UM library set to receive 1930 census on microfilm

We can wait a few more weeks, right? Toward the end of April, we’ll hope to be checking out the 1930 census for Maine on microfilm at Fogler Library at the University of Maine.

The 15 reels actually were ordered Jan. 23, according to Frank Wihbey, head of government documents and microforms at the library on the Orono campus. But the National Archives didn’t “release” the census until April 1.

As we know, the census records are not released until they are 72 years old, for privacy reasons.

Already available are census microfilms for every 10 years from 1790 through 1920 – records that have helped countless people to trace their families back to the 18th century.

But until 1850, only the head of each household was listed by name. From 1850 through 1920, everyone was listed, with increasing amounts of information available in later censuses, from relationship to the head of household to number of years married. Sadly, much less information was asked from most people in the 2000 census, so seven decades hence, the census will not be the resource it is now.

The University of Maine and the Maine State Archives in Augusta are two facilities that have all of the Maine censuses on microfilm for 1790-1920.

Living just a few miles down the road from Orono, I like to use census records at Fogler Library because it is generally open seven days a week, and has longer hours than most libraries and archives.

The entire 1930 Census for the United States will be available at the National Archives branch on Trapelo Road in Waltham, Mass. Many reels of some censuses – but not currently the 1930 – and other records are available at, or may be rented through, Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Centers are located in Bangor and Farmingdale, among other communities.

For library hours at the University of Maine, call 581-1664. For information on the Family History Center in Bangor, call 947-5624.

So where would you look for a Longfellow? Portland, of course, or Boston. Those answers are right, but they’re only a few of the answers, Russell Farnham will tell you. You may remember that Farnham did a large Farnham genealogy a few years ago.

It was about 1670 that the first “Longfellow” immigrant to America arrived in Boston from England. While William Longfellow has not been found among the usual passenger lists, he did leave a trail that has been followed for more than 300 years by genealogists throughout America.

The heaviest concentration of early colonial Longfellows in America has been found in Washington County, particularly in Machias. Kennebec County remains a close second, based on the numbers of land deeds found in indices.

Author Farnham is a 71-year old retired Air Force chief master sergeant and board-certified genealogist who presently resides in Inverness, Fla.

He was challenged by the desire to search his Longfellow roots, and has just published the first genealogy of that family. In his book are monographs that detail the individuals and families, proved by his research to be descendants of the immigrant William.

The 1,175 page “A Longfellow Genealogy” includes poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, not to mention five generations of English ancestry of the immigrant William. It also identifies a substantial number of descendants he has identified through his years of research. They include Jonathan Longfellow, first judge of the Machias Court, and his descendants such as Jacob, Nathan and Isaac.

Among the early descendants of Judge Jonathan Longfellow of Machias we find early colonial names such as Bagley, Boynton, Burnham, Crocker, Foss, Gardner, Getchell, Hadley, Haskell, Hanscom, Smith, Thatcher and Thompson.

“A Longfellow Genealogy” is available for $75 from, Russell C. Farnham, 800 North Berlin Point, Inverness, Fla. 34453; phone (252) 637-6482; or fax (352) 637-4498; e-mail walrusgenealogy@juno.com.

In Washington County, the book may be picked up at the home of Valdine Atwood, 2 Free St., Machias, Maine 04654.

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Tuesday, April 9, I’ll be speaking on “Resources for Getting Started in Genealogy” at a 7 p.m. meeting of the Milbridge Historical Society on Main Street. In addition, I’ll bring along the century-old patchwork quilt done by my great-great-great-grandmother, Lovina Leighton Moore.

The Italian Heritage Club will hold its monthly meeting and dinner at 7 p.m. April 15 at the Parks and Recreation Department, 647 Main St., Bangor. For information, call 394-4903, or check the Web site at www.italianheritageclub.org.

3179. WALLACE-NOONAN. Looking for information on Rose Hill, Bangor neighborhood where my grandfather Michael Wallace grew up 1870s and 1880s. Family lived in Hancock, Fruit, Otis street area. His Noonan relatives – David, Daniel, James, Patrick and others – appear to have lived in Walter Street area. There are Noonan gravestones in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, across the drive from the plot once listed under Michael Wallace’s name, but no stone. He md. Hannah Noonan, Jan. 9, 1859. She d. 1874, he d. 1895. Jane Lamb, 667 River Road, Brunswick, Maine 04011. Jwlamb@suscom-maine.net.

Send queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, Maine 04402; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.