How can I edit/fix an entire collection that was indexed incorrectly?

Amy Burris1

The collection, Alaska Vital Records 1816-2005 was indexed incorrectly. It has wild errors, such as Capetown South Africa instead of Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska. Or, Fairbanks Humboldt Nevada instead of Fairbanks, Alaska. This just isn't a few records. Thousands are wrong. The images are not wrong. Only the indexing. The edit button is grayed out. Alaskan researchers are frustrated at trying to locate records using search. What can I or we do?

Amy Burris1

There are thousands in the file with incorrect info. Should I screenshot only one? Or give more examples? I cannot screenshot thousands. Best to have the entire file re-indexed completely. I wish there were no grayed out edit boxes, as myself and fellow Alaskan researchers can edit on the fly. Thanks Aine and mods.

Here are a few examples just whipped up real fast:

Kake, Alaska was indexed Kake, Ethiopia. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-F3Z8-PP44?cc=2216300&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A68RQ-YN3Y

another one https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68R3-4BTV

Fairbanks, Alaska indexed as Fairbanks, Nevada THOUSANDS of this error. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-X3CJ-BNWS?cc=2216300&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A68R3-LHBG another one https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:685T-1CC4

Safety, Alaska is only Alaska without it's town of Safety. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J38H-D94N-W?cc=2216300&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6851-FN1H

Cape Prince of Wales turns to Cape town, Africa https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68TS-VL37

Sitka, Alaska indexed Sitka, Michigan https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-F3ZL-H975-S?cc=2216300&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A685B-ZC8B

Tanana, Alaska turned to Tamama, Gilbert Islands https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68RS-GZDG

Áine Ní Donnghaile

That's more than sufficient @Amy Burris1. I only suggested that you needed to supply one example.

It's not a reindexing, since it is not an indexing error. It is a post-processing error by the placename standardization algorithm. If you search in this community for that term, you'll see that there have been many such reports.

@N Tychonievich please and thank you.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Are there 2 locations showing - one with the word Original and then another one that is listed in the wrong state/country?

If so, that is the placename standardization algorithm which has changed many locations incorrectly, rather than an indexing error. You've done the best thing you can do, by reporting here in the Community.

If you can add some specifics - a URL and screenshot of one of the errors you've seen, it will be easier for a mod to escalate. I'll tag the mod who has taken the lead on getting these errors reported.

@N Tychonievich

N Tychonievich

@Amy Burris1 Sorry to be a bit slow getting to this one. Thank you for pointing the place name errors in the Alaska Vital Records collection. I will report these to the group that is working on such errors. Unfortunately, we are not able to predict how long it might take for corrections to be in place.