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From: Nedra Dickman Brill <>
Subject: Re: [APG] query on census data: Does "B" mean Black?
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 10:53:19 -0800


Without looking up the specifics of each census, through the 1800's the
designation of race determined whether the person could vote and, thus, be
counted towards congressional apportionment. A census taker would make his
best guess, based upon what he saw (for instance, Portuguese noted as
Black) and some tended to lean towards a designation that allowed the
person to vote.

Nedra


Nedra Dickman Brill, Certified Genealogist

Participating Societies Chairman,
NGS Conference, 16-19 May 2001, Portland, Oregon.
For information on the conference, go to:
http://www.gfo.org/ngs2001/index.htm

Historian, Henckel Family National Association
Coordinator Pendleton County, WV,

CG is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists,
used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board.
http://www.bcgcertification.or

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