Content Statement: Terms in the "race" field are placed in quotations. The quotations signify that the quoted term is transcribed as it appears on the original record. These terms are often outdated, inaccurate, offensive, or racist. In addition, federal government staff completed the cards, so named individuals did not self-identify and may not have agreed with the designation on the card. Sometimes, it is also unclear what modern term would best apply. It would often be inaccurate to replace the antiquated term "colored" with "African American", for example, as people other than African Americans may have been labeled with this term. There may also be cases of people being misidentified. The Archives of Michigan has transcribed the original terms and placed them in quotes, rather than replacing them, to ensure the historical integrity of the records. Each document, regardless of its flaws, informs on the context in which it was created.

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Archives of Michigan https://michigan.gov/archivesofmi