In City District indexing, do you index “rms”?

Drumm, Bethany Elaine

I’m confused whenever one of these comes up and don’t want to do it wrong. Does “rms” stand for rooms or something? Is it something I should index or is it something completely different?

erutherford

From Project Instructions/What To Remember About This Project:

The following list of abbreviations may be used to determine other information that should not be indexed for each record.

• "apts": apartments
• "assn": association
• "av": avenue
• "bds": beds
• "bet": between
• "bldg": building
• "blk": block
• "blvd": boulevard
• "*" or "(c)": colored
• "h": house
• "mkr": maker
• "nr": near
• "r" or "rms": rooms
• "rd": road
• "wid": widow
• "wkr": worker

These abbreviations were for the reader to see if they boarded with someone or was a widow of, etc.

Drumm, Bethany Elaine

Okay, so then what are the things I am supposed to index? I just want to make sure I’m doing it right.

erutherford

The only things that are indexed are Prefixes and names.

If John Smith is single, his listing will be:

GN: John
SN: Smith

Nothing else is indexed.

If John Smith is married to Opal, his listing will be:

GN: John
SN: Smith
Spouse's GN: Opal
Spouse's SN: Smith

The prefixes are not indexed.

If Opal Smith is the widow of John Smith, her listing will be the same as the single John Smith. If she is a widow, chances are that her husband will be listed—something like Smith, Opal (wid John). The prefixes, and John, are not indexed.

If either are listed with prefixes like Mrs., Dr. or Rev., then the prefix will go in the appropriate prefix field.

Deceased listings, like John Smith, died May 21, '08, are indexed. People who have moved, like John Smith, r'mvd to San Jose, are also indexed.

For indexing, the remainder of the information; address, occupations and business listings, are not indexed. This information was for the reader at the time. They could find John Smith who works as a butcher, but the John Smith they need owns Smith Clothing.

Drumm, Bethany Elaine

OK, thank you.

slotbuddy

I'm sorry, but after reading your response now I'm confused. I've been reviewing City Districts and you say to index individuals who have been listed as deceased, such as John Smith, died May 21, but the instructions under What to Remember, it says do not index if the individual is listed as deceased. I was following that and if I found anyone indexed such as the John Smith listed as John Smith, died May 21, I would remove it. So now which is correct? This is confusing.

erutherford

Yes, the instructions have changed to not index deceased individuals. Instructions can change at any time; I remember earlier parts of the Directories where we indexed deseaced spouses.

slotbuddy

Thank you. I do wish they would also make the change in the written instructions because that will cause others to make the same mistake I was making. They may not see the notes here.