Read the Instructions
- Please read these project instructions carefully before indexing any batches.
- Review this page and the field helps frequently for updates to the instructions.
- Click here for a summary of project updates.
Number of Records per Image
- The data-entry area is set at one record per image. If the image contains more than one record, you will need to add records in the data-entry area to match the number of records on the image. To add records:
- In the menu bar, click Tools.
- Click Records per Image.
- Click in the Number of records box, and type the number of records on the image.
- Click OK.
- If you press Tab or Enter after you complete the last record on an image, a message will appear, asking if you want to add one or more records to the image. If you have already indexed all the records on the image, do the following:
- Ensure that 0 (zero) is in the Number of records box.
- Click OK.
How to Index Given Names and Surnames
- Do not include titles or terms, such as Widow, Baron, Reverend, Lord, Esq, Jr, or Mr, in the Given Names or Surname fields.
- If a woman's maiden name and married surname were both recorded, index both in the Surname field, with the maiden name first.
- Do not expand abbreviated names. For example, do not change "Thos" to Thomas or "Wm" to William. Type the name or the abbreviation as it was written in the record.
- Do not assume a name for an individual when the document only says "and son" (or something similar). If an individual was not named on the document, do not index a record for the individual.
- If an entry gives a list of surnames, such as "Moore, Connor, and Smith," index each surname as a separate record, and if no given name was listed for a surname, mark the Given Names field as blank.
How to Index Places
- If a place-name was misspelled, spell it correctly.
- If a place-name was abbreviated, and if you can determine what the abbreviation stands for, type the complete name instead of the abbreviation.
- Use the lookup lists for assistance. If you are not sure what the locality should be, type the name of the place as it was written on the census.