Statistics

During the 18^th century, the central government gradually developed an interest in collecting and analysing statistical data. The utility of statistics in administration became obvious. In the earliest period, institutions already in existence processed the statistical data themselves, e.g. the Chamber of Revenue, the Board of Commerce, and the Chamber of Customs; after 1848, the Central Directorate for the Colonies continued this practice. Later, a special statistics institution was established.

Today, statistical material is, in certain cases, filed separately in the archives, but it can often be found in the general files, although the extent and quality vary. The practice of publishing various official statistical returns started in the first half of the 19^th century.

The Statistics Bureau 1850-1913, the Statistics Department 1913-(1917)

Statistisk Bureau 1850-1913, Statistisk Departement 1913-(1917)

In 1797, a special Tablework Office (for the publication of statistical tables) was established under the Chamber of Revenue. In 1833, this institution appointed a Tablework Commission. The Commission was succeeded by the Statistics Bureau in 1850. This institution’s central task was to provide and process data concerning demographics, social conditions, trade and industry, intellectual life, and public administration, etc.

The Statistics Bureau has left very extensive archives, mainly in the form of basic statistical material, such as returns on forms, tables, etc.; these have been sorted into 22 topical file groups. Many statistical survey results are presented in a large number of publications, divided into various series.

The West Indies

Many of the Statistics Bureau’s general surveys include data on the Danish West Indies. Of extant, specifically West Indian files, there remain only – in file group 20, under the designation Miscellaneous – returns and accounts for the Danish West Indies 1903-1917 (1 box), many of which are statistics on public health on the islands.

A special group (file group 1) in the Statistics Bureau’s archives consists of the original forms from censuses taken both before and after 1850. The collection of census forms from the Danish West Indies comprises the following 69 boxes:

1835 1 box
1841 5 boxes
1846 8 boxes
1850 6 boxes
1855 6 boxes
1857 6 boxes
1860 5 boxes
1870 5 boxes
1880 7 boxes
1890 1 box
1901 10 boxes
1911 9 boxes

In this connection, it should be noted that the material kept in the Danish National Archives and designated The 1835 Census consists of almost illegible photocopies, and that the material includes only Kongensgade, Dronningensgade, and Kronprinsensgade in Christiansted. It should also be pointed out that the original forms from the same census taken on St. John are kept in the West Indian local archives as St. Thomas and St. John Government, box no. 53.170, Population lists of free inhabitants as well as slaves on St. John 1835. It is also worth mentioning that other original census forms from St. John 1835 are in the National Archives in Washington (Record Group 55, Entry 82, Boxes 302 and 322). From the 1890 census, the Danish National Archives hold only forms from Christiansted, from Kongensgade, Dronningensgade, Kompagnigade, Hospitalsgade, Markedsgade, Strandgade, and Western Suburbs. Also in this case, the rest of the material may be in Washington. From all other censuses taken, the original forms are kept in Copenhagen.

Except from 1835 and 1890, the census material consists of all the original forms filled in at each census by either public census takers or the individual families. For each census, the forms are filed according to address, i.e. island by island, towns distinct from rural areas, possibly subdivided into quarters, and finally sorted by street name or plantation. For censuses before 1848, the forms are basically divided into free and unfree inhabitants, the two categories having slightly different contents.

The types of data included vary slightly from one census to another, but typically the information falls under the following column headings on the census forms: "Number of families or housekeepings on the property; Names af all persons residing on the property; Males; Females; Where born; If not born in the Danish West Indies, year of settlement there; Age, the running year included; Religion or the church that the person attends; Married, unmarried, widower, widow, divorced; Each person’s title, office, trade, living, and relative state in the family; Observations, such as if a person is afflicted with blindness, idiotcy, leprocy, elephantiasis, or concerning person’s temporary absence from the island". This example is taken from the 1880 census.

The various totals of census data, but not the voluminous personal data, are published in the statistical publications.

The archives of the Central Directorate for the Colonies has a small section of 6 boxes (nos. 1014-1019) concerning statistics.

Finding Aids

Concerning the archives of the Statistics Bureau and the Statistics Department, see the general survey in Wilhelm von Rosen, ed., Rigsarkivet og hjælpemidlerne til dets benyttelse, vol. II:4, Copenhagen 1991, pp. 1826-1853.

Literature

See the brief description of the long-term perspective of statistics in Denmark in Samfundet og statistikken. Et historisk rids 1769-1950, Statistiske Meddelelser 4:139:1, Copenhagen 1949. See also the surveys in Axel Holck, Dansk Statistiks Historie 1800-1850 særlig med Hensyn til den officielle Statistiks Udvikling, Copenhagen 1901; Statistisk Bureaus Historie. Et omrids udarbejdet i Anledning af Bureauets 50-aarige Bestaaen, Copenhagen 1899, composed by Marcus Rubin; and Det statistiske Departement (Statens statistiske Bureau) 1896-1920, Copenhagen 1920, composed by Adolph Jensen.

The most important Danish official statistical publications are listed in Chapter 1. See also the survey of the official statistical publications in the annual volumes of Statistisk Årbog 1896-1985.