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Be grateful it's only 72 years - it's a 100 in the UK (their most recent census release was 1911 last year). The whole idea is to keep the personal details private for a "lifetime" - so most people on the census will be dead by the time it's released. Of course plenty of people live longer than 72 years but it makes sense when the average life expectancy is somewhere in the 70s - probably when the rule was set, it was 72, now I think it's closer to 78. But I guess that's why it's 100 years in the UK - the amount of people who live to be 100+ is minuscule so they don't have to worry about it. 50 years would certainly mean a good portion of people on the census are still alive and there's more risk that a lot of people would object. Obviously, you'd be okay with it but not everyone would be and the census bureau has to consider them.
I suppose you are right, but, it seems more bureaucratic than logical; Maybe I'm missing something, but, what type of census information would be "too sensitive" after 72 or even 50 years? There's probably something obvious, but, nothing immediately comes to mind for me.
I suppose you are right, but, it seems more bureaucratic than logical; Maybe I'm missing something, but, what type of census information would be "too sensitive" after 72 or even 50 years? There's probably something obvious, but, nothing immediately comes to mind for me.
Believe it or not, some people don't move for 50 years. They have a right to not be listed in public directories and making their address on the census public would violate that right. Birth dates, as well. While the censuses up to 1940 haven't listed exact birth dates, I imagine later ones do. Some people are touchy about their birth dates being publicized, due to identity theft. My mom is paranoid about that - whenever she signs up for something online and it asks for a birthday, she puts in a false date. There's also some financial data on there - on the 1940 census in particular, an income field was added and I was always taught that your income amount (past or present) should be private. Education - some people might be embarrassed if they never finished high school or college and don't exactly want it broadcast.
Like I say, obviously, these things aren't sensitive to you but they are to many people.
I suppose you are right, but, it seems more bureaucratic than logical; Maybe I'm missing something, but, what type of census information would be "too sensitive" after 72 or even 50 years? There's probably something obvious, but, nothing immediately comes to mind for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PA2UK
Believe it or not, some people don't move for 50 years. They have a right to not be listed in public directories and making their address on the census public would violate that right. Birth dates, as well. While the censuses up to 1940 haven't listed exact birth dates, I imagine later ones do. Some people are touchy about their birth dates being publicized, due to identity theft. My mom is paranoid about that - whenever she signs up for something online and it asks for a birthday, she puts in a false date. There's also some financial data on there - on the 1940 census in particular, an income field was added and I was always taught that your income amount (past or present) should be private. Education - some people might be embarrassed if they never finished high school or college and don't exactly want it broadcast.
Like I say, obviously, these things aren't sensitive to you but they are to many people.
What is the rules on this? Is it 75 yrs? So it would be available starting 2015?
Is that correct?
72. It's coming out in just a couple of days, April 2nd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel Man
More on my maternal Great Grandfather. Will we be able to search on the US gov website or will we have to pay to join Ancestry.com?
I won't see myself in the census until I'm 79.
Check with your local library. A lot of them have ancestry.com available *at* the library. They may be quite busy with people coming in to search the newly released census next month, however.
I suppose you are right, but, it seems more bureaucratic than logical; Maybe I'm missing something, but, what type of census information would be "too sensitive" after 72 or even 50 years? There's probably something obvious, but, nothing immediately comes to mind for me.
Some people have first marriages or deceased children that they don't want to be reminded of. Not necessarily for sneaky reasons, though sometimes. Can just be a matter of privacy or not dredging up old memories.
I hope to locate my grandmothers birth parents to see if my grandmother has any siblings. My Grandmother was born in 1930 and adopted. I believe I've found both her birth parents, but don't know if either of them had any other children. They were 16 and 24 when my grandmother was born and were never married (at least not that I can find and my grandmother was given the birth mothers last name, not the fathers).
If anyone has any information on Ruth Muriel Booker (aka Ruth Booher, Ruth Merle Cochran - b. 28/Sept/1912(?) Indiana d. 28/Oct/1994(?) Orange County, California, or Elmer Hugh Wright b.7/Oct/1906 Oklahoma d. 11/Oct 1996 Riverside, California, I would greatly appreciate any and all information you are willing to share.
If the 1940 census is being released organized by cencus district, would those be the same as on the 1930 census?
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