How do you index and Affadavit of Witnesses
In the batches of "US, Ohio—Naturalization Records, 1912–1922" the instructions state to index ALL record relating to the naturalization process, including the affidavit of witnesses. However, I cannot find any instructions for what information I am supposed to index from that type of document. Do I index the names of the witnesses, or just the principal person who is applying for naturalization?
Answers
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Say you have the Petition for Joe Jones. The Affidavits of Witness is indexed as follows:
GN: Joe
SN: Jones
Record Day: 11
Record Month: Dec
Record Year: 1937
Witnesses, spouses and children of the petitioner are not indexed. They are not seeking naturalization.0 -
That is what it normally states, but this project specifically says to index the affidavits of witnesses, saying this is an exception to the normal rule.
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@erutherford, for this project, you have to throw out everything you think you know about the instructions. As @enochpaulwheeler1 shows in that screenshot, it literally says to index "all documents pertaining to the naturalization process", and it specifically lists affidavits of witnesses as an example of a document type that should be indexed in this project.
The problem is, there are no examples of how to do these not-normally-indexed document types, so indexers kind of have to make it up as they go.
It's a good question whether the witnesses should be indexed or not. On the one hand, in other naturalization projects, it's always just the person seeking naturalization and his or her spouse — but on the other hand, what's the point of indexing an affidavit of witnesses without the witnesses?
Some guidance from those in charge might be good. @Ashlee C., I think you're our link to them?
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Go look at it again 🤣. Witnesses, children, spouses, clerks, judges and other people other than the petitioner that are found on documents have never been indexed. They are not the ones seeking naturalization. The researcher can see the witnesses or spouses or whomever else when they view the document. We are creating a finding aid, not a transcription.
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