U.S. Directory

ane682

New here.. if spouse does not have a surname, do I put the first spouse surname or leave it blank? I may not be understanding the instructions. please help and thank you

ane682

Thank you!!

barbaragailsmith1

If this is a directories project, instructions say, "A spouse's name, if listed, may have been recorded in parentheses after the name of the principal individual. The surname should be indexed for both individuals." So, yes, you put the principal's surname for his spouse, too.

erutherford

@barbaragailsmith1, it's imperative that all users, new and experienced, read the PI first before starting a new project. I've done over 250,000 thousand records and still read them, because you never know if you've missed something or something changes from part to part

barbaragailsmith1

I agree, erutherford. I don't know why you're telling me this. ane682 apparently read the instructions but said he/she may not be understanding them.

ane682

just confused. Instructions says surname should be put for both, but also says if the surname was not recorded, leave blank.. just want to make sure im doing the right thing

erutherford

You'll index both surnames. Example:

The entry reads John Smith (Ellen S.), butcher, r123 Main Street.

You'll index it as:

GN: John
SN: Smith
Spoue's GN: Ellen S.
Spouse's SN: Smith

I think this is only time I've seen where we can assume (lack of a better word) that the Spouse's SN is the same as the principal.. Every other project we would index just Ellen S, since we don't assume anything in indexing.