History research

I’m back to the on again off again neighborhood research. In the past week I have done 2 blocks for 1880 discovering some odd little quirks about the 1400 block of 1st St & North Capitol, Unit blocks of 0 & P Street. Now I won’t have a fuller picture until I do the whole of Truxton Circle (which may be a while) but I found some lines of segregation on the blocks.
The 1400 block (even numbers)of North Capitol was the German-American street.
The 1400 block of 1st Street (odd) was the African American street.
The Unit block of O (odd) was German and Irish on the lower numbered end and Mullatoo (Black) with a few unskilled Irish on the other end.
The Unit block of P (even) from 10 to 64 P Street was mostly German with a few Irish and native whites. Then from 66 to 78 the families are African American.
I’ll be doing one more block this week then I think I’ll take another long extended break again.

4 thoughts on “History research”

  1. I’m really fascinated by this stuff. I went to the MLK library to research my house history, but didn’t get too far… where are you finding this stuff about nationality and ethnicity?

    BTW, it makes sense that a lot of Germans would be in the neighborhood… the cemetery at N. Cap and V St. was (is?) Lutheran… all the names are German.

  2. I’m using the 1880 Census and going block by block. The cesus mentiones the birth place of the mother and father. They come fom places like Prussia and whatnot but I’m just saying it is all Germany.

  4. Well 2 places. MLK Library and the National Archives downtown. I use the National Archives because there are more resources. But there is the security, gotta get a researcher card, and photocopies are expensive, blah, blah, blah. However, they do have tons of blank forms to fill out when you find info, and I’m dealing in bulk this is a good thing. They have info on enumeration districts (important to know) on microfilm not too far from the census. When you have a name to go by you can go to the library section, use the computers to get on Ancestory Plus or get a good digital view from Heritage Quest on the computer.
    MLK is good when you have a question about DC specifically. Photocopies much cheaper. No research card needed and the reference librarian is there (depending on the person determines how helpful they are).
    I have used the Washington Historical Society’s library and archive, but they only have 1 census, 1900 I think. But their reference librarian/archivist is VERY helpful.
    I think I’ll do another post on my research methods Sunday.

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