Census Rules
The following are the instructions given to enumerators regarding
Indians...When you read these, you will see the method that was used in an
attempt to make Indians invisible if not non-existent...except when it was
useful for the whites...The 1880 instructions, for instance, make it clear
Indians were to be counted for the purpose of gaining representatives for the
states, but not to be counted as Indians...And contrary to what you may believe,
people were required to co-operate with census takers and threatened with paying
a "penalty" for breaking the law if they refused...
1850 Census:
Indians not taxed are not to be enumerated in this or any other schedule.
1860 Census:
5. Indians. - Indians not taxed are not to be enumerated. The families of
Indians who have renounced tribal rule, and who under State or Territorial laws
exercise the rights of citizens, are to be enumerated. In all such cases write
"Ind." opposite their names, in column 6, under heading "Color."
1870 Census:
Indians. "Indians not taxed" are not to be enumerated on schedule 1. Indians
out of their tribal relations, and exercising the rights of citizens under State
or Territorial laws, will be included. In all cases write "Ind." in the column
for "Color." Although no provision is made for the enumeration of "Indians not
taxed," it is highly desirable, for statistical purposes, that the number of
such persons not living upon reservations should be known. Assistant marshals
are therefore requested, where such persons are found within their subdivisions,
to make a separate memorandum of names, with sex and age, and embody the same in
a special report to the census office.
1880 Census:
Indians
By the phrase "Indians not taxed" is meant Indians living on reservations
under the care of Government agents, or roaming individually, or in bands, over
settled tracts of country.
Indians, not in tribal relations, whether full-bloods or half-breeds, who are
found mingled with the white population, residing in white families, engaged as
servants or laborers, or living in huts or wigwams on the outskirts of towns or
settlements are to be regarded as a part of the ordinary population of the
country for the constitutional purpose of the apportionment of Representatives
among the States, and are to be embraced in the enumeration.
1890 Census:
4. Whether white, black, mulatto. quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or
Indian. ”Write white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or
Indian, according to the color or race of the person enumerated. Be particularly
careful to distinguish between blacks, mulattos, quadroons, and octoroons. The
word "black" should be used to describe those persons who have three-fourths or
more black blood; "mulatto," those persons who have from three-eighths to
five-eighths black blood; "quadroon," those persons who have one-fourth black
blood; and "octoroon," those persons who have one-eighth or any trace of black
blood.
1900 Census:
126. Column 5. Color or race. ”Write "W" for white; "B" for black (negro or
of negro descent); "Ch" for Chinese; "JP" for Japanese, and "In" for Indian, as
the case may be.
1910 Census:
108. Column 6. Color or race. ”Write "W" for white; "B" for black; "Mu" for
mulatto; "Ch" for Chinese; "Jp" for Japanese; "In" for Indian. For all persons
not falling within one of these classes, write "Ot" (for other), and write on
the left-hand margin of the schedule the race of the person so indicated.
109. For census purposes, the term "black" (B) includes all persons who are
evidently full-blooded negroes, while the term "mulatto" (Mu) includes all other
persons having some proportion or perceptible trace of negro blood.
1920 Census:
121. For census purposes the term "black" (B) includes all Negroes of full
blood, while the term "mulatto" (Mu) includes all Negroes having some proportion
of white blood
1930 Census:
150. Column 12. Color or race.-Write "W" for white, "B" for black; "Mus" for
mulatto; "In" for Indian; "Ch" for Chinese; "Jp" for Japanese; "Fil" for
Filipino; "Hin" for Hindu; "Kor" for Korean. For a person of any other race,
write the race in full.
151. Negroes.-A person of mixed white and Negro blood should be returned as a
Negro, no matter how small the percentage of Negro blood. Both black and mulatto
persons are to be returned as Negroes, without distinction. A person of mixed
Indian and Negro blood should be returned a Negro, unless the Indian blood
predominates and the status as an Indian is generally accepted in the community.
152. Indians.- A person of mixed white and Indian blood should be returned as
Indian, except where the percentage of Indian blood is very small, or where he
is regarded as a white person by those in the community where he lives. (Se par.
151 for mixed Indian and Negro.)
