Genealogy friends, if you're like me you have already tried at least one 1930 Enumeration District (ED) in the utility that I've posted as a link both at the title of this post and to the side bar near the NATIONAL ARCHIVES site. Now if any of you remember how jammed up the ELLIS ISLAND site was when it opened years ago, expect the same of the National Archives site. YOU MAY BE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TRYING TO ACCESS THIS!
Now if you are lucky the people you're looking for HAVE NOT MOVED SINCE 1930. So far most of the people on my A list DID MOVE by 1940, though within the same city, which means there could be dozens of Enumeration Districts to look at page by page. Truth is, I wouldn't mind using the microfilm at all!
Here then are other ways to find an address closer to or for 1940 before the census comes out!
1) Listings in City Directories. Start looking in 1940, then 1941, then 1939, and so on. Remember that listing in a City Directory was not free and some families saw no reason to list. Listings for pay were favored by people who wanted work.
2) LOOK FOR A WORLD WAR II draft registration. THE OLD MAN'S DRAFT REGISTRATION will provide you addresses closer to 1940 for men and their families who were well over 40.
3) Naturalizations that took place closer to 1940 will give you an address.
4) Original Applications for Social Security closer to 1940 will give an address. Generally people applied for a SS number when they started their first job at about the age of 16 or when they were ready to retire at age 65. The fee used to be $7 and is now about $36. I'm hearing reports of the Social Security Administration censoring and then sending information, on the basis of longer life expectancy. (This has not been legally legislated and I think may be a reason for protest or asking for your fees back.)
5) Information on CCC or Works Project Administration workers, if you can find it, may also list addresses closer to 1940. On this census participants in the CCC or Works Project Administration were counted where they worked rather than what would be considered their "permanent" address. Eventually indexing may be the way to go.
6) Always check the old neighborhood and surrounding vicinity. Here is where family stories may help.
