26 December 1919



Be Prepared to Help Census Enumerator

The actual work of taking the United States census for 1920 will begin on January 2nd.  The enumerators will make a house to house canvas to secure the information which they are required to collect.  It will be a matter of great assistance to the enumerators and will enable them to accomplish their work more rapidly and more accurately if the members of each family will prepare themselves with the following information in advance and have it ready for the enumerators when they come.

First:  The name and age of each member of the family, place of birth, education, place of birth of parents and native tongue.

Second:  In case of a farm or ranch the amount of hay, live stock, butter, and eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, minerals, if any, and the value of all products o the farm or ranch—a detailed statement of all the products during the year 1919 should be prepared for the enumerator.

Third:  If you are going to be absent from your usual residence during the month of January 1920, you should be especially careful to take the necessary information with you so that you can answere the necessary questions when called for by the enumerator wherever you are.

If each family will give attention to this matter it will enable the enumerator to secure the desired information without much trouble or delay and will enable the census bureau to have an accurate report of the population and wealth of the State of Wyoming.

All information is confidential and will not be disclosed by the enumerator.
(Rock Springs Rocket, 26 December 1919, page 1 online at Wyoming Newspaper Project)
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Isn't this a wonderful article!

This article actually appeared the day after Christmas in 1919, explaining to our ancestors that the census takers would be knocking on doors and asking questions.  Yes, these are the same census records we can now find on FamilySearch and Ancestry.com! 

My favorite line is the last line, "All information is confidential and will not be disclosed by the enumerator." 

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