108455/Cassinia%20Paper.pdf)

OLDER TALKS

Links for "Searching the US Census by Geographical Means" (Locational Searches)

~~~Talk Handout~~~

Links for "The US Census: Questions, Confidentiality, and the 72 Year Rule"

(Alternate Title: Why the 72 Year Rule: Lessons for Genealogists)

2007 Video Interview: Eastman/Morse/One Step Site

Links for "Preparing Locational Tools for the 1940 Census Opening"

(Updated title: 1940 Census: Locational Search Tools For Finding Families)

"Navigating the New York Census with Fewer Tears (input from Steve Morse)" (Updated to include both Federal and State Censuses)~~~ Talk Summary ~~~

Websites for Census Talks on 1940 Census

1. Origin of 72 year Rule (Joel's Paper): http://www.stevemorse.org/census/rule72.html

2. NARA 1952 Exchange of Letters: http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/1952.html

3. Section 2108 spelling out "rule": http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/#nara

4. NARA 1940 website: http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/index.html

5. Enumerator Handbook pdf: http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/complete-instructions.pdf

6. IPUMS Enumerator Handbook Instructions 1850-1950: http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/tEnumInstr.shtml

7. NARA 1940 Population Schedules Website: http://1940census.archives.gov/search/#searchby=location&searchmode=browse&year=1940

8. NY Public Library 1940 Telephone Directories: http://directme.nypl.org/

9. One-Step 1940 Schedule Codes: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/codes1940.html

10. One-Step Large City ED Finder: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/index.html

11. One-Step 1940 ED Definitions: http://www.stevemorse.org/ed/ed.php

12. One-Step 1930 to 1940 ED # Conversions: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/ed2040.php

13. One-Step (all in one tool) Unified Page: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/unified.html

14. One-Step 1940 ED maps: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/xml1940edmaps.html

15. One-Step Comprehensive 1940 Tutorial: http://www.stevemorse.org/census/quiz.php

The 1940 Census June 2012 ALA Handout

Talk Outline: 1. The 1940 Census: a. Why and How; b. The Undercount; c. Notations and Codes; d. Some 1940 questions. 2. Online searches: a. Name Searches; b. Searches by ED definitions & Maps; c. Searches using One-Step Tools; d. Troubleshooting

Constitution: Count number of free people excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons; The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.

72 Year Rule: 1902 Census Bureau established; 1934 National Archives established; 1942 Precedent established; 1952 Precedent formalized; 1978 Precedent codified

1940 Census Coverage: Continental United States; Alaska; American Samoa; Guam; Hawaii; Panama Canal Zone; Puerto Rico; Virgin Islands of US

Undercount = people missed on census: Movement; Refused to participate; Inaccurate enumerator maps/addresses; Crowded areas difficult to count; Isolated areas difficult to count

Enumerators: Good handwriting, could follow written instructions, paid by the piece of work, had many tools for people not at home, could ask neighbors for information

Numbering, Notations and Codes: 3 sequences of page numbers (transients), who gave information, codes based on existing schedule information and put on sheets well after actual enumeration

Some 1940 Census Topics: Sampling, Education, Movement 1935 to 1940, Wages controversy, Married women sampling questions controversy

Name indexes: The Good- Efficient way of finding people; Don’t have to know about enumeration or construct of enumeration district; Get to right page without going through the entire ED. The Bad: Problem of unusual sounding names; Some people gave incorrect names; May have abbreviated names or put down nicknames; Confidentiality and penmanship; Name entry errors; Impaired census images; Handwriting interpretation. USE WILDCARDS AND RELAX ASSUMPTIONS

Locational Searches: To find people when name indexes fail; To confirm a missed address; To look up “John Smith”; To find the history of a house; If there isn’t a name index.

Address/location Sources: Address Books; Birth/Death/Marriage Certificates; City Directories and Telephone Directories (about 1/3 of US residential units had phones in 1940) including NYC; Diaries; Employment Records; Letters, Envelopes, and other correspondence; Local Newspapers; Naturalization Records; Photographs; Relatives; School and Church Records; Scrapbooks; Social Security Application; Their 1930 ED location if they haven't moved; WW II Draft Registration

Enumeration Districts: Abbreviated ED; Area an enumerator counts; Each has a unique, two-part number within the state; Boundaries and ED numbers often change every 10 years

Using ED definitions….. great for rural areas, poor for urban areas. Boundary definitions and block definitions for urban areas. What is on the original films and what was transcribed.

Using Maps… can be very good but may be missing for an area, multiple numbers on maps, no ED # prefix in many large cities, illegible, not indexed. At NARA’s OPA, 1940 website, One-Step utility

Street Indexes on One-Step site: stevemorse.org NOT stevemorse.com. Volunteers, have over 1,215 urban areas and covers 82% of urban populations in 1940. Block searches. Block numbers. Example of use and assumptions

Conversion of 1930 ED # to a 1940 ED # One-Step tool.

One-Step Unified Tool

One-Step Tutorial

Troubleshooting 1940 Negative Locational Searches

My general strategy: 1. Redo the problem search; 2. Use 1930 One-Step ED Finder (if the urban area is there) and if an ED # is found, convert this 1930 # to a 1940 #(s) and then…; 3. Check #(s) on 1940 ED definition scan to find the block of interest and see if there is an omission; 4. Check census ED map versus modern map for location to see if out of city limits in 1940; 5. If needed, I would check my 1930/1940 city maps and guides library. The following are specific situations that are often brought to my attention.

No street name on One-Step locational index or street not shown within ED specified: Out of city limits in 1940?; “City limits” on 1940 ED definitions hides the underlying street name (which is the name searched for); Renamed street; Transcription error leading to omission; Not a residential street therefore not shown on population schedule; Street added to make search strategy work but isn’t covered by that ED #; McMillan/MacMillan, De Witt/Dewitt confuses user and doesn't find the street on the list; No street modifiers on city’s data set but is correct listing; Have misspelled street name; Shown as “unknown” on ED definitions or illegible or not named on 1940 ED map or description

Nonsense ED or very wrong #s: Renumbering of addresses?; Used ED definitions for boundary city for locational search; Misread map or misread address?;Entered non-block (outside) street name as cross or back street; Need to ask where did address come from? Year?; Use another modern mapping program to see if location non on that block or on that side of street

Where is 15 Oak?: found 11, 13, 17, 19 Oak---Check Pages 61… where the enumerator went back and got people missed on the first sweep of area; Get block # and check that Enumerator covered that block.... the number is written on the top of the census page; Check Name Index but probability of finding person when can't find the house is low; 5% of Population Was Missed on the 1940 census

Where is 15 Oak?: found 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 or 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 thus you are close, address may be in adjacent ED; Was this a search based on ED boundary definitions?; Use different mapping program for area to see if the location maps on a different block or side of street; Find ED # on Census map and look for adjacent EDs and their numbers; Check ED definition on the NARA scans for area EDs and definitions

Joel's Email: census1940@cox.net

or

census1950@cox.net