The Fate of the 1890 Census

As all genealogists know, the US Census records can be a gold mine of information. Often used as the first record to use in researching our ancestors, the records provide family information--names, ages, birth years and locations, marital status, occupations, and much more. However, our biggest Census heartbreak is the almost total loss of the 1890 Census, mainly caused by a fire, water, and smoke damage. Only a few pages survived.
Back in 1996, the National Archives (NARA) published a three-part article discussing the fate of the census. Below are the links to all three parts (part 3 are reference notes). Enjoy!
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/spring/1890-census-1.html
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/spring/1890-census-2.html
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/spring/1890-census-3.html