A Critical Data Studies Approach to Analysis of the 1850-1880 U.S. Censuses

Sterling Fluharty, Independent Scholar

This paper presents a novel examination of historical census data from the United States for the years 1850 through 1880, utilizing a critical data studies framework to challenge and expand upon traditional positivist interpretations. My analysis draws upon a diverse literature, engaging with interdisciplinary perspectives that encompass history, sociology, data ethics, and critical theory. I interrogate the social, political, and methodological underpinnings of census data collection and its subsequent interpretations, highlighting the ways in which power dynamics, societal norms, and methodological biases have historically shaped data practices and knowledge production. A key focus of my study is the reevaluation of data related to gender and property ownership, particularly instances where women were recorded as farm or property owners in the agricultural schedules, despite prevailing patriarchal norms that listed men as the head of household in the population schedules. This inquiry not only challenges traditional narratives of male economic dominance but also sheds light on the complex realities of women's roles in 19th-century American society. Furthermore, I delve into the construction and implications of racial and ethnic categories within the census, exploring how these classifications reflect and perpetuate racial hierarchies and identities. By employing a critical data studies approach, I aim to uncover the "missing voices" in census data—those of marginalized racial groups, women, and lower economic classes—thereby providing a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of historical populations. My analysis also considers the contemporary relevance of these findings, particularly in relation to ongoing debates surrounding data ethics, representation, and the social justice implications of historical data practices. This paper contributes to the growing field of critical data studies by demonstrating the value of reinterpreting historical datasets through a critical lens, advocating for a more reflective and ethically informed approach to data analysis and historical scholarship.

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 Presented in Session 194. Implications of New Techniques on Data Infrastructure