share batch M9WB-H1Y Missouri Marriage

sherylannporter1

The indexer has said these do not need to be indexed. Is that correct? That is not correct. This batch contains the names of the bride and groom and the marriage date and is to be indexed per the Project Instructions.

Susan Ann Mullen

We have an update on this question. It has been reviewed and the instructions are changed. This is what we are asked to do with this batch.

" This batch should be indexed. It is not an index with just names and a page number. It also has the marriage date. The PI under What to Remember, bullet point 1, says that documents may include registers, with multiple marriages recorded on each page. That is what this batch includes."

Please index this batch.

Mirevo

• The indexer declared these records not need to be indexed based on the following: Project Instructions on What to Index point 2 says the following: Indexes with just pages numbers should be marked as No Extractable Data. 
• On the other hand there is a point on considering these records to be indexed on What to index point 1: Index any primary marriage record or associated document that has the name of a bride or a groom even if the document does not contain a date.

Melissa S Himes

The indexer was not correct according to the project instructions.

In the Project Instructions:

• Documents to index include marriage certificates, marriage bonds, registers, consent forms, marriage applications, and so forth.

These registers have dates, so they do not fall under Point 2 about indexes with just page numbers.

Under What to Remember About this Project, we learn:

• Documents may include registers, with multiple marriages recorded on each page, or a single document, such as a marriage license, with just one marriage recorded. Both kinds of marriage documents should be indexed. Be sure to examine each image carefully to find the records to be indexed.

Susan Ann Mullen

We are being told to not index these. That is the instruction.

Melissa S Himes

Then they need to change the project instructions and not just tell a few people not to index these. This is why projects end up in endless review loops until they finally have wasted three reviewers time and move on for final analysis.

By definition, these are registers and the current instructions say to index marriage registers:

Register: (noun) an official list or record, for example of births, marriages, deaths.

Additionally, for the sake of argument, let's call this an index of marriages. The help article on how to Index an Image with Indexes says:

• If an index includes names, dates, and places, it is usually indexed. For a marriage index to be indexed, it should include the name of the groom, the name of the bride, and the event date.

These include all three parameters.

https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-index-records-with-indexes

Indexers and Reviewers must rely on the instructions and help articles presented to them.

sherylannporter1

So even though they fit the parameters, they should not be indexed, right?

Melissa S Himes

That is the great question! Do 100's or maybe thousands of indexers and reviewers have a set of instructions that says not to index these registers? There certainly isn't a pop-up instruction saying not to index them. The instructions don't say not to index them. As a matter of fact, the only instruction that might be close is that these aren't primary documents, but, they are associated documents. So, how would the masses know?

Mirevo

Thank you for your question and also for the amazing feedback. This is an index showing what pages the actual marriage records are on. The following knowledge article indicates tha this image should be indexed despite the fact that it is an Index.

An image may contain other information, such as an index. An index is an image that includes only names and page numbers or other reference information. ( Our image includes dates)

Determine whether there is vital information that needs to be indexed.

• If an index includes only names and page numbers, it is usually not indexed because that information is included elsewhere in the project.
• If an index includes names, dates, and places, it is usually indexed. For a marriage index to be indexed, it should include the name of the groom, the name of the bride, and the event date.
• If an image has a list of names and you aren't sure whether those names are included elsewhere, it should be indexed. Any missing required fields should be marked blank.
• Here is the link to the complete article:

https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-index-records-with-indexes