R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

District of Columbia
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers And Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CENSUSLook this term up in the glossary.


FederalLook this term up in the glossary.

Federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information about these records.

In 1790, residents living east of the Potomac in what is now the District of Columbia were in Prince George and Montgomery counties of Maryland. The census for Maryland is indexed. The area west of the Potomac was included in the Virginia census, which is missing.

The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses of the District of Columbia for 1800 (the eastern portion only), 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920.

The 1810 and most of the 1890 censuses have been lost or destroyed. The enumerations of a few streets in 1890 are on FHL film 926498 and all the names have been indexed (FHL book 973 X2na 1890; films 543341-42). The veterans schedule for 1890 (FHL film 0338277) and an index (FHL book 975.3 X22j 1890) are also at the Family History Library.

Indexes are available for the 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses in book and microfiche formats. The 1880 has a partial soundexLook this term up in the glossary. (phonetic) index on microfilm. The 1900 has a complete soundex as does the 1920 census. For the 1910 census, the Family History Library has a street index for the District of Columbia (FHL fiche 6331481).

Mortality schedulesLook this term up in the glossary. for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 are on FHL films 1549978-9. All have been indexed.


DistrictLook this term up in the glossary. and PoliceLook this term up in the glossary. Censuses

In addition to the federal censuses, district censuses were taken beginning in 1803. Those for 1803, 1807, and 1818 have little information, but those for 1867 and 1878 are quite detailed. They provide name, age, sex, marital status, color, length of residence, occupation, and nativity of parents. These are at the Maryland State Archives.

Police censuses were also taken in 1885, 1894, 1897, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1912, 1915, 1917, 1919, and 1925 (the 1925 census is missing). These are similar in content to the 1820 federal census and were published in the Annual Reports of the Commissioner of the District of Columbia, which are available at the National Archives.


Return to top of page


CHURCH RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in the District of Columbia were the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Protestant Episcopal, and Methodist Episcopal churches. To locate church records see A Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in the District of Columbia, 1939 (Washington, D.C.: District of Columbia Historical Records Survey, 1939; FHL book 975.3/W1 E4h; film 1036761).

The Family History Library has few District of Columbia church records. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located:


BaptistLook this term up in the glossary.

American Baptist Historical Society
1106 South Goodman Street
Rochester, NY 14620
Telephone: 716-473-1740
Fax: 716-473-1740

EpiscopalLook this term up in the glossary.

The Episcopal Church Historian
Washington National Cathedral
Massachusetts and Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
Telephone; 202-537-6200
Fax: 202-364-6600
St. Alban's Parish
Massachusetts and Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
Washington DC 20016-5098
Telephone: 202-363-8286
For information on Episcopal churches see Inventory of Church Archives in the District of Columbia: the Protestant Episcopal Church, Diocese of Washington, 2 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Historical Records Survey, 1940; FHL book 975.3 K2h; film 1036702 items 1-2).

MethodistLook this term up in the glossary.

United Methodist Archives Center
Drew University Library
P.O. Box 127
Madison, NJ 07940
Telephone: 201-408-3189
Fax: 201-408-3909

Roman CatholicLook this term up in the glossary.

Historiographer
Archdiocese of Washington
5001 Eastern Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20017
Telephone: 301-853-4500
Fax: 301-853-3246
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 29260
Washington, DC 20017

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/8/2001]