Crack the Code: Using Enumerator Instructions in Census Research

Census records are a cornerstone of genealogical research—but are you really seeing everything they reveal? Every census taker followed detailed instructions that shaped the information they recorded. Understanding what enumerators were told to ask, how to record answers, and how to handle inconsistencies can completely change how you interpret the data. In this session, we’ll dive into the often-overlooked world of census enumerator instructions to uncover hidden details, explain confusing entries, and help you avoid misinterpretations that can lead your research astray. If you want to squeeze every last clue out of those familiar census pages, this lecture will give you the tools you need to read between the lines and make more confident conclusions about your ancestors.