For just about anyone who is exploring their genealogical roots, census data is a staple source for gathering the basics. If one wants to know certain details like family member names, age at a certain time, number of years married, occupation, place of residence and birth, etc., you can find this data on the census records every ten years. Piecing these bits of information together allows the researcher to get a working outline of an individual's comings and goings. A good example of this would be the following census record from 1880, which shows relevant information for my third great grandfather David Tanksley and his children, including my second great grandfather David Tanskley, Jr.
Over the past several months of researching my family history, I started to notice a pattern with the census for 1890. It simply wasn't there. For any of my family members. But the census did take place in that year. In fact, it was unique in that this was the first time for the census to be tabulated by a machine. So what happened?
Eventually - a couple days ago, that is - I decided to look into this mystery. It didn't take long for me to find an explanation. There was a fire!
Now, this is surely old news to most of those folks who have been tracing their ancestry for a while. But I figure it isn't something that the average American would be familiar with, at least not at this point in time.
Now, this is surely old news to most of those folks who have been tracing their ancestry for a while. But I figure it isn't something that the average American would be familiar with, at least not at this point in time.
Without going into too much detail, a fire broke out in the Commerce building on January 10, 1921. The records were stacked in the basement. Once the fire department arrived, they proceeded to put out the flames with buckets of water. The water seeped down into the basement and ruined the 1890 census records, and probably any other documents stored there. |
Prior to this disaster, many people within and without the government had been pushing for a proper archives building to keep safe these and similar records of historical significance. In other words, there was a genuine call for a National Archives. What if something similar were to happen to the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution? There needed to be better means of preserving such valuable sources of the country's history.
There is more to this story, in particular how the water-logged records sat around for another twelve years or so before they were officially ordered to be destroyed. And there are some conspiracy tales that surround the whole thing. For now, I have an answer as to why I can't obtain much information on the first decade of Joseph Bushrod White's life. If you want to read more about the story of the fire and the 1890 census records, you can get the detailed article by clicking here.
There is more to this story, in particular how the water-logged records sat around for another twelve years or so before they were officially ordered to be destroyed. And there are some conspiracy tales that surround the whole thing. For now, I have an answer as to why I can't obtain much information on the first decade of Joseph Bushrod White's life. If you want to read more about the story of the fire and the 1890 census records, you can get the detailed article by clicking here.