US, Massachusets - Birth Certificates, 1921 - 1924 (M3S8-C7D)

Richard L Hall

I'm reviewing these records. There is a field for the color or race of the child. These documents do not show the child's color or race. The parent's color is shown and the indexer has assumed the child's color from that information. It is my understanding that even though it is obvious, if the color is not shown for the child we should not assume the information from the parent's information. So the field would be marked "blank". Would appreciate other's thoughts on this. Neither of the example certificates even have a field for the race or color.

Thanks,

Rick

Melissa S Himes

Correct, you don't index the race of a child unless it is typed on the form, even if both parent's race was given.