The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.10, page 189, Nov. 1909, U. of Illinois Press

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NOVEMBER . 1909 From Thomas Jesse Jonesi Washington November 3, Cog Dear Dr. Washington: Through the cooperation of Director Durand of the Census Bureau and Dr. Frissell, it has been made possible for me to spend a few weeks in the Census Bureau. The purpose of my work in the Bureau is to do all within my power to make the census of the Negro as accurate as possible. The accuracy of the census depends, first of all, upon the interest and intelligence of the supervisors and enumerators and, secondly, upon the cooperation and intelligence of the people who are to reply. The Director plans to use both of these elements in his effort to have the enumeration of the Negro race correct. The first task is to enlist the interest of the colored people in the census and to instruct them in the questions to be asked. In this work no person can do as much as you and no institution can surpass Tuskegee in giving instruction to the masses of the colored people. The director is eager that a vigorous educational campaign in census questions shall be carried on among the colored people. The farm schedule is particularly difficult as the crop returns desired are those for 1909, while the property holdings are those for April ~s-~g~o. You can readily unclerstand how many errors could be made on this point alone and how great the need of education will be when the census is taken. The present plan is to call for the cooperation of the private and public schools, churches through their state and district organizations, possibly insurance companies and fraternal loclges, newspapers and all other agencies which influence the colored people. I desire your cooperation and advice in my part of the work. If you have any suggestions to offer that will add to the efficiency of the Negro Census, they will be greatly appreciated. Later I hope to call upon you and your institution for definite aid. I am sincerely yours, Thomas Jesse Jones TLS Con. 3 BTW Papers DLC. ~ Thomas Jesse Jones (~873-~g~o), a Welsh immigrant to the United States, was a Ph.D. in sociology at Columbia University, where he was strongly influenced by 189