The Soundex System

Soundex is a phonetic indexing system based on the letters of an individual's last name. Before you use it, you will have to find the Soundex code number for the last name you are interested in, either by consulting The Soundex Reference Guide, which contains Soundex codes for over one hundred twenty-five thousand surnames, or by using the Soundex Coding Chart at the Reference Desk. Once you find the code you want, you will be ready to search the microfilmed indexes for the information you will need to locate families on the census records.

Example: We'll search the 1920 Soundex microfilm for John Smith whose code number is S-530. On the film, you will see a series of index cards arranged by Soundex codes, which appear at the top of each card. The group of cards numbered S-530 represents a listing of all the Smiths in the state. The cards, which are arranged alphabetically by the first name of the head of each household, list other members of the family by name, age, and relationship to the head of household--John Smith's card, for example, shows he has a wife, Jane (37); a son, Sam (14); and daughters Hannah (12), Mary (9), and Gail (7). Included in the group of cards carrying the code S-530 you will also see surnames that are phonetically compatible with Smith-the name Smythe, for example. The information you must obtain from the Soundex card is the E.D. (enumeration district) number, the sheet number, the line number, and the county. Once you have obtained this data you will be able to locate the family on the census record. Knowing where to find the family on the census record is important, for the census will contain not only the data that is on the Soundex card but other information that may enhance your research.

Our example tells us that John Smith's enumeration district number is 36, the sheet number is 3, the line number is 37, and the county is Richland. You are now ready to consult the microfilm of the 1920 census. As you view the census page, you will see the county listed in the upper left corner and the enumeration district number and sheet number in the upper right. Go to the 1920 Richland County Census, enumeration district 36, sheet 3, and you will find the Smith family listed on line 37 of that page.

Soundex indexes, 1930 to 1880
You will be able to use this process to search the Soundex indexes from 1930 to 1880. The Soundex indexes to the 1930, 1920, 1910, and 1900 census records theoretically list all families and individuals. It is possible however, for a family to be listed on a census schedule and not appear on the Soundex. If you fail to find a family on Soundex and you have good reason to believe the family was living in a particular county at that time, you may want to consider a page by page search of the census.

Soundex index, 1880
This index lists only families having children ten years old and younger in their household. If the family you are researching does not have young children in the household, you must search the 1880 Census page by page in the county where they were living.

Summary
When you are researching the 1930 through 1880 census records, first obtain the Soundex code number for the surname you are researching by consulting The Soundex Reference Guide or the Soundex Coding Chart. Next, find the appropriate Soundex microfilm index and use the code number to locate the Soundex card you want. Finally, get the enumeration district, the sheet number, the line number, and the county from the card and use that data to locate the family on the appropriate census microfilm roll.