Genealogists woke up early this morning, anticipating today's unlocking of a virtual time capsule: For the first time, census data were released online.

This particular unveiling -- information from the 1940 census -- is of particular interest because it reflects a time period between the Great Depression and before the U.S. entered World War II. It also marked the first time more detailed questions were asked, such as "Where were you living five years ago?" Answers to that question will likely show families emigrating from Europe because of the war.

"We're talking about a snapshot of the 'Greatest Generation' before they went off to war," Thomas MacEntee, an analyst for the genealogy industry and a genealogy educator, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press....