From Census to Story: Turning 1950 Census Clues Into Family Narratives

Source: Photograph captured from Google Maps, May 27, 2025

The 1950 U.S. Census is more than just a collection of names and numbers, it's a snapshot of American life and waiting to be rediscovered. In today’s post, I’m taking a closer look at one simple census entry: the household of Winston C. Glover, my  second cousin, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A Visit from the Enumerator

On April 14, 1950, enumerator Narvelle S. Mitchell knocked on the door at 644 Fulton Street SE, a modest home in an urban Grand Rapids neighborhood. It wasn’t a farm or a grand estate, just an ordinary house. But inside lived a family whose story reflects the era's everyday experiences.

Here’s what the census tells us:

• Winston C. Glover, age 49, born in Illinois, head of household, married

• Margaret L. Glover, age 43, born in Michigan, his wife

• Mary Lynn Glover, age 16, born in Michigan, their daughter

Interestingly, none of the family members had occupations, hours worked, or income listed. At first glance, that might seem like a gap, but it actually opens a window for further research. Winston could have been between jobs, informally employed, or possibly retired early. Margaret may have been a homemaker, like many women in the post-war years, managing the household and raising their daughter.

Asking the Next Questions

Census records are great starting points—but they rarely tell the whole story. They spark questions like:

• What brought Winston from Illinois to Michigan?

• What kind of work did he do before 1950?

• What was life like for Mary Lynn as a teenager in Grand Rapids?

To dig deeper, sources like local directories, draft registration cards, school records, city maps, and yearbooks can offer more insight. A 1950 city directory might list Winston’s employer except Grand Rapids didn't have a city directory for 1950, but they had a 1949 and a 1951 one. Winston was listed as a salesman in both of those years.

A high school yearbook could show where Mary Lynn went to school and even what clubs she joined. A visit to the Grand Rapids City Archives, using Sanborn Maps,or school yearbooks at the Library of Michigan might help me find the answers to these questions and more. 

A Snapshot of a Changing America

Though brief, the Glover family’s census entry tells a very human story. They were part of a city growing rapidly after World War II, raising a daughter in a neighborhood shaped by change, transition, and hope for the future.

This small glimpse into their lives reminds us that every census line is more than just data. Behind it are real people, people who worked, laughed, dreamed, and left behind just enough clues for us to follow.

I haven't research this collateral line much. I have lots of records to explore to get the complete picture of one family in my Glover line.

AI Disclosures

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. AI was used for headings, grammar, and spelling editing.

Before Playlists: The Music My Parents Fell in Love To

During a recent visit to my mom’s independent living facility, she told me about a "Name That Tune" game held at her residence. She had listened from the second-floor balcony, choosing not to go down and participate, but she recognized many of the songs. It was more than just a game—it was a walk down memory lane. As I sat there smiling, imagining my mom tapping her fingers to the beat, I began to wonder: What songs were playing on the radio when she and my dad were falling in love?

My parents met in 1950 and married in 1952. It was an era of slow dancing at community halls, evenings spent around the radio, and the occasional night out at a local bar with live entertainment. Today, young couples might create a custom playlist on Spotify to remember the early days of their relationship, but back then, the music came from jukeboxes, record players, and the evening radio shows that filled American homes.

My dad and mom loved music their entire life. My parents had a deep appreciation for big band swing. Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey were some of their favorites. As my dad grew older, his musical taste shifted toward country, and his record collection followed suit. My mom's music taste lended itself to more of the standards. She enjoyed Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, and Al Martino. There was always music in our home. I remember watching Hee Haw and The Lawrence Welk Show together as a family, sometimes reluctantly. But those shows were more than entertainment, they were part of our lives.

Their love of music was handed down to me. I grieved the loss of LPs, only to see them make a comeback. Today, I use Amazon Alexa to play my favorites or stream music on iTunes from my computer. I enjoy the music of the late 60s and early 70s, before disco and auto-tuning.

Thinking about those early years of my parents’ romance, I created a playlist of songs that would have been playing when they were dating. These are the tunes that would’ve filled the airwaves between 1950 and 1952, perfect for dancing cheek-to-cheek, driving on a summer evening, or simply sitting side by side, dreaming of the future.

