Replication Package for Finding John Smith: Using Extra Information for Historical Record Linkage
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: We introduce a new rule-based linking method for historical Census records. We augment earlier algorithms based on name, age and place of birth (Abramitzky, Boustan, Eriksson, 2012, or “basic ABE”), with five matching characteristics – middle initial, county of residence, and spouse and parents’ names. Relative to basic ABE, ABE-Extra Information (“ABE-EI”) greatly increases match rates, improves accuracy and is similarly representative of the population on most attributes, with geographic mobility being one important exception. Relative to machine learning algorithms, ABE-EI has somewhat lower match rates, greater representativeness, and offers full replicability. We also create the first ABE-based links for women.
Source: ICPSR Data Holdings
DOI: 10.3886/e247429
Authors: Ran Abramitzky, Leah Platt Boustan, Harriet M. Brookes Gray, Katherine Eriksson, Santiago Pérez, Hannah M. Postel, Myera Rashid, Noah Simon
Language: English
Topic: Data Quality and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154269966