Clarify how to index place of birth
I decided to stop reviewing this batch because I had read project instructions and general instructions and wasn't sure how to enter country of birth, departure, and port of entry.
Batch Image Name008601030_00559Batch IDMSYR-57V
If US was entered as country of birth, do I expand that to United States or United States of America. If a state is written for country of birth, what do I enter as in Nebraska.
I haven't indexed for awhile so I sure don't want to mess up a review. Please review this batch.
Many, many thanks,
Susie
Best Answers
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In the project instructions there is the sample How to Index a Handwritten Border Entry List that will assist you in indexing the country of birth, departure and port of entry. From what we can see in the batch you are reviewing you are doing it correctly. But if you feel uncomfortable you can return the batch.
Just remember that you type what you see. In the general indexing guidelines it indicates the following.
Place-Names
- Do not include identifying descriptions or terms, such as “near,” “about,” “around,” “twp,” “township,” “city,” “county,” or “state,” with the place-name unless the term is normally used as part of the name (for example, Mexico City, Salt Lake City, or New York City).
- If there are multiple levels of localities, separate geographical localities, from smallest to largest, with a comma.
Thank you so much for helping us Index. That helps so many have access to records for their ancestors.
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Hi Susie! Great to see you back. Don't forget to read the field helps and look at the examples! That is where you find out what to do about expanding the abbreviations for those three fields. The 1st example is the same as your image.
The field help for places:
Type the locality.
You should expand abbreviations or correct misspellings when you can tell what the abbreviation stands for or what the correction should be to the spelling.
Separate geographical levels of locality, from smallest to largest, with a comma.
If the locality was not recorded or was written as a variation of the word "unknown," press Ctrl+B to mark this field blank.
You should click on each field help and check the examples to be sure they are all entered in the same way!
The question about U S is a good one. Since the formal name of the country is the United States of America, then that would be correct. However, if I was expanding the abbreviation US, I would probably index the informal United States. I don't think it matters either way.
The field is Birthplace, not Country of Birth, so obviously you would enter what is written in the column.
13 - 15 is Derby, Iowa. The person makes the D in Dakota the same. There is no Kirby or Kerby in Iowa. Saskatchewan is the correct spelling for 5-8.
It is always best to index a few records in a project before you start to review it. FamilySearch has told us in the past that the reviewers who make the least amount of errors are those who have indexed records in the project.
Happy Indexing!
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Answers
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One thing to remember about these projects. Always remember to check the instructions in both Field Help and Project Instructions. They do vary from project to project and sometimes they change even in the same project.
It is great to see you back indexing!
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