Should alternate names be included?
US, Massachusetts—Boston Tax Records, 1822–1918 [Part Y][M31B-F3G]
At the top of the form it has alternate spellings listed. Should these be included in the surname column?
Best Answer
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I called the help line and asked this question when this project was running before and was advised to include all alternate spellings separated by Or.
I read carefully through all of the instructions and still do not find anything concerning this situation so I must assume that the advise is still the same.
Hope this helps.🙂
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Answers
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Thank you!
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The General Indexing Guidelines (GIG) - usually the last section of the Project Instructions (PI) - should apply/prevail when the PI or Field Helps do not have specific guidance to the contrary. Further below is the GIG guidance on this from another project. I could not open the batch.
When in doubt, check the GIG, and weigh its “General” advice against the specific advice for the Project Instructions and Field Helps (and Examples). If the Project is “silent” on an issue, you can usually safely follow the GIG. If an Example seems to contradict one of these sources (FH, PI, GIG), I would ask for clarification. Examples have been wrong or have indicated “special handling” situations.
The GIG on Alias Names
Alias Names
If alias names were included on a document, or if an individual's name was listed with various spellings on the document, include all variants, separating each with the word Or. For example, if a name was written as "Georgios (George), George Broski, George Browzowski, or George Brzozowski," index the name fields as follow:
- Given Name: Georgios Or George
- Surname: Broski Or Browzowski Or Brzozowski
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