Empire of the Census
The government’s count of its citizens is of enormous value to historians.
I recently embarked on the sort of history most commonly pursued in this country: genealogy. By comparison with what I usually work on, this means focusing on people who are, for me, startlingly close in time – only some 140 years or so ago – yet these folk, too, are seen only darkly; so much is unknown. Yet, one source that helps bring our ancestors into focus is the census.
To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.
Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
