Dear Commons Community,

On Tuesday, the National Archives launched its new website www.1940census.archives.gov in preparation for its first-ever online U.S. census release. Visitors will be able to search, browse, and download the 1940 census schedules, free of charge.  A National Archives 3:13 minute video short l is available on the site above to help you in searching for individuals.

After two tries, I was able to locate the actual census form used for my parents and grandparents.  Here is a tip for searching:  the forms are kept by house and street address within “enumerator code” order.  For New York City, an enumerator code reduces to a square block.  So for instance if you were looking for an address on the south side of 36^th Street between 5^th and Madison Avenues, you would need to locate the enumerator code used for the west side of Madison Avenue, the south side of 36^th Street, the east side of 5^th Avenue and the north side of 35^th Street.  There is menu of choices for all of the above which will help you in your search.

It was fun looking up family from the period.  Above is a partial image for the form used for my parents.

Tony