Old York Road Genealogical Society

NARA Staffer Rebecca Warlow gave a 15-minute orientation on using the 1930 census, which is why a majority of the attendees attended. As most of you know by now, the biggest hurdle to using the 1930 census is the lack of an index for Philadelphia and the rest of the Commonwealth. The only Soundex available is for 12 southern states. Your 1930 search must begin, at least in the cities and larger boroughs, with directory research. NARA had the foresight to acquire microfilm of a significant number of directories for the entire nation.But even with an address, your problem is not yet solved: You must then identify the enumeration district into which that address falls. Fortunately, all is not lost!

The good fairy has appeared, taking the form of local professional researcher Susan Koelble of Bare Roots Publishing. She and her daughter, Kristin Bryson, have produced a marvelous research aid titled Philadelphia Enumeration Districts of 1930 ($25; 10% discount if purchased by a GSP member). There are two copies on the counter at the archives. A companion volume covering the remainder of the state is expected to be released any day. In brief, with a street and a house number, you can rapidly identify the enumeration district (ED) where your ancestors were living. Once you're in the ED, your search should go quickly.

Toward the end of the afternoon, I took a shot at 1930 myself. From start to finish, it took me less than 15 minutes to find my grandparents at 9190 Perkiomen Turnpike (Germantown Ave.) and make photocopies for my surviving aunts and myself. The word is out that the crowds expected at NARA facilities with the release of 1930 have never materialized, so don't be afraid of not getting a film reader during weekdays. When the archives are open on weekends—the second and fourth Saturdays of each month—it's a different story. It's the only day for you poor working stiffs who may have to compete for space.

I ran into Kellee Green Blake for the first time in quite a while. You may recall that Kellee was on tap to be our banquet speaker a few years ago but was unable to follow through because of an enigmatic malady that for a half dozen years has left her weak and fatigued. Despite this, during a brief remission, she was tapped to replace Bob Plowman (who filled in for her the banquet evening) as director of the NARA facility. She never really got to spread her wings and has elected to go on disability retirement because of difficulty coping with extreme discomfort. Ours was a fortuitous meeting, as she was making one of her last trips to clean out her office. She was looking well but has been on a roller coaster ride of good and bad days. It appears Bob Plowman has resumed his duties as regional director.

Remember, in the wake of 11 September and a breakdown in internal security at NARA Philadelphia, you'll be required to furnish photo ID and get a researcher's registration card. If you have your photo ID issued by NARA at Washington, DC, that should suffice. They give you a card 'necklace,' which you should wear until you leave, at which time you should surrender it. [Editorial aside: I find it curious and ironic that in the last few years, because of internal security breaches at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and NARA's 9th and Chestnut location, the researching public has had to pay the price with the inconvenience of tighter screening and scrutiny. It's reminiscent of the Middle Ages, when the young prince couldn't be physically punished for bad behavior. Instead, the proverbial 'whipping boy' took the punishment, a concept apparently too good for archival facilities to leave moribund.

After you sign in, ask for a copy of the three-sheet yellow handout that details the genealogical holdings. Especially take note of expanded passenger list and naturalization holdings for many more ports and states. Also note WWII Draft Registration Cards of men born between 1877 and 1897 in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The first three states are self-serve, but Pennsylvania and Virginia cards must be retrieved from the basement.

If you plan to do a lot of work with the 1930 census, consider purchasing a copy of the 1930 census catalogue for just $3.50. It will enable you to do some timesaving home preparation for future visits.

If you're dealing with carpel tunnel or some other impediment to comfortable cranking of microfilm machines, ask the desk for one of the two motorized machines in the back of the projector room.

Happy hunting!—Tim Coyne

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Content posted June 2005