I need help deciphering white/colored marks on Virginia Marriage records.

kimberlyannaultman1

I am working on a 1920 Virginia Marriage record. There is one section for white/colored designation but it is being used for both spouses so there are marks in both columns for most couples. How do I interpret this?

Mirevo

@ kimberlyannaultman1 

In the PI under What to Remember about This Project, example 3 image - is the same image as your batch. There is a note on this example at the bottom which says if only 1 color or race column was listed, index the color or race in the Husband's color or race field and not in the Wife's color or race field.

Because your batch is the same as example 3, we would follow the directions to only index the Husband's Color or Race field, as the Wife's color or race is not included on the image.

Dellory Matthews

It look like an odd way to ditto the race from the husband to the wife. Mixed race marriages weren't legal in Virginia in 1920 so you would not have a white husband and colored wife.

Sharon Schmidt Rook

Marriage record Virginia. Top of register is handwritten "colored." However, in the race column, only one column is marked. In this instance, I will mark both as "colored" since mixed-race marriages not permitted in VA. BUT what about the sheets where no mark is made under one spouse but "colored" marked in the othere?

Dellory Matthews

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/271874#Comment_271874

Above quote is the "Best Answer" to this question.

Melissa S Himes

FGGM is correct, if there is only one column indicating race then it is only indexed in the Husband's Color or Race per the example. Additionally, the Field Helps for individuals' color or race also tell us to only index the race in the Husband's field when there is one column:

Husband's Color or Race:

If only 1 color or race column or pair of columns was listed but was not clearly indicated as either the husband’s or the wife's color or race, index the color or race in this field, not in the Wife's Color or Race field.

Wife's Color or Race:

If only 1 color or race column or pair of columns was listed but was not clearly indicated as either the husband’s or the wife's color or race, index the color or race in the Husband's Color or Race field, not in the Wife's Color or Race field.

It does not matter when inter-racial marriage were permitted or not permitted. We must follow the project instructions, field helps, and examples.