GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES > 2008-02 > 1202388578


From: "Sally Rolls Pavia" <>
Subject: [GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES] California Voter Lists 1900-1944 Online
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 05:49:38 -0700


[Was able to find my grandparents and ggrandmother in the 1940 and 1942 list
then my mother with them in 1944 and my father, after the was, in 1946. It
s really interesting. It listed the address, occupation and party, which
surprised me. When time allows, can look up for anyone that has someone in
CA during this time frame. Sally]

California Voter Lists 1900-1944 Online

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:
Ancestry.com Uncovers California's Political Persuasions With More Than 30
Million Names in Voter Registration Lists, 1900-1944

A Modern-Day California Gold Mine for Family History Research, 20th-Century
Voter Lists Reveal Party Loyalties of California Residents and Celebrities
PROVO, Utah, Jan. 31 -- Ancestry.com, the largest online resource for family
history, today announced the launch of California Voter Registration Lists
documenting more than 30 million names of Californians who registered to
vote between 1900 and 1944. The collection, now searchable for the first
time online, comes just prior to Super Tuesday, one of the most significant
milestones in the 2008 race to the White House.

The unique collection reveals the political persuasions of California
residents -- including famous celebrities who registered to vote during the
first half of the 1900s. The collection also documents the voter's name,
occupation, gender, age, street address, voting district, and city and
county of residence. Many of the earliest voter registrations include
detailed physical descriptions of the register and even naturalization
information. Because the lists were updated every two years, the collection
enables users to track their ancestors through time and serves as a valuable
replacement for census records since California did not take state censuses.
"Peeking into the political preferences of our ancestors and celebrities is
fascinating," said Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com.
"Very few historical records actually reveal the opinions of our ancestors.
With this collection of voter registrations, someone with California family
ties can discover the political black sheep in the family or which ancestor
changed their family's party affiliation forever."

Several California celebrities and political figures are found inside the
collection, including:
Actor and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan was registered to vote in 1942
as a Democrat and remained a registered party member until at least 1954.
According to Reagan's 1958 voter registration, he and wife Nancy Reagan
changed their party affiliation to Republican.

Lucille Ball is found in the collection registered as a Communist in 1936
and 1938, and was later asked to testify before Congress during McCarthy's
Communist witch hunts.

According to the 1944 records, Ozzy and Harriett Nelson are both registered
as Republicans. Harriett was employed as an "actress," and Ozzy as an
orchestra leader."

In a 1924 voter registration list, Walt Disney is found alongside brothers
Robert and Roy. Walt and Robert were registered as Republicans, while Roy
chose to "decline statement." In 1940, Walt's wife Lillian changed her party
affiliation to Democrat, while Walt remained Republican.

"These records give evidence of a changing and growing America," said
Smolenyak. "Every American with California roots can appreciate this
collection and what it tells them about how their own family evolved over
the years."

About Ancestry.com -- Visit us at http://www.ancestry.com/




This thread: