How can I find my family member in the 1920 census in the Family Search data bank?
I found the info on another site, but it is not coming up in my census search on this site. There is a name discrepancy, so maybe that is the problem.
Best Answers
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Indexes can be different and search engines are certainly different, but the actual microfilm images are the same. So sometimes you just have to be creative. Sometimes looking for the location, rather than the person works best. Also, search from the collection for the specific census, not the general search page.
Take a good look at the census image. Pick out the clearest name in the family - one that could not possibly be mis-indexed. Limit your search as far as you can to just the area where you know they lived, based on the census image. Use wild cards in the search, that is, if the clearest name is Jane Smith, search for J* S* in the appropriate area. Also, you already have peoples birth years, so include that in your search.
For example, if I were searching in the 1920 census for a Jane Smith born in 1910 and living in Denver, I would use the Find A Collection box on the main search page:
to go to search only the 1920 census here: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1488411 and set up the search as:
That gives way too many results 791, but I can then see how the results are organized, what other pieces of information were indexed, what else I might add to the search to narrow it down, maybe add to her name, narrow the birth range. Maybe try adding a parent name or spouse name.
In any event, since the other site has the record, you know it is on FamilySearch, also, and so have good reason to persevere, because you will find it.
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Thank you. I found it.
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For anyone in the same boat, in addition to Gordon's suggestions about using the collection-specific search, you can also find the records by browsing through images. See my comment on a recent, similar question: https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/374712#Comment_374712
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