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By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle of a federal census decade, the 1915 New York State census stands as one of the most insightful tools available for those researching family history in early 20th-century New York.

This census was conducted on June 1, 1915, by the state's Department of Efficiency and Economy—a short-lived agency created to oversee and modernize state operations. The count included over 10.5 million residents and gave a mid-decade view of one of America's most dynamic regions. It's more than just names and numbers—it's a snapshot of what life looked like in a time of incredible transformation...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/1915-new-york-state-census/

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The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly changing time in American history...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1905-new-york-state-census/

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The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migration in the 1880s and 1890s, this record is a key substitute for the lost enumeration.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-1892-new-york-state-census-filling-the-gap-left-by-1890/

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This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh's unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting of three rivers. I remember the first time I ever drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You're surrounded by mountain, nothing but concrete—then suddenly, you burst out into the open and the whole city hits you at once. There's nothing quite like that view. And somehow, this postcard captures that feeling...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pittsburghs-golden-triangle-and-the-lost-point-bridge-postcards-from-the-past/

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Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa's 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal census records available. What sets it apart is not just the volume of information collected but the nature of that information—specifically, its emphasis on lineage. This census doesn't simply capture who was living in Iowa at the time; it provides rare and remarkably direct insight into each resident's parentage and origins...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/iowas-1925-state-census-a-genealogists-goldmine/

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While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal census every ten years, New Yorkers were also counted in a robust series of state censuses. These records, taken at regular intervals between federal censuses, offer an extraordinary opportunity to fill in gaps, confirm relationships, and capture details that the federal government often overlooked.

New York conducted state censuses in the following years: 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These were authorized under various state constitutional provisions, including a requirement for mid-decade population counts to support legislative apportionment and school funding decisions. While earlier censuses are more limited in scope and survival, those from 1855 onward are generally accessible and remarkably detailed...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-value-of-new-york-state-census-records-for-genealogy/

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If you've spent any time researching your family history, you've probably developed a familiar rhythm. You track your ancestors through the federal censuses, taken every ten years like clockwork. It's a comforting structure: 1850, 1860, 1870… they show up like old friends, giving you names, ages, occupations, and places of birth. For many researchers, these are the backbone of American genealogy.

But then something strange happens...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/lost-in-between-the-missing-pieces-of-the-census-puzzle/

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In this episode, we're talking about ten meaningful genealogy projects you can take on during June. This time of year brings a lot of opportunities—warmer weather, Father's Day, family gatherings—and all of it pairs perfectly with digging deeper into your family history. Whether it's researching summer traditions, hosting a vintage-style picnic, or discovering how your ancestors celebrated Father's Day, these projects are fun, hands-on ways to bring your research to life. So grab a notebook, maybe a tall glass of iced tea, and let's talk about how to make June a month full of discovery.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-genealogy-projects-june/

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I pulled this one from the stack and couldn't look away. Moss hangs low in the scene, soft and heavy like it's weighed down by memory. A quiet glade in City Park, dappled in sunlight—until you notice the duel. Two men, swords drawn, captured mid-motion. The postcard tells us it's the De Lissau–Le Bouisque duel of 1841. But that's only the beginning.

What you're seeing is more than just a stylized illustration. This postcard opens a window into one of New Orleans' more haunting traditions: dueling. For over a century, a particular corner of City Park—shaded by massive oak trees—was the chosen ground for resolving matters of honor. They called them the Dueling Oaks...

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William Rufus DeVane King was born on April 7, 1786, in Sampson County, North Carolina. His ancestry reached back to some of the earliest European settlers in the Southern colonies. His father, William King, was of Irish descent, with ancestors believed to have emigrated from Ulster to the American colonies in the early 1700s. The King family settled in North Carolina, became landowners, and took part in the political and agricultural life of the region. His grandfather, also named William King, is believed to have fought in the colonial militia during the French and Indian War.

William's mother, Margaret DeVane, belonged to a family of French Huguenot and English lineage. The DeVanes had settled in the Carolinas in the early 18th century, escaping religious persecution and bringing with them traditions of independence and agricultural skill. Margaret's father, John DeVane, was a planter and a patriot during the American Revolution. The King and DeVane families were both known for civic involvement, and together, they provided a strong foundation of wealth, status, and public service that would influence William's future path.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/william-rufus-devane-king-the-shortest-tenure-the-deepest-roots/

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