Add a date field for Alternate Name entries
I think it would be very useful for the Alternate Name entry to have a date field. That way you could list a range of dates for a person in such circumstances as:
(1) going by their original German birth name (Carl Wilhelm VonBergheim) and when they changed to an anglicized version (Charles William Bergheim).
(2) step-children permanently using step-father's surname after their mother's marriage date.
(3) man using an alias after a certain delicate situation involving the law (and then returning to his original name decades later when he found out the lawman had survived, and the man wished to claim his Civil War soldier's pension that he'd earned under his original name).
(4) when people changed their names because they disliked the name given by parents. From records our family can identify a short timespan when uncle Milburn decided he would rather be Melvin and he used Melvin for rest of life.
The dates would be helpful for research (do you look for old name or new name in 1920 census) and organization.
--Lori
Comments
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Lori
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
I understand your suggested enhancement, of a "Date" Field, for "Alternate Name(s)", in the "Other Information" Section ...
But ...
That Said ...
I am sorry; but, I think that having a "Date" Field, for "Alternate Name(s)", in the "Other Information" Section is unnecessary.
The reason, that I believe such, is unnecessary, is that ANY reference, to a 'Date', when an "Alternate Name", appears for; and/or, was used by, an individual/person, can ALREADY be quite successfully accommodated in the "Reason Statement" (ie. Reason This Information Is Correct: ), of the particular "Alternate Name".
We DO NOT need any more unnecessary "Fields".
Users/Patrons either, DO NOT use/add "Alternate Names"; or, WORSE, "Delete" the "Alternate Names".
The addition of a "Date" Field, for "Alternate Name(s)", in the "Other Information" Section, would really make NO difference in either of the aforementioned cases. And, sad to say, I guarantee, literally, 'Confuse', MANY Users/Patrons.
Many User/Patrons DO NOT even like the use of "Alternate Name(s)", not even in the "Other Information" Section - and, "Delete" such; even, if there is a "Reason Statement" (ie. Reason This Information Is Correct: ).
Personally, I try to record, ALL the (sometimes, various) 'iterations', of the "Name(s)" [or, "Alternate Name(s)"] that an individual/person, was, 'Officially" recorded as; or, "Also Known As"; or, Used, during their lifetime.
I do not always record the actual 'Date' (or, 'Period'), sometimes a 'Date' (or, 'Period') applies and is recorded (eg. Census); but, if I do not record a 'Date' (or, 'Period'), I reference the occasion (eg. Birth Registration; Christening; Marriage Banns/Licence; Marriage; Marriage Registration; Death Registration; Burial; Grave; Probate/Death Duty; etc.).
And. most importantly, I record such in "Reason Statement" (ie. Reason This Information Is Correct: ), of the particular "Alternate Name".
Again, I am sorry; but, I think that having a "Date" Field, for "Alternate Name(s)", in the "Other Information" Section is unnecessary.
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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