Overview
Despite the fact that most companies did not conserve their individual records, researchers may well be capable to locate federal government documents documenting their existence. Governments have been regulating and gathering data about businesses since colonial instances. For example, U.S. census data began like data about occupations and businesses by the mid-19th century. In addition, lots of enterprises ended up essential to file regulatory files with the regional, state and/or federal federal government, this sort of as business licenses and tax information. Property documents this kind of as leases and mortgages are also community data that will have to be submitted with the area government, whether or not the property is employed for small business or residential reasons. 
Census records
The U.S. federal census has been taken each and every ten many years given that 1790. Most researchers are common with census Population Schedules: a list of the names of all individuals residing in the U.S., together with other particulars about them. In addition, for some many years there are also so-termed Non-Population Schedules, which gather more facts, which include details about specific corporations and farmers. Both equally styles of census records can be useful for business exploration.
Population Schedules
Commencing in 1850, the census enumerators recorded the profession of each individual residing in the U.S. Whilst the census lists only the style of get the job done, and does not include things like the company title or, in most instances, irrespective of whether the particular person is the proprietor or an worker, it can be a very good commencing issue for scientists who are exploring a distinct unique's business enterprise. To get the most information and facts from these entries, researchers really should also talk to the Census Instructions (accessible on the net at the U.S. Census website), which supply thorough instructions about how and when enumerators really should report occupational information and facts.
 Non-Population Schedules
There are two Non-Population Schedules that are appropriate for business enterprise exploration:
- Production Schedules – obtainable for 1810, 1850-1880
- Agricultural Schedules – available for 1850-1880 incorporates information and facts these types of as.
These usually neglected means can supply a prosperity of details about personal enterprises and farms. Producing program include the company name, variety of institution, items generated, raw supplies, people used, machinery, capital, wages, bills, and far more.  Agricultural schedules record the farmer's name, acreage, equipment, livestock, make, etcetera. Additional info, such as investigation ideas, is available on the web page of the National Archives.
Finding Census Documents
Census records are out there on the internet from numerous sources, together with:
- Ancestry Library Edition – out there on-site at all NYPL destinations
- Includes some but not all non-inhabitants schedules. To track down non-population schedules, pick out Search > Card catalog. Enter the title of the database: Selected U.S. find out this here -Population Schedules, 1850-1880. Then click on on that title in the final results listing on the correct.
- Family members Lookup – freely readily available on-line (no cost registration demanded)
- Does not include things like non-inhabitants schedules 
 
Regulatory paperwork (licenses, filings, and tax lists)
Governments have been regulating American corporations since colonial situations, producing documents such as enterprise filings, licenses, and tax documents.
Licenses and filings
Ahead of starting up operation, most enterprises have to file lawful paperwork in purchase to be authorized to conduct enterprise in a specific space. The most acquainted illustration is a company fashioned as a company, which is generally expected to file with the Condition department in charge of corporations. 
Both of those businesses and non-integrated enterprises are normally required to get a license to function from the condition and/or nearby government. Requirements for organization licenses have expanded in excess of time. Early on, licensing demands focused on trades impacting well being and welfare (such as ferries and taverns), and on other kinds of companies the authorities preferred to regulate (these as printing). Sooner or later licensing prerequisites grew to encompass just about any variety of enterprise. These data generally contain a whole lot of info about the persons forming the business enterprise.
Enterprise filings and licenses are ordinarily held by the issuing agency, or, for more mature data, the Point out or County archives.
- In New York Metropolis, the Division of Old Data, New York County Clerk&rsquos Workplace, maintains information of corporate and business enterprise certificates from 1818 to 1938 and assumed enterprise identify certificates from 1900 to 1924. This business office can be arrived at at 646-386-5395.
- A statewide databases of New York firms (enterprise and not-for-earnings), partnerships, and confined legal responsibility firms is taken care of by the New York State Office of State, Division of Organizations. This Corporation and Business Entity Database includes the two lively and inactive corporations, and frequently supplies the business enterprise identify, deal with, preliminary submitting day and identify of main executive officer. Note that this database does not include things like firms that went out of enterprise prior to December five, 1977. These early data are contained in handbook inactive documents at the Office of State. Although continue to taken care of, a penned request must be made for these information.
Outside of New York, business licenses could be managed by the community clerk&rsquos place of work or some other govt office.
Taxes are collected from firms as well as men and women. The two major styles of tax documents are:
- Tax lists – the very first phase in the approach of taxation is to build a list of taxpayers and their taxable home
- Tax assessments - tabulation of the value of outlined assets
Prevalent information recorded in these records include the name of the paying out entity, area and dimension of residence, assessed worth of the assets, and volume of taxes paid.
Taxes had been levied by federal, point out, and local governments. Older tax documents (people that survived) are normally held by by neighborhood libraries and historical societies.  
Far more recent data are much more most likely held by correct governing administration office: the Nationwide Archives (federal taxes), the archives of the condition in query (condition taxes), or by the city or county clerk (nearby taxes). 
Property records
As soon as the area of a business has been recognized, it may possibly be possible to trace the heritage of the residence as a result of land data this sort of as home loans, leases and deeds. Residence records for New York have been digitized and are freely offered online at FamilySearch.org as New York Land Records, 1630-1970. Take note that this assortment is not searchable, so in get to obtain the applicable paperwork on the web you need to have to know:
- Names of interested functions
- Approximate date of the transaction
- Area of the house