Genealogy Chat

Hi,
I've just found an error in an entry of Ancestry's 1940 USA census.
I've found where you can correct the entry, by adding it in the "Add alternative Information" - then it says explain or source your update. I know thats optional, but if I do that, will my comments get printed onto Ancestry 1940 census?

Also on the same census, I found another relative of someone who lived in Texas, but was born in England. Under the column for citizenship he has NA.
Does NA mean Not Applicable?

Hi Jan,
No a census is never altered.
Your info will be shown as View Alternative Information . If you provide an alternative name or spelling, it will eventually show underneath the existing mispelled name on the index.

I have added loads of amendments.
They are added to the index page only
Many names are mistranscribed, which means I had problems locating records. Once I found them under a variant name, I added an amendment to show the correct version. From then on, anyone else looking for the correct spelling will find it.
My username shows as the submitter of the alternative info


I am not sure what NA means

Anne

Hi Anne,
Many thanks for your reply. I used a bad choice of words -- I realise that the census never gets altered - I meant the
View Alternative Information. The name I have found has been mistranscribed. I wasn't sure if the extra info I would give in the
View Alternative Information would be included too.
I think I'll just stick to providing the alternative name, without the extra info about how I know its wrong.

Hi Jan,
Yes that's all I do.
I have provided alternative info on names, ages, gender and, places of birth .

It makes it easier for the next person who is searching under the correct info, as your information is eventually added to the search criteria.
As your username is added as the submitter, anyone else viewing it could contact you.

Anne

Thanks Anne for the extra information. I'll go and do the amendment now.

Jan

PS Anyone know what NA means as in my posting above?

Update,
Just googled NA and it means naturalized. One of my American cousins wanted to know, so I can tell her now.

US naturalization was a 2 step process. First one filed papers saying one intended to become a citizen, then naturalization was granted (or not) after a citizenship court hearing. Completion of 1 or both of these 2 steps was indicated on the census by Pa or Na in the appropriate column. If an alien had done neither, then the indication was Al.

Thanks very much for the information mgnv - I'll have to save your answer and remember it for future use.