It's time to come to your census

Take out one sheet of paper and a pencil.  It’s time for a quiz.  Don’t complain.  You heard me!  Write the letter of the correct answer.

1.       The 1940 US Census will be released

a.      in 2040.

b.      on July 4, 2012.

c.      on April 2, 2012.

d.      on Father’s Day, 2012.

2.       To help researchers find a particular person, the first bit of information they will need to know is

a.      the person’s social security number.

b.      the name of the census taker.

c.      the person’s enumeration district.

d.      the family number.

3.        The index to aid in research will be available

a.      on the same date with the release of the 1940 US Census.

b.      only to those who pay for it.

c.       whenever the volunteers finish indexing.

d.      never.

4.       Who is indexing the 1940 US Census?

a.      a special commission appointed by the US Census Bureau

b.      employees of Ancestry.com

c.       volunteers

d.      nobody

5.       How can you help?

a.       Volunteer to help index the 1940 US Census

b.      Download the FamilySearch indexing software

c.       Complete a practice batch that will simulate what indexing the 1940 US Census will be like

d.      All of the above

6.       BONUS:  For a chance to win a VISA gift card for either $50 OR $100, join the 1940 US Census Community Project contest.

Ok, that was painless, wasn’t it?  Volunteering to index is painless too.  I’ve been a volunteer with FamilySearch for several months.  Of course, I haven’t seen the 1940 US Census yet, but I’ve gotten lots of practice reading people’s handwriting.  You can index as often as you like, as much as you like.  The contest sponsored by the 1940 US Census Community Project is good motivation to join the project and give indexing a try.  With lots of people like you and me helping, we'll have that index knocked out in no time.

For more information, go to the 1940 US Census Project.

(By the way, the answer for questions 1-4 is C, and question 5 is D.)

DISCLOSURE: As part of the1940census.com ambassador program this blog post enters me into a drawing for an Amazon Kindle Fire.

©2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.