The Soundtrack of Their Love: A 1950–1952 Playlist

1950

• Mona Lisa – Nat King Cole

• Sentimental Me – The Ames Brothers

• Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered – Doris Day

• Harbor Lights – Sammy Kaye Orchestra

• La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf

1951

• Because of You – Tony Bennett

• Too Young – Nat King Cole

• Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

• How High the Moon – Les Paul & Mary Ford

• Cold, Cold Heart – Hank Williams

1952

• You Belong to Me – Jo Stafford

• Wheel of Fortune – Kay Starr

• Blue Tango – Leroy Anderson

• Here in My Heart – Al Martino

• Anytime – Eddie Fisher

This playlist is my tribute to the soundtrack of my parents’ love story, songs that might have played at their favorite dance hall, drifted through the open windows of a parked car, or been heard while slow dancing in the living room. They didn’t need streaming services or curated digital playlists; they had each other, and the music of the moment was more than enough.

Do you know what songs your parents or grandparents fell in love to? It’s a beautiful journey to explore and you might just find yourself dancing along the way.

AI Disclosures

The image used on this blog post was created by AI software, DALL-E. The visual was designed to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience.

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. AI was used for  grammar and spelling editing.

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence for the creation of a list of hit songs from 1950-1952. I selected five titles and artists for each year.

GPT4o suggested blog post titles based upon my writing and ideas and I selected the one and edited to enhance the blog experience.

From Colonial America to Medieval England: Daniel Poor and the Possible Bishop Connection

 

Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England 

photograph from Creative Commons CC by 2.0 Deed, Attribution 2.0 Generic

During a recent trip to Europe I saw a few cathedrals. I was in awe of the history and architecture of these cathedrals. Although I didn't see Salisbury Cathedral, I was interested in it because of my possible family connection to it. 

Salisbury Cathedral has a long history in England. The main body of the cathedral was constructed between 1220-1258 A.D. and the spire completed in 1320 A.D. Salisbury Cathedral is the location of one of the remaining original Magna Cartas.

My possible relationship to the cathedral traces back to Bishop Richard Poore (Poor), who was instrumental in the cathedral's founding. Through mainly secondary sources, including family histories, a cousin's genealogical research, and my own United States research, I've established Poor ancestry. But does it connect to Bishop Richard Poore of Salisbury? Further research with primary sources needs to be conducted to prove this.

The materials I’ve found so far are not thoroughly sourced, and I want to be cautious about presenting any conclusions.. The history of Salisbury Cathedral is available online at the Salisbury Cathedral website and it is a good place to learn more about the site's significance.

I’ve also consulted the "East Wind, West Wind" family history published on Genealogy.com. While it offers useful clues, it lacks direct source citations. The site includes a bibliography, but a front-page disclaimer notes, “Some portions are fictionalized for reader interest.” As such, it should be used with caution and as a starting point but not a definitive source.

You might wonder why I’m sharing this now, even though I haven’t found conclusive proof. It’s because of the genealogical concept of the preponderance of evidence, the process of collecting multiple records that, while individually insufficient, together strongly suggest the likelihood of an event or relationship. This approach becomes essential when primary records are missing, as often happens the further we go back in time. Secondary and tertiary sources, when carefully weighed and analyzed, can form the foundation for building a well-supported genealogical case.

It’s also important to avoid being misled by repeated information that stems from a single source. For example, if one researcher publishes birth data, a second cites that in a book, and a third posts it online, it may seem like independent confirmations, but all rely on the same original source. Such circular citations can give a false sense of reliability. Always verify the origin of each record and evaluate its credibility before accepting it as fact.

This is where I am with my Poor family. I feel confident tracing my research to Daniel Poor (1624-1698), who arrived on the Bevis from Southampton in 1638 as a servant to Richard Dummer.  His sister, Alice, 20 and brother Samuel, 18 were on the same ship.  He is listed on passenger list as "Da'yell Poore."

Complicating things further is the spelling of his surname: Poor, Poore, Poer, and more, all of which have been found in records. I am sharing this information in hopes of connecting with other Poor researchers. At this point, I do not have the preponderance of evidence necessary to confidently record Daniel Poor’s parentage, but I remain hopeful that collaboration and further investigation will help fill in the gaps. 

Genealogical research is often a long and winding journey, especially when exploring centuries-old connections. While I haven’t yet verified a direct link to Bishop Richard Poore of Salisbury, I believe in the value of sharing research-in-progress. It invites collaboration, fresh insights, and perhaps even the discovery of that one missing piece of evidence. If you’re also researching the Poor family or have come across similar records, I’d love to hear from you. Together, we might be able to shed more light on this interesting family story.

AI Disclosures

GPT4o suggested blog post titles based upon my writing and ideas and I selected the one with edits to enhance the blog experience.

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for grammar and spelling editing.