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The 1911 census will be digitised online
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The 1911 census currently occupies 2 kilometres of shelving at The National Archives.
Comprising over eight million householder schedules and a further 38,000 enumerators’ summary books, it details information relating to approximately 35 million people then living in England and Wales.
Once digitised the census will take up an equally large half a petabyte of computer memory or, physically, 800 data tapes.
The digital scanning in preparation for digitisation will create 18 million images, 14 times the number created in advance of the 1901 census being launched online in 2002.
Census records helps people trace their ancestors, and access to them can help those seeking to trace their family tree.
From 2009 there will be a phased release of the information in the 1911 census starting with the major conurbations.
This will include images and transcription data, but with sensitive data redacted in line with the Information Commissioner’s recent ruling.
From 3 January 2012 the public will have full access to the entire 1911 census, including the information not accessible in 2009.
Researchers anywhere in the world will be able to search across the fields of the census by name, address or The National Archives reference, and download high-resolution digital images.
Natalie Ceeney, Chief Executive of The National Archives said: “The 1911 census holds more information than the 1901 census.
"It is also the first census where the householder’s schedule has remained the master entry, rather than the enumerator’s notes, so researchers are actually able, in most cases, to view their actual ancestors’ handwriting when looking at 1911 census entries.
"This will be an invaluable resource for anyone who is working hard to trace their family’s history.”
Dr Richard Callison of Scotland Online, added: “The 1911 census records will provide a mine of important historical information and I’m delighted that The National Archives has chosen to work with Scotland Online on this momentous project.
"We have a strong track record in the field of genealogy, having worked in partnership with the General Register Office for Scotland since 2002 to publish almost 50 million pages of Scottish historical records, all of which are now available to view online.”
Over the past five years The National Archives has embarked on an ambitious programme to digitise over 90 per cent of the most popular documents in its largely paper-based collection.
It is aiming to digitise over 100 million pages by 2012. These range from Domesday Book (now available digitally at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/domesday), through to the censuses, prisoner of war records, ancient petitions, war service and medal records.
Working with partners in the private sector, The National Archives has made records such as lists of emigrating passengers and the 1841 -1891 censuses available for research, through similar partnerships.
The National Archives has also launched a digitisation-on-demand programme which makes the majority of its collection accessible to researchers from anywhere across the globe.
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