(+)The 1890 U.S. Census: Not Everything Was Destroyed

Beginning U.S. genealogists soon learn that the 1890 census records were destroyed in a fire in the basement of the Commerce Building on January 10, 1921. Many people who would like to see these records just shrug their shoulders and move on.

In fact, the morning after the fire, Census Director Sam Rogers reported the extensive damage to the 1890 schedules, estimating that only 25 percent of the records were destroyed, with 50 percent of the remainder damaged by water, smoke, and fire. 

This is an introduction to a Plus Edition-only article. The full article is available to all susbcribers to the Plus Edition of this newsletter.