Use the "event date" on Affidavits of Witnesses for associated Petitions for Naturalization

Karl Louis Denninghoff

According to the instructions, we do not index an "Affidavit of Witnesses", so I have simply marked such affidavits as "no extractable data" as instructed. However, their images appeared with associated Petitions for Naturalization to which they were originally attached. On their face the Petitions for Naturalization have no event date--the event dates are on and only on the associated Affidavits of Witnesses. Since correct event dates are present on Affidavits of Witnesses, it would appear that Affidavits of Witnesses actually do have useful extractable data when kept in association with the whole of the document--i.e. the Petitions for Naturalization.

It would appear to be an improvement, providing that the event date can be important and if it is available on the associated Affidavit of Witnesses, that the date should be entered and then these associated document images kept together rather than purging Affidavits of Witnesses.

Melissa S Himes

Without knowing what project you are working on, my experience has been that the Affidavit of Witness statement generally has the Oath of Allegiance following it, so those would be indexed on that image. Rarely is it No, No Extractable Data.

I noticed that the Missouri Nats recently put up a message in the project instructions for reviewers: "While reviewing a batch, please verify that images containing Oath of Allegiance records are not marked as "No, No Extractable Data Image." I think alot of people must be missing them.

Previously, we did use the date from the Witness statement when it was on the next image, but, the newer instructions don't allow for that. In any event, No, No Extractable Data doesn't delete the image from the file, it simply means that nothing is indexed. All the documents do stay together forever.

Karl Louis Denninghoff

Yes, I am in the Missouri batches.

The instructions specifically state to not index affidavits of witnesses and to mark them as No, No Extractable Data, this is copied directly from the popup that I get from pressing the "project instructions" button.

"Do not index name change records, certificates of loyalty, certificates of arrival, affidavits of witnesses, or depositions. These images should be marked in Step 1: Images as No, No Extractable Data."

The top of the image states that it is an affidavit of witnesses, and the fact that there can also be an Oath of Allegiance in the same image, which is not part of the same document from an indexing perspective, is what is causing the problem--apparently with not just me. Please add to the instructions that the document title at the top of these does not necessarily apply to the whole of the image--or that an image can start with an unindexable document followed by an indexable one on the same piece of paper.

Still, I have had them with just the affidavit of witnesses in the second part and it has a date and the associated Petition for Naturalization does not.

Thanks,

--Karl

Melissa S Himes

They probably think that most indexers/reviewers are going to look at the whole image and extract the proper data from it, not just look at the top line. The instructions do say:  If a document does not have a title or heading, look at other information on the document to determine the document type.

Maybe the instruction should just tell indexers to look at ALL the information on the document to determine the document type.

Perhaps they will also have learned from this to include an example that has the Affidavit at the top of the page and alleviate two issues - index the oath, and don't use the date from the affidavit statement!

Amy Beth

US, Missouri—Naturalization Records, 1843–1991 [Part D]

I am confused because it says to mark oath of allegiance as no extractable data, then in what forms to index oath of allegiance is one of the five listed forms to index. It conflicts. Advice?

Amy Beth

here are both instructions together: See the 2 quotes I bolded.

"What to Look for While Reviewing▲While reviewing a batch, please verify that images containing Oath of Allegiance records are not marked as "No, No Extractable Data Image."

What to Index▲Records that are outside the project date range should still be indexed.

• Index the following 5 types of naturalization documents: certificates of naturalization, declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, oaths of allegiance, and naturalization cards. If a document does not have a title or heading, look at other information on the document to determine the document type.
• Do not index name change records, certificates of loyalty, certificates of arrival, affidavits of witnesses, or depositions. These images should be marked in Step 1: Images as No, No Extractable Data.
• Indexes are images with only a name and reference information, such as page or volume number, with no other information, such as dates, available. Indexes should be marked as No, No Extractable Data."

Melissa S Himes

The first bolded text is letting reviewers know that they need to be on the lookout for batches where the Oath was marked a No, No Extractable Data and make sure they are NOT marked as "No, No Extractable Data Image. They must be indexed. It does not say that they are to be marked No Extractable Data.

The second bolded text from the instructions told indexers and reviewers to INDEX Oaths of Allegiance.

Apparently too many people are missing the Oath of Allegiance because they are only looking at the top of the page which is the Affidavit of Witness statement. That is followed by the Oath of Allegiance.