Statewide indexes to federal censuses:

• 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860: book indexes
• 1790–1850: microfiche indexes
• 1870 Hampden County: book index
• 1880 (partial), 1900, and 1920: Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm
• 1910: no index for Massachusetts
  

Town indexes to federal censuses:

• Can sometimes help locate names missed in statewide indexes.
• Are sometimes listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MASSACHUSETTS, [COUNTY], [TOWN]-CENSUS
  

If an index is not available or omits a name:

• Look for the name in the census.
• In large cities first find the person's address in the city directory for the same year as the census (see the “Directories” section of this outline). Then look for that address in the census.
  

The following reference tools help determine which census schedule microfilm and enumeration district to search for specific addresses:

Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60; computer number 55656.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for Boston for 1850–1855, 1860, and 1877.

United States. Census Office. Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumeration Districts.
1870(FHL film 1402859; computer number 299425)
1880(FHL film 1402861; computer number 299426)
1900(FHL film 1303022; computer number 117685)
1910(FHL film 1374005; computer number 176643)
1920(FHL film 1842708; computer number 687949)

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340; computer number 678265.) Lists all Massachusetts towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and FHL film numbers. Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Somerville, Springfield, and Worcester each have special instructions. These often include FHL book or film numbers for city directories.

Malmberg, Emil and Maurine. Street Indexes to Unindexed Cities in the U.S. 1910 Federal Census. Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1993. (FHL book 973 X2str 1910; fiche 6104151; computer number 709519.) Lists Boston street addresses with their corresponding page numbers, 1910 census enumeration district numbers, and FHL film numbers.

Marnier, Mary Lou and Patricia Rougham Bellows. A Research Aid for the Massachusetts 1910 Federal Census. Sudbury, Mass.: Computerized Assistance, 1988. (FHL book 974 X22m; computer number 496539.) This book gives the wards, precincts, enumeration districts, and starting page for each town. Includes maps. Refers to the National Archives microfilm numbers, which can be matched to Family History Library microfilm numbers.

Mortality Schedules. Mortality schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 list those who died in the year before the census. These are at the Massachusetts State Archives, the National Archives, and the Family History Library:

1850 (FHL film 1421015–16; computer number 288912)

1860 (FHL film 1421017; computer number 459531)

1870 (FHL film 1421018–19; computer number 459539)

1880 (FHL film 1421020–23; computer number 459550)

Master Indexes. Some of the indexes mentioned above are combined into one master index of several census years, states, and census types, such as:

FamilyFinder™ Index and Viewer: Version 4.0 [Novato, Calif.]: Brøderbund Software, 1997. (FHL compact disc no. 9, 1997 index; computer number 808500. Not available at Family History Centers. FamilyFinder is a trademark of Brøderbund Software, Inc.) A master index of Massachusetts 1790 to 1860 federal censuses.

Jackson, Ronald Vern. AIS Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1984. (No FHL fiche number, but available at many Family History Centers.) Massachusetts census indexes for 1790, 1800, and 1810 are combined on Search 1. Separate Massachusetts indexes for 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 are on other searches.

State Censuses (1855, 1865)

The original censuses are at the Massachusetts State Archives. The Family History Library has copies of:

Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth. State Census, 1855–1865. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (On 68 FHL films; computer number 377373.) These records are arranged by county and town. They list an individual's name, age, state or country of birth, and occupation.

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