I. Starting
    A. Fill out in pencil your Pedigree Chart and Family Group's Record sheets
        (FGS) for each family
    B. Exact dates are not necessary, write "abt ---'
    C. Write down everything you know about places, dates and names
    D. Start with the most recent census the ancestor may appear on and work
        backward In time. Each census will give you more clues.
        ALWAYS DO THE CENSUS WORK FIRST!
        ALWAYS LOOK AT THE CENSUS RECORD! NOT JUST THE SOUNDEX
    E. Record all details about the information you find on a separate Family
	Group Record documentation/notes sheet for each family - CENSUS:
	1880, WI, Dane Co., E.D. 121, sheet 32, line 30, farmer, etc.
II. Federal and state censuses
    A. Federal censuses - Use the Soundex Computer in the Film Room to obtain the
	soundex code. If you can't find your person, enter ALL possible surname
	variations and misspellings into Soundex Computer and attempt to find
	different Soundex codes to use in your research
    B. State censuses - Use "State Census Records" (973 X2Lai) and the Family
	History Library Catalog (FHLC) to find the state censuses to research
III. Indexes
    A. Check every possible variation of all names (first, middle and surnames)
    B. Check every possible spelling variation of all names (first, middle, and
        surnames)
    C. Check for possible nicknames
    D. Check for possible errors in the index by reversal of first and surnames
    E. Check for spelling mistakes
    F. Check in the addendum for names that may have been added after the
        book was published
    G. Use "A Practical Guide to the Mistakes Made in Census Indexes", pages 31
	and 32 (973 X2pra)
    H. The complete ALL NAME 1880 U.S. census is indexed on CDs that are at the
        Sales Desk. Other Indexes are on CDs at the Sales Desk.
IV. Counties
    A. Check the history of the county In which you think you will find your
	ancestors.
        1. When was it created?
        2. What other counties was it created from? Use "Map Guide to the U.S.
            Federal Censuses 1790-1920" (973 X2th)
    B. Make a word map and list all counties adjacent to the one you think your
        ancestors lived in
        1. Check every name possibility in each of these counties
        2. Look for relatives that might be living near by
V. Clues to look for
    A. The earliest census a couple appears on, as a married couple, is
        probably the state and county where the marriage took place
    B. The last census a person appears on, as an elderly person, is probably the
	state and county where the will was probated or where the grave, death
	record or obituary can be found
    C. You can estimate the parents' marriage date by the birth date of the
        first child - same year to minus two years
    D. The first child's birthplace is probably where the marriage took place
    E. When you find the location of the marriage, it is likely that you will
	find their parents living close by
    F. From 1880 on, the census taker asked where the participant's father and 
        mother were born (this is an important clue          
        if the parents' first names are not known)
    G. The mother's maiden name can be found in a number of ways
        1. Marriage bond, certificate, license, application or   
            register
        2. Death certificate or register
        3. Birth certificate or register
        4. Birth certificates or registers of children
    H. Grandparents' first names can often be found by using the following
        rationale
        1. 60% of the time, first sons were named after paternal grandfathers
        2. 60% of the time, second sons were named after maternal grandfathers.
        3. Girls were often named after grandmothers
VI. Miscellaneous census information
    A. The enumeration date in relationship to a birth date is important to 
        determine an ancestor's age
    B. The census taker designated the head of a household by several methods 
        such as, who owned the land or if no land was owned, who was the
	"breadwinner"
    C. Whenever you find a person on a census record, go forward and
        backward a few pages to check for relatives who may be living nearby
    D. Do not ignore the 1890 civil war union veterans and widows census
    E. Soundex cards can be for families or for individuals
    F. The 1880 Census Soundex ONLY has families with children 10 and under
    G. Look for step children on separate soundex cards
VII. Other documents
    A. AFTER YOU FIND ALLTHE INFORMATION YOU CAN, FROM ALL THE AVAILABLE 
        CENSUS RECORDS, you are ready to start searching other documents to
	verify the information you have
    B. Look in the Family History Library Catalog for microfiche and microfilm
        numbers for the records that you want to search. (The title of a film is
	the first item on the film. It may have nothing to do with what else is
	on the film.)
        1. Birth, marriage, and death records can be found under vital
            statistics
            a. Look in both county and state levels
            b. You may need to look at all available records such as
                obituaries, newspapers, probates, wills, town meetings, etc.
        2. To find wills, check probate records for a will index
            a. Check county level first
            b. Check city level second
        3. Tax records can determine the year of death
        4. Deeds can show property owned or from whom the land was acquired
        5. Cemeteries can be found at both city and county levels
        6. Naturalization records are found on the county level
        7. Military records are found at the state and federal level
        8. The pension index is alphabetical by name
        9. The military index is listed by state