PQS and Place Name Standardization

Áine Ní Donnghaile

I used the profile of my great-grand uncle as an example in this thread about nicknames and name order. After Rhonda's follow-up, I revisited the profile LHJS-P9Y, to make sure there was nothing else I needed to do. (Thanks again, @Rhonda Budvarson)

Alexander died in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Alabama death certificates are restricted to AL or FSC access, and I retrieved a copy 6 years ago.

The PQS called out a conflict in the place of death. I had entered "Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States" on Alexander's profile. The conflict detailed by the PQS:

Alex J. Burgess, "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974" has a place of Election Precinct 16 Greenwood, Calhoun, Alabama, United States for death, which is different from Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States.

I pulled out the certificate, compared it to the profile, and then I saw the cause of the so-called conflict.

The certificate, neatly printed, shows Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama as the place of death:

But what happened to the index, when the place name algorithm took hold?

Be sure to click the down arrow to the right of the Event Place. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6MS-9L6

In this instance, I have a copy of the certificate, and I was comfortable dismissing the conflict with the comment "place name algorithm error." Often, however, we can't easily have a copy of the certificate. That place name as shown in the index may be all someone has. It needs to be as correct as it can be, but that algorithm has rendered many indexes nearly useless.

The PQS certainly makes the problem more visible. Can we hope visibility can lead to eventual correction?

Thank you.

roberthparker3

There was definitely something strange going on with that record. While investigating, we standardized the death place on the record and the issue went away. Please reach out again if you notice a pattern like this in other records.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Thanks, @roberthparker3. Given the intrusion (dare I say corruption) of the placename algorithm, I'm sure there are many other examples.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

@roberthparker3 Here's another one with 7 different places showing (all incorrect) for the Burial Event Place:

ERROR REPORT - Placename Algorithm has moved Illinois to Utah

Áine Ní Donnghaile

30 sept. 2024

Charles Heindl died on 17 Sep 1939 in Illinois. He has a Cook County, Illinois death certificate.

Sadly, the placename algorithm mangler reports the Event Place as Utah. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MH-S6G5

I've been told I'm not permitted to allow the Imgur image to show, so you'll have to click on the URL to view the silliness of 7 different locations created for the burial place.

https://imgur.com/meYKhvi

Name	Charles Heindl
Name	Sex	Charles Heindl	Male
Name	Age	Charles Heindl

	Birth Date

	Birthplace		Klenci, Czechoslovakia
	Residence Place		Long Lake, Lake, Illinois
	Burial Date		20 Sep
	Burial Place		Chicago, Illinois
	Marital Status		Single
	Race		White
	Father's Name		James Heindl
	Mother's Name		Mary Formanek
	Informant's Name		Helen Rushford
	Event Type		Death
	Event Date

	Event Place

	Event Place (Original)		Cicero, Cook, Illinois, Illinois, United States
	Cemetery		Bohemian National
	Entry Number		206

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