Do we index all surname variants that are written?
I am reviewing the U S Massachusetts Boston Tax Records - Part Y Batch#M31T-V32. The indexer indexed all variants of the surname including the ones that were later added and written in pencil. Besides the original surname "Cavanagh," also added in pencil was "See Cavanaugh, Kavanagh." It is these last two surnames that I am questioning if I should include them with the original surname and insert an "or" in between each one. I remember last year when we were doing US Directories that we did not include the surnames that were listed under (for example)"See Smithe, Smyth, Smythe."
I hope someone can understand what I am trying to say. I know in the General Indexing Guidelines under "Alias Names," it does say to index all variants listed in a record. But I am not sure if that applies in this situation. I have read the field helps and the project instructions more than once, hoping to find the answer but cannot see anything that will help me. Thanks again for your help.
Best Answers
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For this project, we index all variations of surnames, separating them by the word "or". I do see that the indexer missed the surname Kavanagh, so it should be Cavanagh Or Cavanaugh Or Kavanagh.
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I appreciate your help.
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I was really hoping that FS would add something about this to the instructions or show an example with this but so far it has not happened.
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