The Demograpic Data Base (DDB) Umeå University, Sweden Professor Anders Brändström Associate professor Sören Edvinsson Centre for Population Studies

What is DDB…? Centre for Population Studies A national and an international research infrastructure The databases Popum and Tabellverket are constructed from 18th and 19th century parish registers The longitudinal database Popum is one of the largest historical population databases Very rich and detailed (information per individual)

The population database ”Popum 3” Centre for Population Studies

Organization

Parish registers Birth and baptism Death and burial Catechetical examination Marriage Migration Nils Pehrsson Centre for Population Studies

Varying quality! Centre for Population Studies

Two main structures Period source (catechetical registers) Event sources Birth and baptism books Banns and marriage books Migration books Death and burial books Centre for Population Studies

Events Events can be indicated both in event and period sources Births Marriages Migrations Deaths And so on Centre for Population Studies

Status Status can be indicated both in period and event sources Marital status (explicit or implicit) Occupations Residence Family position And so on Centre for Population Studies

Constructing the database Automatic linkeage 91% Correct 4% Errors 5% Unlinked Information from different sources Linkage Linking individuals Linking families Standardized names Well tested algoritms DDB

A database which re- constructs the source Centre for Population Studies

Basic demands Possible to reconstruct the original source Possible to find all basic information about a person over time Possible to find all information valid for a person at a certain point in time The quality of the original sources defines the upper limit of the data quality It should be easy to extend the database structure Continuously maintained and documented Centre for Population Studies

Overview Input  source preparation & design of entry formats for true reproduction of various sources,  entry of individual source records from all source types,  monitoring of quality  administration of data flow Refinement  encoding and standardization – names!  structuring databases  computerized + computer-supported record linkage, Output  creating datasets according to researcher specifications  presenting data on the web in various forms, including relations & genealogy  administration of research service and web subscriptions Centre for Population Studies

POPUM 3 Structure Copy Digitisation POPUM Source Update Compi- lation POPUM User Retrieval Centre for Population Studies

Key Variables X = common occurrence Z = sporadic occurrence Y = Sporadic and unreliable VariableCatechetical register Migration register Birth and baptism Banns and marriages Deaths and burials Date of birthXZXZZ Place of birthXZXZZ BaptismX X LegitimacyX X Assistance at birth X ChurchingZ X Publication of banns X MarriageX X Guardian X Burial X Cause of death X MigrationXX VillageXXXXX Household membership Y Family statusXX Civil statusXX XX Occupation/tradeXX XX VaccinationXZZ RemarksXXXXX PenanceX ConfirmationXZ CommunionXZ Catechetical meetingsXZ Reading, Catechism, Understanding XZ

Data problems Missing Redundant Inconsistent Level of precision Non-standardized sources Mainly event oriented Centre for Population Studies

Popum Tabellverket parishes 5 million individual notations 1 million individuals >300 variables -11 generations parishes ¼ million forms ¼ billion details on events and conditions

Access to the database Specially constructed files Open to the public via Internet Indiko Tabellverket online Centre for Population Studies

Research service researchers - 35 from abroad 40 guest researchers from more than 15 countries 25 larger file deliveries per year 35 doctoral dissertations 800 scientific publications DDB, Centre for Population Studies

DDB in research Centre for Population Studies

CPS Research Programmes Centre for Population Studies

A geneological database Historical Database POPUM3 Multi- Gen (SCB) Extended POPUM Centre for Population Studies