A researcher recently requested to look at an obscure record
series described simply as “Census records, 1880” (Series 5269).
After retrieving the records, Archives staff became curious and
set about trying to figure out what the records really were. The
records include five booklets that were clearly standard forms
(form 7-392) printed for the 1880 Federal Census and have notes
indicating that they had been filed with the Weber County Clerk.
They are titled “List of Persons” and each booklet lists the
names, color, sex, and age of all the inhabitants of a given
census enumeration district in Weber County, including Ogden 2nd
and 3rd (municipal) Wards, Huntsville, Mound Fort, Lynne,
Marriott, Riverdale, and Uintah. Archives staff searched
available published sources for some reference to these forms,
but couldn’t find any information. So what was their purpose,
why were they filed with the county clerk, and why did only five
booklets survive? Archives staff next contacted the National
Archives to see what inf