Making Sense of the Census in New York

Cover Image:
Making Sense of the Census in New York
Plain Talk (July 19, 1913), page 3. Image provided by Port Washington Public Library on New York Heritage.  - Image Source
Introduction:

The U.S. Census is the only comprehensive or "complete count" of the entire population of our country. It is the only source of data for ensuring everyone has a voice in Congress. "Representative democracy" is the cornerstone on which this nation was founded, and the census is the tool used by the federal government to preserve equal representation. The qualitative aspects of this representation has historically been, and is ever changing. Explore the history of the U.S. Census in this online exhibit. 

Credits:

Exhibit credit: This exhibit was curated by Heidi Ziemer of the Western New York Library Resources Council, with assistance from Jessica Johnson, Archival Services Coordinator at WNYLRC.

For further reading: 

Democracy's Data: The Hidden Stories in the U.S. Census and How to Read Them by Dan Bouk, 2022.

There is a companion physical traveling exhibit that is available for loan to WNYLRC members. The traveling exhibit was written and curated by Heidi Ziemer at WNYLRC; with graphic design work created by Dawn Stanton from Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.