West Tennessee Heritage Study Center microfilm information sheet — 1920 Census (2004 Aug)
WTHSC Historical Resources on Microfilm:
14th Decennial Federal Population Census of the United States (1920)
Tennessee
The most current version of this list is accessible as a printable .pdf file
through the WTHSC website at:
West Tennessee Heritage Study Center
Univ. of Tennessee at Martin
The U. S. Census
Article one, section two of the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the country’s population every ten years. The specific purpose for the census is to determine apportionment of representation in the Congress, but for genealogists the census data provides snapshots of the families in the country on a regular basis. The data collected by enumerators varies from census to census. The first U.S. Census was taken in 1790. Until 1850 only heads of households were listed by name (primarily since only white males 21 and older could vote); other family members were merely tallied in columns by age and gender. All members of a household began being listed in 1850, and in 1850 and 1860 separate census schedules were recorded for slaves.
Dozens of summaries are produced by the Bureau of the Census as soon as they can be compiled from the raw data schedules. During the first week of the first legislative session after a census is taken the Constitution requires the President to present the results of the census to Congress, but individuals’ data from the on the census is considered private. Data identifying specific individuals may not be given out by the Bureau or its members, except to those were enumerated or their heirs. According to federal law governing data privacy (44 U.S.C. 2108(b)), census data is closed to research for 72 years after the enumeration.
The 1920 population schedules for Tennessee exist as National Archives microfilm publication T625, reels 1728–1771. Each county in the U.S. maintained its own set of books for the enumeration, but the count was made and records organized by dividing each county (or metropolitan city) into smaller enumeration districts (EDs). The microfilm is arranged essentially alphabetically by county name, thereunder by census enumeration district, and thereafter by the household order taken by the enumerator; however, some counties were filmed out of order, so check the list carefully. Often enumeration districts were not filmed in order either, most often in cities.
The census schedules are not released with neat name indices. Indices to census records are produced by private individuals and groups as time and effort allow. Some exist in print, others are accessible only electronically across the Internet. Several commercial firms make the census film available as scanned image files, usually accessible on a per-search cost, though the microfilm itself usually has the best resolution.
This sheet gives researchers three useful numbers: the WTHSC film number, the Utah Genealogical Society film number (useful for access through the LDS Church’s Family History Library branches), and the National Archives publication number. The order of the filming is listed here when enumeration districts (EDs) are filmed out of order.
For more information:
Kathleen W. Hinkley. Your Guide to the Federal Census for Genealogists, Researchers, and Family Historians (Cinncinatti, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2002).
On the WTHSC shelves at: GEN HA37.U36H556 2002
WTHSCGSU film NARA
Film reel numberT625 rollCounty and enumeration districts
77218217281728Anderson (EDs 1–4, 201, 5–15)
Bedford (EDs 1–8, 12–13, 9–11, 14–24)
Benton (all 16 EDs)
77318217291729Bledsoe (EDs 1–5)
Bradley (EDs 6–18)
Blount (EDs 16–17, 198, 19–22, 196–197, 200, 24–32, 18, 33, 23)
77418217301730Campbell (EDs 34–51)
