by Sue Ziemski, Librarian

We continue to find interesting volumes in our stacks! Here are just a few of our latest discoveries:

Various US federal census, state, and local government records:

The US federal census started in 1790 and is taken every 10 years as mandated by the US constitution. It often includes more than just names and households. Each cycle included a specific schedule such as agricultural holdings, mortality information; and some years included information on veteran pensions. These schedules are found at the end of the main census report.

The 1840 federal census included a schedule of Revolutionary War veteran pensions. The NVGS library has a compilation of these schedules for all the states arranged by state, county, and city (Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services with their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, Call No. 312 UNIT).

The 1890 federal census included the schedule of veterans and widows collecting pensions for service in the Civil War. Because this information is unique, it is often available as a separate publication. This is especially critical because much of the 1890 census held by the Federal government was destroyed by fire.

State and local governments have reconstructed some of those lost federal records. The NVGS library has many of these volumes:

• Kansas (Annals of Kansas, 1886-1925, Call No. 978.1 H38k)
• Texas (Comanche County, Texas, census records : 1860 and 1870 Federal census, with index to the 1880 Head of Households, and the Special 1890 census of union veterans and widows, Call No. 976.4554 X25h)
• Eastern Kentucky (Confederate Soldiers & Widows Pension List for Southeastern Kentucky, Call No. 976.9 X28w)
• Oakland County, Michigan (Eleventh Census of the U.S. 1890 Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Call No. 977.438 K29o), to name a few.

In addition, we have a volume of Texas Confederate pension applications, both approved and rejected (Index to Applications for Texas Confederate Pensions, Call No. 976.4 M28k).

Many states conducted a state census in the years between the federal census that often contained information missing in federal censuses. The NVGS library has quite a few copies of these records that can offer valuable genealogical information not found elsewhere.

Plan your visit to the NVGS library to explore these gems!

Find more Treasures in Our Stacks. Search our online catalog.