Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

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This project will convert the series of public use samples into a single coherent form, facilitating the use of these data for the study of long-term social change in American society. Large individual-level samples of the U.S. census of population covering the census years 1880, 1900, 1910, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990 are currently available or in preparation. These data have proven to be a valuable resource, since they allow researchers to make analyses tailored to their specific research questions and to avoid the problems and limitations associated with using the published census data for different years. The availability of these census files has led to some research on the nature of long-term social change in the United States. However, because the data files were created at different times and by different investigators, they have incompatible documentation and a wide variety of record layouts and coding schemes. These differences inhibit the use of the data for the study of social change. The preparation and documentation of an integrated Public Use Microdata Series will provide a valuable data resource for the research community, and will eventually contribute greatly to our understanding of the changes American society has undergone since 1880.