Here you will learn whether an archive of past questionnaires - also known as schedules or forms – is available online. Many of our surveys now offer an online response in place of completing and mailing a printed form.
The 1910 census questionnaire was similar in design to that used in 1900. The most notable change was the late addition, at the behest of Congress, of a question concerning a person's "mother tongue." It was so late, in fact, that questionnaires for the census had already been printed. Information on "mother tongues" was to be added into "nativity" columns 12, 13, and 14. The below information, listed by column number, was gathered from each resident.
For the first time, enumerators in the large cities distributed questionnaires in advance, a day or two prior to April 15, so that people could become familiar with the questions and have time to prepare their answers. In practice, only a small portion of the population filled out their questionnaires before the enumerator visit, however. The law gave census takers two weeks to complete their work in cities of 5,000 inhabitants or more while enumerators in smaller and rural areas were allotted 30 days to complete their task.
Enumerators of American Indians living on reservations or in family groups outside of reservations used a special modified schedule for the 1910 census which included an extra page of questions. Columns 1 through 32 were almost identical to the general population schedule. The only difference is that enumerators were instructed to mark "Ration Indian" in column 18 for occupation for those American Indians who did not work and were wholly dependent on government support. Those who work and received some support were to have their occupation listed, followed by the letter "R." Enumerators asked those listed on the Indian population schedule the following additional questions, listed by column number:
33. Tribe of this person
34. Tribe of this person's father
35. Tribe of this person's mother
36. Proportion of this person's lineage that is American Indian
37. Proportion of this person's lineage that is white
38. Proportion of this person's lineage that is black
39. Number of times married
40. Is this person living in polygamy?
41. If this person is living in polygamy, are his wives sisters?
42. If this person graduated from an educational institution, which one?
43. Is this person a taxed?
An American Indian was considered "taxed" if he or she was detached from his or her tribe and was living in the white community and subject to general taxation, or had been alloted land by the federal government and thus acquired citizenship.
44. If this person had received an allotment of land from the government, what was the year of that allotment?
45. Is this person residing on his or her own land?
46. Is this person living in a "civilized" or "aboriginal" dwelling?
Enumerators were to mark "Civ." (for "civilized") if the person was living in a log, frame, brick, or stone house, etc. and "Abor." (for "aboriginal") if the person was living in a tent, tepee, cliff dwelling, etc.