Santa Claus in 1930

Santa Claus in 1930?

Santa Claus is living in Saline County, Missouri in 1930 and appears in the census image at Ancestry.com living with Mrs. Claus--in this case Mabel.

This Santa was born in Missouri and worked in river construction. Just slightly different from working in the manufacture and delivery of toys.

Readers can search the 1930 census for their own ancestors at Ancestry.com.

Search for Santa Claus at all of Ancestry.com

1930 Census-President Bush

Future president George W. Bush is only enumerated in 1930 with the "W" he's the Walker shown here in part of the 1930 census enumeration for he and his family.

You can View Census Records Online at Ancestry.com or you rcan read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

Jimmy Stewart in 1930

Actor Jimmy Stewart was living in Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1930 with his family as partially shown in the image included in this post. The 21 year old is listed without an occupation and his father runs a hardware store.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what your relatives are up to--hopefully they aren't living in a town that is also the name of a state (Illinois has a town named Oregon and one named Ohio) .If you don't have a subscription to Ancestry.com, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

Malcolm X in the 1930 Census

He might have been easier to find had his last name in 1930 been "X" instead of the much more common Little. Black activist Malcolm X and his family are living in Lansing, Michigan in 1930 as the partial image on the right show.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what names your relatives as listed with--however, it usually helps your search if you know the last name before you find them. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

1930 Census--Shirley Temple

It is difficult to read, but the last name in this image is Shirley Temple--child star. Imagine trying to find that if you did not already have a good idea of where she was living. The rest of the entry indicates where the family was living in California and the father's occupation.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what your relatives are up to.
If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

1930 President

Not many individuals have their "industry" in the 1930 census listed as "United States" and even fewer list their occupation as president. The entire image can be seen here for those who are not aware of who was president in 1930.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what your relatives occupations are---doubtful if they are president. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

Peter Graves and James Arness in 1930 Census

Peter Graves and James Arness are enumerated with the last name Aurness in the 1930 census in Minnesota. The brothers were small children at the time of this enumeration and their father worked as a salesman.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what your relatives are up to.

If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

1930 Census--no name Jackie O

Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis is enumerated in the 1930 census--well sort of. Her father is listed in in NYC's Manhattan as shown here, but his wife and young daughter are listed without names. Based upon the complete enumeration and known information about the Bouvier family, it's pretty certain this is the right family.

The reason for the unusual entry is anyone's guess, but if it can happen to a future first lady, it could happen to your less well-known ancestors as well. If you can't find someone when searching a census index, make certain you have searched for every family member.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see if your ancestors show up no names---maybe they were in the witness protection program!

The Voice of Snow White in 1930

Her father was a voice teacher, so I guess Andriana Caselotti got her talent naturally. Fortunately the apple that didn't fall far from the tree in this case was a good one, not one like Snow White (for whom Caselotti provided the voice) ate in the movie.

The 1930 census finds the 13 year old living with her family in Los Angeles, where her father is employed as a voice teacher.

Some occupations and talents tend to run in families. Some are re-developed every generation. And some are just stuck. You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what category your relative falls into.

1930 Census--Marilyn Monroe

We "think" we have Marilyn Monroe in the 1930 census--to be perfectly frank, I'm not 100%, but what follows is the text from our page that contains an image of her suspected 1930 census enumeration.

The Marilyn Monroe Facts Page at http://marilynmonroepages.com/facts.html indicates that Marilyn (formerly Norma Jean Baker) lived with the family of Albert Bolander at 459 E Rhode Island St., Hawthorne, CA, from 1926-32, which is the address of this enumeration (noted on the side of the page). There are other references that provide similar information. Numerous sites indicate that Norma Jean's mother, Gladys, also lived with the family at various times during this period.

There are a few errors in this enumeration, most notably the age (which should be 6--unless it is to indicate 6 years and some months) and the places of birth listed for Norma Jean and her parents. This Norma Jean is listed as being widowed as well. I don't have the answer for this particular discrepancy. However, given the family structure it is likely that whoever answered the questions for Norma Jean was not certain of all the answers.


Gladys Baker's husband, Mr. Baker, went to Kentucky after his divorce from Gladys and this Norma Jean Baker is not his mother. As Gladys was likely estranged from the Baker family, I find it difficult to believe that a member of the extended Baker family would be living with Gladys at the Bolanders.

It seems really coincidental that Marilyn Monroe (formerly Norma Jean Baker) lived with the Bolanders in the late 1920s and early 1930s and yet there is ANOTHER older Norma Jean Baker enumerated in their household and younger Norma Jean Baker is somehow omitted.

If you think she's elsewhere, give a search of the 1930 census and let us know if you find another potential match.

1920 Census--Walter Cronkhite

The 1920 Census found future newsman living with his parents in a boarding house in Kansas City, Missouri. The complete enumeration indicates Cronkhite was born in Missouri and his father's occupation. Of course, those who want to search for less well-known relatives in the 1920 census can do so at Ancestry.com.

1930 Census--Actor Charles Bronson

Enumerated as Charles Bunchinski in Ehrenfeld, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, with his parents listed as Walter and Mary Bunchinski--this was a BIG family. I never realized he was one of twelve children. You can view the family's complete entry to see Mr. Bunchinski's occupation. His rent was $7 a month.

Search the 1930 for your ancestor and see how much he was paying a month for rent.

1930 Census--Mike Wallace

Future journalist Mike Wallace is living with his parents in Brookline, Massachusetts. He's enumerated under Myron Wallace, which is his real name, with his parents Frank and Zina Wallace, living at 179 Rawson Road.

Search the 1930 census for your relatives.

1930 census--H & R Block

Henry and Richard Bloch were born and raised in Kansas City, the second and third sons of a prominent Kansas City lawyer, Leon Bloch. The 1930 census enumeration for their family indicates they were not living in the low rent district. They were the founders of the tax preparation giant H and R Block.

It might be a little taxing, but you can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com

1930 Census--Sam Walton of Walmart

The 1930 census found the future founder of WalMart living with his family and enumerated with the nickname of Sammie. You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com--just remember they might just be listed under their nickname...

1930 Census--Donna Reed

In 1930 she was Donnabele--not just Donna. The 1930 census enumerator found TV mom Donna Reed living in Iowa with her parents as Donnabele Mullinger.

You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com--just remember they might not have the first name you think.

1930 Census-Cloris Leachman

The 1930 census enumeration for actress Cloris Leachman reminds us of several things to remember in genealogical research. Cloris was named for her mother. Apparently her uncle and aunt were living next door. One should always pay attention to the neighbors when doing genealogical research. And who knew she was from Des Moines?

You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com

1930 Charlton Heston

The websites say his name is actually James Charles Carter, but we found him in the 1930 census with his parents enumerated as Charlton J. Carter. Of course websites are not always correct---and the census is not always correct either. You can search the 1930 for your relative---just remember his name might not be exactly what you think it is.

1930 Census-Gallo Brothers

CNN is reporting the death of Ernest Gallo at 97. The image to the right is from the 1930 census for the family, a few short years before the winery was founded. As the slogan used to be they "will make no wine before it's time."

Search for your own family member in 1930, whether it's time or not.

1930 Census--Lucille Ball

Knowledge of the family structure is always important. By 1930 Lucille Ball was living with her mother Desiree and her stepfather Edward Peterson. While Ball was enumerated under her birth name, some individuals are occasionally listed in the census with the same surname as their step-father. You can search for your family member in 1930, but make certain you have their correct last name and are aware of any changes in their family structure.