Census can help when tracing genealogy

The African-Atlantic Genealogical Society can trace genealogical information back to the time when American Indians first had contact with non-natives. "We can trace anyone who came to America through an Atlantic crossing experience," says Joysetta Pearse, who is president of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island, an umbrella group to various local genealogical groups.

They routinely conduct searches for those of Afro-Caribbean, Eastern European, European, Spanish, South American, Asian and Mediterranean descent.

They can use Census information for anyone alive in 1930 or earlier, because census data is kept private for 72 years. "There's a lot of information you can get from a Census report," says Joysetta, who adds that Census records can point to other useful records. For example, the farm number on a Census can lead to the Agricultural Census for additional information.

They also can use data such as Social Security numbers, birth and death certificates and marriage, military, school and union records.

They've even gone as far as to use governor's records from the Colonies, school and church baptismal records and prison sign-in sheets - which list the person's connection to the inmate.