A newsletter reader wrote with questions about the 1910 census. I believe I found the answers but would love "second opinions" from anyone who is more experienced with these records. The newsletter reader wrote:
Do you by any chance (or can you direct me where to find out) what it might mean that I found a list of people, all identified on the 1910 Census as "Partners" (in relation to Head column)? Their occupation is listed as Soldier and then C.A.C. A google of C.A.C. turns up numerous possibilities for what C.A.C. might stand for in a military sense. This isn't something I've run across before, and I'm surprised by the Partner designation if they are military - why not give their specific rank instead?
(Click on the thumbnail image to see a larger picture.)
The question about "partners" can be answered by the instructions given to enumerators (census takers) in 1910. In fact, the word "partner" hasn't changed much in the past 100 years. In 1910, the Census Bureau wrote:
105. If two or more persons share a common abode as partners, write head for one and partner for the other or others.
Reference: http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/inst1910.shtml
So a "partner" could be any person who is not married to the head of household. While not spelled out in the instructions, the partner and the head of household might be male and female or they might be two people of the same sex. Yes, same sex "partners" were not unusual even 100 years ago. However, I believe the word "partner" could also apply to a group of people of equal rank, unrelated to personal relationships, such as the occupants of a dormitory or barracks or work camp. If two or more people were partners in a business and lived in the same house, such as a co-owners of a farm or ranch, I suspect one could be listed as head of household and the other(s) as "partner(s)."
I do not see any reference to anything dealing with the military in the instructions given to enumerators (census takers) in 1910. However, the letters "C.A.C." probably mean "Coast Artillery Corps," such as Battery E, 58th Artillery, CAC. Quoting from U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps 1901-1950 at http://www.cdsg.org/CACunits.htm:
By the end of 1898, the US Army artillery was organized into seven regiments, two of which were created that year. In 1901, the regimental organization of the US Army artillery was abolished, and 126 companies of heavy (coast) artillery and 30 companies of light (field) artillery were established. In 1907, the artillery was split into a field artillery, with a regimental organization, and the coast artillery corps, with additional coast artillery companies, making a total of 170 companies.
Does anyone else have ideas?
