USA census reference system

[JohnS]

In the UK it's quite simple. We have an established referencing system for census returns and these can be quoted as sources, e.g.
HO107 Piece 2036 Folio 598 Page 14.

I'm currently researching several family members that emigrated and was wondering what referencing system should be employed when quoting USA census returns as sources (bearing in mind that there are also State Censuses).
I don't have access to Ancestry so do not know what reference any material obtained from them would show. At the moment all I can get is limited material from IGI files but they are just listed as US 1890 Census, etc. etc.

Obviously, I need to save these as unique references but also need to know that anyone trying to get the source would be able to do so from my reference.

[Olde Crone]

John

I'm concerned that you are prepared to trust IGI material without seeing the original for yourself.

In your position I think I would just put something like USA 1890 census, IGI, for now, until such time as you are able to verify from the original.

OC

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch gives references such as this (example from the 1880 census):
NARA Film Number: T9-1059
Page: 16
Page Character: C
Entry Number: 549
Film number: 1255059

Ancestry appears to use the same film numbers and page numbers (for instance, the page number for the above is shown as 16C on ancestry) and as far as I can see, you can't search the US censuses on either site using reference numbers like you can with the UK ones, although I haven't checked every census, just a couple.

[kiterunner]

I hadn't realised you were looking at the IGI, John (sorry, I obviously didn't read your post fully!) - try the new FamilySearch site instead.
https://familysearch.org/

[JohnS]

I hadn't realised you were looking at the IGI, John (sorry, I obviously didn't read your post fully!) - try the new FamilySearch site instead.
https://familysearch.org/

My mistake for misleading you. I am using that site - I just refer to it as IGI (didn't know there was a difference).

[Margaret in Burton]

What we refer to as the IGI is this:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&clear_form=true

The new site is this:

https://www.familysearch.org/