Citing the census in academic work

[boerwarnurses]

Dear RootsChatters,

I am undertaking a PhD looking at Boer War nurses and I need to reference back to the Census as I discuss the lives of some of the individuals. My university uses the Harvard reference system.

Does anyone have any experience of citing the Census in academic work?

cheers
Keiron

[Billyblue]

No I don't, Keiron, but I imagine you would at least need to cite the piece number?

Maybe an email to the govt section that deals with census (sorry don't know name for UK) would be in order?

Doesn't your university know?

Dawn M

[Redroger]

I cited it in a thesis I did for archaeology A level; I used England and Wales census 1841 plus the full page and reference numbers. It attracted no comment whatsoever either from the course overseer or the assessor. No experience with a university, never got that far in education.

[boerwarnurses]

My university doesn't have a history department so in the guidelines for students on how to reference different sources there are many things - but sadly not the census. I need to link references to individuals in my text so I cannot keep using Census for England and Wales or something like that. I have fashioned my own way for now but would like to know if their is a "correct" way of doing this :-)

I have a feeling the answer is that there isn't one :-)

Cheers
Keiron

[Alexander.]

Hi Keiron,

I would use the National Archive's citation system since the English censuses are their records.
See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/citing-documents.htm

The first reference would need to be the long form, but after that could be abbreviated to:
TNA: PRO RG 9/111, f 1, p 1

The series number (RG 9) identifies which census (so there's no need to say 1861 England census). The piece number is always separated from the series by a slash, followed by the folio, and if you feel it's necessary, the page. The page number is just saying which side of the folio you're looking at, so it's probably superfluous.

Alexander

P.S. You've got a beautiful website by the way

[boerwarnurses]

Thanks Alexander,

I will have a look at the TNA Advice - anything to keep it simple otherwise everything gets too clumsy.

Cheers
Keiron

[denmart18]

Hi Keiron,

I don't think the TNA is appropriate in this case. You need to state where you accessed the census, so if that is using an online site you reference it the same as any other website, with date accessed. If however, you are using a record office you will need to state which one or, if using a CD then the details of that. As previously stated though, you will also need to give the full census details, as in RG9/123/4/5. Include page number as it's not superfluous in this context and above all you must be consistent. 

My advice, if in doubt check with your supervisor.

Good luck.

Denise

[boerwarnurses]

Thanks Denise,

I think I have a system sorted now.

Cheers
Keiron

[newburychap]

I can't see why you would need to say where you access the information - it's not really relevant.

I must also say that I don't like the Harvard System - it can be so cumbersome

The TNA reference in itself is only informative to the initiated, the uninitiated need to know what information you are citing and its date.

I would suggest:

Census (1861) The National Archives (TNA): PRO RG9

subsequent references:

Census (1871) TNA: PRO RG10


In the text you would put something like:

Sheila was a lace maker prior to volunteering for nursing service [Census 1891:1234 f1 p2] ...

Or according to the census [1901 f34 p21] Betty was living in ...


Horrible, but Harvard

In theory you should perhaps use UK Census to distinguish it, but I guess the context is such that it would be self-evident.  Anything to make it less cumbersome.