The Online Catalog allows searching and browsing of information about the Florida State Archives’ holdings of over 48,000 cubic feet of state and local government records and historical manuscripts. The catalog provides descriptions of over 3,400 collections and lists the contents of containers and folders in many of those collections. For assistance with accessing and using State Archives collections, call our Reference Staff at 850.245.6719 or email us at archives@dos.myflorida.com.
********** D E A C C E S S I O N E D ********** A census is a count of persons and their property, usually for taxation purposes. Beginning in 1790, the federal government conducted a census every ten years in all of the states. Territorial censuses were conducted in areas not yet admitted to the Union. They contain the same information as the state censuses. Federal census records after 1920 have not yet been released for public examination. Census data varies from decade to decade. Federal censuses from 1790 to 1810 typically include the full name of the head of the household; the number and age of free white males and females in the household; and the number and sex of slaves or free colored persons. Census records from 1820 to 1840 include the above information as well as the occupation of the head of the household. They also give categories for the deaf, dumb, blind, insane, aliens, and illiterate persons over twenty. The 1850 and 1860 censuses list the names, ages, sex, color and birthplace of all members of the household; the professions of males over 15; the value of real estate owned; deaf, dumb, blind, insane persons; convicts; those who married or attended school within the year; and illiterates over twenty. The 1870 census contains all of the above information. In addition, it lists parents of foreign birth, and immigrants who were naturalized and eligible to vote. The 1880 census records the address of the household; illness or disability on the day of the census; marital status; number of months employed on day of census; and the place of birth of the mother and father. The 1880 census also states relationships to head of household. An even more specific census was conducted in 1890. Virtually all 1890 census records, however, were destroyed by fire in 1921. The 1900 census contains the following information: name of each person in the household; relationship to head of household; color or race; sex; place of birth of individual and parents; month and year of birth; age; marital status; number of years the wife had been married; total number of children from marriage and number still living; citizenship; occupation; number of illiterate persons; whether the house was owned or rented; and whether mortgaged. The 1910 census contains the same information as well as the year of immigration if an immigrant; language spoken; number of weeks employed since 1909; whether the home was a house or farm; and if persons were veterans of the Union or Confederate army or navy. The 1920 census dropped the questions concerning service in Union or Confederate armies and employment on the day of the census. Also omitted were questions about the number of children born and the years a couple had been married. New questions were asked in the 1920 census about the year of naturalization and native language. The rest of the questions remained the same as the 1910 census. Slave schedules were conducted in 1850 and 1860. These censuses contain the names of the owners, number of slaves, age, sex and color of the slaves. Occasionally the census would include individual names of slaves. The surviving manufacturing schedules were conducted in 1820, 1820 and 1850 to 1880. Records have not been found of an 1830 or 1840 manufacturing census. The 1890 census was destroyed by fire and later censuses were destroyed by congressional order. These records contain names of business owners, location of establishment, number of employees, kind and quantity of machinery, capital invested, article manufactured, annual production and demand for products. Social statistic schedules were compiled from 1850 to 1880. These records list cemetery facilities, their names, addresses, descriptions, procedures for interment; cemeteries no longer functioning and why. Also included are trade societies, lodges, clubs and groups along with addresses, major branches, executive offices and member statistics. Churches are listed in these records as well. A brief history and statement of doctrine and policy of the churches along with member statistics are also included. Mortality schedules were performed between 1850 to 1885 and list the deaths occurring during the twelve months preceeding the census. The records include the dead person's name, sex, age, color; free or slave; married or widowed, place of birth, month in which death occurred, profession or occupation, disease, cause of death and number of days ill. The soundex or miracode coding systems were developed in the 1930's as a means of indexing large collections of historical records. In these systems, phonetic or variant spellings are grouped with the standard spellings of surnames. These groupings help researchers locate surnames which may have been spelled several ways but sound the same. The groupings are given a code beginning with a consonant and ending with three numbers which represent the sounds in the surname. To find information in a census, look first for the soundex number of a particular surname and then alphabetically by given name.
Summary:
********** D E A C C E S S I O N E D ********** This series consists of a microfilm copy of the census records of Florida from 1830 to 1930. The series contains federal censuses (1830-1930) and soundex indexes for federal censuses (1880; 1900-1930). Virtually all records of the 1890 census were destroyed by fire. Censuses were conducted on a county-wide basis and arranged by county name.
Finding Aids:
Published indexes to census records on microfilm are available at the Archives.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Originals in custody of National Archives, Washington D.C.
for detailed listing.