Cannon (EDs 25–36)
Carter (EDs 1–12)
77518217311731Carter (EDs 13–19)
Cheatham (EDs 1–8)
Chester (EDs 43–56)
Carroll (EDs 17–42)
77618217321732Claiborne (EDs 20–37)
Clay (EDs 1–7)
Coffee (EDs 37–40, 145, 41, 141, 42–43, 146, 44–51)
77718217331733Cocke (EDs 38–54)
Davidson (EDs 128–131)
Davidson Co., Nashville (EDs 45–46, 52–60, 66–76)
77818217341734Davidson Co., Nashville (EDs 28–44, 47– 51, 45–46, 52–60, 66–76)
77918217351735Davidson Co., Nashville (EDs 61–65, 77– 105, 203, 106–108, 111–114)
78018217361736Davidson Co., Nashville (EDs 109–110, 115–127, 132) Crockett (EDs 1–11, 161, 12–15)
Cumberland (EDs 8–16)
78118217371737Decatur (EDs 57–68)
De Kalb (EDs 52–66 142–143)
Dickson (EDs 1–16, 177, 17–18)
Fayette (EDs 1–4)
78218217381738Fayette (EDs 5–24)
Dyer (EDs 16–34)
78318217391739Dyer (EDs 35–39)
Franklin (EDs 19–35)
Fentress (EDs 17–21)
Gibson (EDs 40–49)
78418217401740Gibson (EDs 50–71)
Giles (EDs 19–44)
78518217411741Giles (EDs 45–48)
Grainger (EDs 55–67, 36–43)
Greene (EDs 68–85, 87)
78618217421742Greene (EDs 86, 88–94)
Hamblen (EDs 52–63)
Hamilton (EDs 153–178)
78718217431743Hamilton (EDs 179–215)
78818217441744Hamilton (EDs 216–236, 44–48)
Hancock (EDs 95–106)
Hardin (EDs 69–75, 4, 77–85)
78918217451745Hardeman (EDs 25–47)
Hawkins (EDs 107–124)
Hickman (EDs 49–52)
79018217461746Hickman (EDs 53–63)
Humphreys (EDs 70–81)
Haywood (EDs 72–84)
79118217471747Henderson (EDs 86, 189, 87–91, 190, 92, 192, 93–98, 191, 99–102)
Houston (EDs 174, 64, 175, 66, 65, 67–69)
Henry (EDs 103–129)
79218217481748Jackson (EDs 22–35)
Johnson (EDs 125–135, 64)
Jefferson (EDs 64–79)
Knox (EDs 136, 140–143, 202)
79318217491749Knox (EDs 80–107)
79418217501750Knox (EDs 108, 207, 109–110, 205, 111–113, 204, 114–116, 199, 117–119, 203, 120–135, 138–139)
79518217511751Lake (EDs 85–91)
Loudon (EDs 144–154)
Lauderdale (EDs 92–108, 110, 109)
Lewis (EDs 100–104)
79618217521752Lawrence (EDs 82–99)
Lincoln (EDs 67–91)
79718217531753McMinn (EDs 49–65)
McNairy (EDs 129–146)
Macon (EDs 36–40)
79818217541754Macon (EDs 41–46)
Marion (EDs 66–82)
Madison (EDs 147–148, 154–155, 162–171, 193, 172–173)
79918217551755Madison (EDs 149–153, 177, 156, 157, 174, 176, 158–161, 175)
Maury (EDs 105–109, 114–119, 110–113, 120–133, 176, 134, 135)
80018217561756Marshall (EDs 92–108)
Montgomery (EDs 133–169)
80118217571757Meigs (EDs 83–88)
Monroe (EDs 89–96, 237, 97–103)
Moore (EDs 109–113)
Pickett (EDs 69–74)
Polk (EDs 104–115)
80218217581758Morgan (EDs 47–55)
Rhea (EDs 93–98, 162, 99–103)
Obion (EDs 111–116, 160, 117–130)
80318217591759Overton (EDs 56–61, 163, 62–67)
Perry (EDs 178–188)
Putnam (EDs 75–92)
Rutherford (EDs 114–117)
80418217601760Rutherford (EDs 118, 119, 144, 120–140)
Roane (EDs 155–172)
80518217611761Robertson (EDs 170–179, 202, 180–183, 204, 184–188)
Scott (EDs 173–182)
Stewart (EDs 189–201)
80618217621762Sequatchie (EDs 116–119)
Sevier (EDs 136–156)
Shelby (EDs 48–52, 274, 275, 53–62, 276, 277, 63, 64, 285, 65–69)
80718217631763Shelby Co., Memphis (EDs 70–140)
80818217641764Shelby Co., Memphis (EDs 141–153, 156– 166, 154, 155, 167–169, 170–172, 287, 173–175, 179–183, 286, 184–188)
80918217651765Shelby Co., Memphis (EDs 189–212, 279, 213, 214, 280, 215–223, 278, 284, 226, 227, 225, 224)
81018217661766Shelby (EDs 228–237, 281, 282, 238–246, 283)
Smith (EDs 104–116)
Sullivan (EDs 157–165)
81118217671767Sullivan (EDs 166, 220, 167–184)
Sumner (EDs 117–133)
81218217681768Tipton (EDs 247–263, 265, 264, 266–273)
Trousdale (EDs 134–138)
Unicoi (EDs 185–192)
Union (EDs 183–195)
81318217691769Van Buren (EDs 120–122)
Williamson (EDs 150–173)
Warren (EDs 123–139)
Washington (EDs 193–200)
81418217701770Washington (EDs 201–219)
Wayne (EDs 136–149)
White (EDs 140–152)
81518217711771Weakley (EDs 131–159)
Wilson (EDs 139–161)
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