Hi Everyone - I shared at our last meeting how rewarding and fairly easy it is to volunteer as an indexer for the 1940 Census. Indexing is done through the Family Search site. You have to download their software - which is pretty easy to do. The software is wonderful. It highlights the place on the page that you are typing and keeps you on track. At the end of the page it asks to double check any areas which seem questionable. Go through and double check, click OK and submit. Easy-Peasy! If anyone is interested I will help get you started if you like!
When you download a batch (and I suggest you start with one batch and as a 'beginner') you see the form. I take a quick look and compare some of the writing throughout to decipher certain letter strokes for that enumerator, make sure my highlight guide is lined up and start! It is not difficult and you feel great satisfaction knowing you took part in getting this information out there and available for easy look up. Even though these are not my ancestors I find it very interesting to see their names, family members, household help for the well-to-do, etc. Husbands, wives, daughters, sons, border, house maid, nurse maid, servants, etc. I love reading it all and just imagining what life might have been like for them all.... families on vacation with their household staff, veterans in the old soldier's home, two and three generations living together under one roof...etc.
When you download a batch (and I suggest you start with one batch and as a 'beginner') you see the form. I take a quick look and compare some of the writing throughout to decipher certain letter strokes for that enumerator, make sure my highlight guide is lined up and start! It is not difficult and you feel great satisfaction knowing you took part in getting this information out there and available for easy look up. Even though these are not my ancestors I find it very interesting to see their names, family members, household help for the well-to-do, etc. Husbands, wives, daughters, sons, border, house maid, nurse maid, servants, etc. I love reading it all and just imagining what life might have been like for them all.... families on vacation with their household staff, veterans in the old soldier's home, two and three generations living together under one roof...etc.