Source Information

Ancestry.com. Delaware, U.S., African Americans in 1890 U.S. Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: List of Selected African Americans from the 1890 and 1900 Federal Population Censuses of Delaware and Related Census Publications: Agriculture in the State of Delaware (1901) and Negroes in the United States (1904); (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1919, 1 roll, 30 images); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

About Delaware, U.S., African Americans in 1890 U.S. Census

Statistical reports are often compiled from collected U.S. census data. In 1901 a report regarding agricultural in the state of Delaware was written by the Chief Statistician for Agriculture and his clerks. Just prior to its publication someone in the Census Bureau disputed some of the conclusions stated in the report regarding “Negro” farmers. As a result, further research was conducted to find all “Negro” farmers in the 1890 and 1900 federal censuses for Delaware. This database contains the list of African Americans identified in this research from the 1890 census. The list is roughly in alphabetical order according to surname and contains the following information:

  • Name

  • Census Year

  • Enumeration District (ED) Number

  • ED Description (locality and county)

  • Occupation

Why this Collection is Important:

Much of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was damaged and destroyed as the result of a fire in 1921. Less than 1 percent of the schedules are available for research today. None of the population schedules for Delaware survived. Because of this problem, the compilation contained in this database is a highly valuable source as it provides names and other information that would otherwise be found in the Federal Census.

Some of the above information was taken from the Descriptive Pamphlet: Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, comp. M1919. List of Selected African Americans from the 1890 and 1900 Federal Population Censuses of Delaware and Related Census Publications: Agriculture in the State of Delaware (1901) and Negroes in the United States (1904). Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2004.