Karen asked:

> 2)  Under citizenship, there are numerous entries that list Pa,
rather than
> Na (naturalized) or Al (alien).  This is clearly a deliberate use of the
> abbreviation as "Pa" occurs some two dozen times in 1910 and is used
> consistently in the 1900 and 1920 census schedules too.  I am guessing that
> "Pa" stands for Pennsylvania, but would like to hear suggestions as to why
> this abbreviation would be used.
>
        Although I cannot give you the specific words, the Pa designation is
for pending applications for citizenship.  This was a time of high
immigration, and many people were applying but not yet naturalized.

> Last question.  The enumerators made the distinction between servant at home
> (usually a young girl) who, though listed as a servant, was not considered to
> be an employee or a wage earner, and servant in a private family/home, where
> the young lady was indeed a wage earner.  Why list the servant at home?  The
> only explanation I see is that this listing was made to explain the lack of
> school attendance by the girl, as the census indicates that none of the girls
> had attended school in the last eight months.  Their ages range from 13 to
> 18.  Any thoughts?

In many parts of the country, these unpaid servants were distant
family members whose parents had died or were unable to care for
them.  When relatives took these kids in, they worked as servants for
the family.

Bill
--------------------

Bill Lockhart
New Mexico State University
Alamogordo, NM
(505) 439-3732