US—Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800–1955 [Part E] [M3LT-NWQ]
i have been indexing these records but have done other Tract records from other batches and have found instructions to be different. This batch says that where various dates are listed to index the date of sale. Others have said to index the latest date where various dates are listed. Why the difference in instructions? Also, Where there is no date of sale recorded, what date is to be indexed? Date of Locality, Patent, or relinquishment? And the instructions say to index ALL names but are duplicate names with identical information--date of sale, event place etc. to be indexed?
Answers
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I need an answer to this as well. I have asked and been told to follow whatever the instructions say about that ... like you said some say if there are multiple dates for the sale event to use the most current. Others have said use the most current having to do with the sale, but NOT the cancelled or relinquished date (which is most often years later) which makes sense.
I'm reviewing these and I can tell you everyone I've run across is a mixed bag. They either only look at the column of SALE date, and never check other dates, or they go back and forth throughout the document and sometimes just send it back unfinished. I can feel their frustration as I look at their input.
If it is the most current date having to do with the sale, that I can understand. But the instructions are so vague, it makes it difficult to index and review!!!
Could sure use some instruction dealing with this. I've actually seen instruction examples selecting the patent date etc, but chosing an earlier date rather than the cancellation date. argh!! lol HELP!
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