CENSUS-CHAT-L Archives

From: "Gordon A. Watts" <>
Subject: 1911 Census - Column 18
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2005 14:47:04 -0700

Greetings All

Those, like myself, who have been trying to puzzle out the number codes
overwritten in Column 18 of the 1911 Census will be happy to know that
the Library and Archives website has today been updated with information
relating to those codes. A fuller explanation of the three parts of the
codes is now included in the Help files relating to the 1911 Census, and
a link is provided to a PDF file detailing the occupation codes.

The following information was extracted from the updated Help section of
the 1911 Census at

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1911/006003-100.04-e.html#b

====================

For the first time in 1911, information taken for the census was
compiled by mechanical appliances. Perforated cards were used to record
more accurately information on occupations, using codes. However, it
seems that it was not a great success and the system was changed in
1921.

The use of this code is reflected in column 18. Genealogists will see
numbers separated by hyphens. Example: 6-0-32, 6-6-32 or 6-9-32.

The numbers are from the Index to Occupations based on the results of
the Fourth census of Canada (1901). (Index to Occupations. Ottawa,
Census and Statistics Office, 1911, 230 p. AMICUS : 7693172). This
publication gives a list of the codes; only a few copies are available
in libraries throughout Canada. The following explanations were taken
from this publication.

The first part of the code refers to one of the general main divisions
of occupations or industries as follows:

0 Agriculture
1 Building trades
2 Domestic and personal service
3 Civil and municipal service
4 Fisheries and hunting
5 Forestry and lumbering
6 Manufactures - mechanical and textiles
7 Manufactures - Food and clothing
8 Mining
9 Professional pursuits
10 Trade and Merchandising
11 Transportation

The second part of the code refers to the class of worker

0 Self-employed or owner of the business
1 Managers, assistant managers
2 Superintendents, assistant superintendents, supervisors
3 Foremen, bosses, gang bosses, paymasters, treasurers
4 Agents, brokers, commission men
5 Inspectors, weighers, graders
6 Employees, workers, operators, skilled workers
7 Clerks, companions, timekeepers
8 Apprentices, helpers, learners, assistants
9 Laborers, unskilled, messengers, teamsters

Note that a special code was created for the third category, Civil and
municipal government, to include military ranks.

0 --
1 Admirals, generals, surveyors etc.
2 Captains, colonels, postmasters, teachers, deputies, assessors,
sheriffs, librarians, assistants, chief clerks, supervisors
3 Lieutenants, police inspectors, paymasters, collectors,
treasurers, auditors, marshals etc.
4 Sergeants, corporals, bandsmen, quartermasters etc.
5 Inspectors, scalers, gaugers, measurers, roundsmen, keepers,
appraisers etc.
6 Employees, operators, privates, marines, sailors, policemen,
letter carriers etc.
7 Bookkeepers, clerks, stenographers, secretaries, court
stenographers etc.
8 Helpers, assistants, attendants etc.
9 Laborers, messengers, watchmen etc.

The third part of the code refers to the trade. For each category, a
list of trades was created using the numbers 00 to 99. On the original
census returns, take note of the first and third parts of the code then
consult the chart (PDF format 34 Kb) to obtain the meaning of the code.

======================

The chart referred to is available at

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/006003/f2/006003-1911-e.pdf

Enjoy the Census!

Gordon A. Watts
Co-chair Canada Census Committee
Port Coquitlam, BC

Read my e-newsletter 'Gordon Watts Reports" at
http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/authors/authgw.htm

http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census
en francais http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm

Permission to forward without notice is granted

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• 1911 Census - Column 18 by "Gordon A. Watts" <>