Hello to all volunteers,
This is the first use of our new project mailing list, to which all
volunteers working in the USGenweb Census Project in Washington, Oregon,
and Hawaii are subscribed. The list is strictly for communication to help
us in our work, feel free to offer transcribing tips, and please don't
hesitate to ask transcribing or proofreading questions.
I have received a number of questions about where to get the census
record, and how to go about transcribing or proofreading it. The census
record is available to you in several forms, listed in order of preference
below.
1) On rolls of microfilm
2) On CD's for electronic images on your computer, copied from the microfilm
3) On books of photocopy images copied from the microfilm
4) On books published of previous transcriptions
Please note the following: For the most part only the first three options
given above are acceptable for use as a transcribing or proofreading
source, but you can refer to previously published transcriptions as a
"triple-check" if you wish, in addition to our two levels of transcription
using the preferred sources. Options 2 & 3 above may sound great, but
unfortunately the quality of the copy is often very disappointing, and
reference must still be made to the microfilm at times to decipher entries.
In addition, I am not yet aware of any CD's having been produced for our
three states, good or bad. As you can see, we are pretty much left with
microfilm, always the preferred source anyway.
Microfilm is the preferred and the usual source of census records for
transcription in this project. Project rules since 1997 have required the
use of microfilm for either the first or the second (i.e. proofreading)
transcription, with it strongly recommended that ALL proofreading be done
from microfilm. Since using microfilm is normally the least expensive
method of doing our work as well as the most accurate, you can see why it
is usually employed.
Microfilm reading equipment is available for public use free of charge
at all Family History Centers and most medium size and larger public
libraries. All branches of the National Archives and Records
Adnimistration (NARA) have numerous free public microfilm readers,
including the branch for our region in the Sand Point district of Seattle.
All college and university libraries have microfilm reading equipment, most
are open free to the public. State Archives and State Libraries have film
facilities open free to the public. Many private libraries and historical
or genealogical societies also have this available. Nearly every location
with film reading equipment also has facilities to photocopy from microfilm.
The census films themselves can be found already on the shelf at NARA,
State Libraries and Archives, large Family History Centers and large public
and private libraries. All of the rest with microfilm reading equipment
can quickly and easily order the film in at no charge or for the cost of
postage, about three and a half dollars maximum.
The usual way of transcribing from microfilm is to write entries out
on paper while viewing the film, then enter into the computer later at
home. A variation on this is to photocopy from the microfilm at the
library, then enter at home, but you must take special care to double check
hard to read entries. Some people bring their laptop to the library and
enter the data as they view the film, but this does not really work as well
as it sounds.
If you have any questions at all about any of the above, please ask
here on the list. I have locations of Family History Centers in all three
states available if you need them. Thank you all so much for the work you
will leave behind for the use of generations to come.
Kevin Fraley (Swimref(a)cmc.net)
Washington, Oregon, & Hawaii State Coordinator
USGenweb Census Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/states/washingt/
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/states/oregon/
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/states/hawaii/