153. For a person reported as Indian in column 12, report is to be made in
column 19 as to whether "full blood" or "mixed blood," and in column 20 the name
of the tribe is to be reported. For Indians, columns 19 and 20 are thus to be
used to indicate the degree of Indian blood and the tribe, instead of the
birthplace of father and mother.
154. Mexicans. - Practically all Mexican laborers are of a racial mixture
difficult to classify, though usually well recognized in the localities where
they are found. In order to obtain separate figures for this racial group, it
has been decided that all person born in Mexico, or having parents born in
Mexico, who are not definitely white, Negro, Indian, Chinese, or Japanese,
should be returned as Mexican ("Mex").
155. Other mixed races.-Any mixture of white and nonwhite should be reported
according to the nonwhite parent. Mixtures of colored races should be reported
according to the race of the father, except Negro-Indian (see par. 151).
1940 Census:
453. Column 10. Color or Race.-Write "W" for white; "Neg" for Negro; "In" for
Indian; "Chi" for Chinese; "Jp" for Japanese; "Fil" for Filipino; "Hi" for
Hindu; and "Kor" for Korean. For a person of any other race, write the race in
full.
454. Mexicans.-Mexicans are to be regarded as white unless definitely of
Indian or other nonwhite race.
455. Negroes.-A person of mixed white and Negro blood should be returned as
Negro, no matter how small a percentage of Negro blood. Both black and mulatto
persons are to be returned as Negroes, without distinction. A person of mixed
Indian and Negro blood should be returned as a Negro, unless the Indian blood
very definitely predominates and he is universally accepted in the community as
an Indian.
456. Indians.- A person of mixed white and Indian blood should be returned as
an Indian, if enrolled on an Indian agency or reservation roll, or if not so
enrolled, if the proportion of Indian blood is one-fourth or more, or if the
person is regarded as an Indian in the community where he lives.
457. Mixed Races.-Any mixture of white and nonwhite should be reported
according to the nonwhite parent. Mixtures of nonwhite races should be reported
according to the race of the father, except that Negro-Indian should be reported
as Negro.
1950 Census:
114. Item 9. Determining and entering race.-Write "W" for white; "Neg" for
Negro; "Ind" for American Indian; "Chi" for Chinese; "Jap" for Japanese; "Fil"
for Filipino. For a person of any other race, write the race in full. Assume
that the race of related persons living in the household is the same as the race
of your respondent, unless you learn otherwise. For unrelated persons
(employees, hired hands, lodgers, etc.) you must ask the race, because knowledge
of the housewife's race (for example) tells nothing f the maid's race.
115. Mexicans.-Report "white" (W) for Mexicans unless they are definitely of
Indian or other nonwhite race.
116. Negroes.-Report "Negro" (Neg) for Negroes and for persons of mixed white
and Negro parentage. A person of mixed Indian and Negro blood should be returned
as a Negro, unless the Indian blood very definitely predominates and he is
accepted in the community as an Indian. (Note, however, the exceptions described
in par. l18 below.)
117. American Indians.- Report "American Indian" (Ind) for persons of mixed
white and Indian blood if enrolled on an Indian Agency or Reservation roll; if
not so enrolled, they should still be reported as Indian if the proportion of
Indian blood is one-fourth or more, or if they are regarded as Indians in the
community where they live. (See par. 116 for persons of mixed Indian and Negro
blood and also exceptions noted in par. 118.) In those counties where there are
many Indians living outside of reservations, special care should be taken to
obtain accurate answers to item 9.
118. Special communities.-Report persons of mixed white, Negro, and Indian
ancestry living in certain communities in the Eastern United States in terms of
the name by which they are locally known.
The communities in question are of long standing and are locally recognized
by special names, such as '"Croatian," "Jackson White," "We-sort," etc. Persons
of mixed Indian and Negro ancestry and mulattoes not living in such communities
should be returned as "Negro" (see par. 116). When in doubt, describe the
situation in a footnote.
119. Mixed parentage.- Report race of nonwhite parent for persons of mixed
white and nonwhite races. Mixtures of nonwhite races should be reported
according to the race of the father. (Note, however, exceptions detailed in
pars. 116 and 118 above.)
120. India.- Persons originating in India should be reported as "Asiatic
Indians."
Our thanks to Barbara Ellison for providing this information
If you have any questions please write Barbara
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