census 1890 - Swedish American Ancestors https://swedishamericanancestors.com/tag/census-1890/ Discover Your Swedish American Ancestry Sat, 20 Dec 2025 22:53:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://swedishamericanancestors.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-Logo-SAA-favicon-7-32x32.webp census 1890 - Swedish American Ancestors https://swedishamericanancestors.com/tag/census-1890/ 32 32 U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire https://swedishamericanancestors.com/u-s-1890-census-destroyed-by-fire/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=u-s-1890-census-destroyed-by-fire https://swedishamericanancestors.com/u-s-1890-census-destroyed-by-fire/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 05:00:59 +0000 https://swedishamericanancestors.com/?p=24715 U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire A January 1921 fire in the Commerce Department Building in Washington, D.C., destroyed most of the 1890 U.S. census records. Only fragments survived, preserving information on just over 6,000 individuals. Records of Around 63 Million People Destroyed The 1880s marked the peak of Swedish emigration to America. The 1890 U.S. […]

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U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire

A January 1921 fire in the Commerce Department Building in Washington, D.C., destroyed most of the 1890 U.S. census records. Only fragments survived, preserving information on just over 6,000 individuals.

Records of Around 63 Million People Destroyed

The 1880s marked the peak of Swedish emigration to America. The 1890 U.S. census could therefore have been an invaluable resource for Swedish-American genealogy research. With nearly 63 million people recorded, this census could have provided crucial insights into the lives of Swedish immigrants in America. 

The photo above was taken in 1894 (source: Library of Congress). It shows the tabulation machine used in the 1890 census. The machine made counting the results less time consuming. Punched cards were used to work the machine. The results were presented by the dials on the machine and written down manually. The man at the machine is Herman Hollerith who invented it a couple of years earlier. 

The fact that most of the 1890 census records were destroyed by a fire in the Washington D.C., Commerce Department Building, in January 1921., makes family research around that time period tricky.

The photograph above shows some of the damaged remains of the 1890 U.S. census. Source: Library of Congress 

A Rare Survivor: Swedish Clara in the 1890 Census

Among the few surviving records from the 1890 census is one documenting Clara Anderson. Clara’s census entry provides details such as these:

 
  • She was a around 26-year-old Swedish immigrant.
  • She worked as a servant in the household of Emily Chisolm, 56, and her 24-year-old son.

  • She was single and employed as a domestic worker.

  • She had no chronic illnesses, disabilities, or legal troubles.

  • She could read, write, and speak English.

  • She, along with her parents, was born in Sweden.

While only a handful of Swedish individuals appear in the surviving 1890 census records, Clara Anderson’s case is a rare census glimpse into the lives of Swedish immigrants during that era.

Census record from 1890 that survived the 1921 fire, with the Swedish servant Clara Andersson included. Censuses are the best American family records to research to find your Swedish American roots.
Census record from 1890 that survived the 1921 fire, with the Swedish servant Clara Andersson included (2)

Source: United States, Census 1890, FamilySearch : Accessed 6 May 2025), Entry for Clara Anderson.

Alternative Records for 1890 Research

If your Swedish-American ancestors are not among the few recorded in the 1890 U.S. census, there are other records that may be of use. State censuses can serve as valuable substitutes. Many states conducted their own censuses between federal census years. For example, Minnesota conducted state censuses in 1885 and 1895, which can provide comparable information. Other states with large Swedish immigrant populations also have state census records that may be useful.

 

Several other 1890 U.S. census alternative records can also help bridge the 1890 census gap. Here are some examples:

  • City and County Directories, which list residents, their addresses, and occupations. However, all residents are not recorded in them.

  • Tax Records can be used to confirm an ancestor’s residence and property details.

  • Voter Registration Lists can verify an ancestor’s location and political affiliations, but women were generally excluded from voting at that time.

  • Newspapers, such as local U.S. newspapers or Swedish American ones, for example often included obituaries, marriage announcements, and community news.

  • Church Records most often included registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials. Many Swedish immigrants chose to join churches in America, but by no means all of them did.

  • Land and Property Records, such as deeds and land grants, can provide information on residency and property ownership.

 I will talk some more about the above records in future blogs. 

Hejdå for now 🙂  
Anna

 

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