Linking Historical Censuses: a New Approach

This article describes a new initiative at the Minnesota Population Center (MPC) to create linked representative samples of individuals and family groups from the censuses of 1860, 1870, 1900 and 1910 to the 1880 census. This set of linked samples will provide new opportunities for researchers to carry out individuallevel analyses of social and geographic mobility and family transitions. This study differs from past efforts to link persons across census years in one key respect. The central goal of previous studies has been to maximize the proportion of the population linked. Our primary goals, however, are to minimize selection bias and maximize representativeness of the linked cases. To achieve these goals, we are prepared to sacrifice a significant number of demonstrably valid links. The project takes advantage of an extraordinary new data source, a complete transcription of the 1880 census of the United States. We will also capitalize on recent advances in record linkage technology.