72 years after census takers visited every home in the USA, the official 1950 records were released, which include the forms filled out for the Rebbe, the Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Chana, for 770, and others. Presented in honor of Yud Alef Nissan.
By Rabbi Yehuda Altein for Anash.org
On April 1, 1950 (Erev Pesach, 5710), thousands of census takers, known as enumerators, spread out throughout all fifty states of the U.S. They visited homes in every city, town, and farm to gather information for the United States census, taken once each decade.
Information gathered included the address, name, age, marital status, and employment status of each resident. Select individuals were asked additional questions, including details about their education and income and whether they ever served in the U.S. army.
Among the dwellings visited was 346 New York Ave. #4D, home of the Rebbe, the Rebbetzin, and Rebbetzin Chana. Also visited was 770 Eastern Parkway, home to Rebbetzin Nechama Dina (the Frierdiker Rebbe had passed away just two months before), and the Rashag and his family.
Each enumerator filled out tens of sheets, which were then submitted to the National Archives. These sheets, called population schedules, were kept hidden from the public eye, due to a law restricting their access for 72 years.
On April 1, 2022—less than two weeks ago—these census records were finally released and made accessible online. Among the records now available for viewing are those relating to the Rebbe and 770.
Anash.org is please to present these records for the first time, in honor of Yud-Aleph Nissan, the Rebbe’s 120th birthday.
Note that census records are known to be riddled with inaccuracies. Not always did the informant and enumerator properly understand each other (especially when the former was an immigrant). Additionally, often information was not obtained directly from the person himself. (For example, a wife or boarder might supply information on behalf of the husband or landlord, if the latter was not home at the time.)
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Picture #1: Lines 6, 7, and 8 correspond to the Rebbe, Rebbetzin Chana, and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, respectively. Line 6 is marked off as a “sample line,” meaning that additional questions were asked about the Rebbe. That information can be found on line 6 at the bottom of the page. (It is probable that the Rebbe didn’t supply the information himself, rather it was supplied by the Rebbetzin on his behalf.)
Picture #2: Lines 20 through 22 correspond to the third floor of 770, home of the Rashag and his family. Line 23 corresponds to the first floor, recorded as being the home of “Sam Eichorn”—possibly Reb Sholom Ber Eichorn, a mashbak of the Frierdiker Rebbe. Line 24 corresponds to the second floor, where the enumerator notes that no one was home.
Picture #3: The enumerator paid another visit to the second floor of 770 at a later date to fill in the missing details. The corresponding line is line 6, recorded as being the home of Rebbetzin Nechama Dina.
Click here to download in full resolution: Picture 1 – Picture 2 – Picture 3.
Readers are invited to comment on the information found in these records.
Discussion
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