Using Published Indexes

UNDERSTANDING A PUBLISHED INDEX

A. Who made the index? Eyewitness, clerk, compiler, etc.

B. What type of index arrangement is it? Alpha, combo, 1-3?

C. When was the index made?

D. Where is the index? Front, back, another volume, etc.

E. Why was the index made? Access? Retrospection?

F. What geographic areas does the index cover?

G. What jurisdictions does the index cover?

H. Where do names overflow in the index?

I. Has the index been reviewed by an authority?



USING INDEXES FOR CARFULL SEARCHES

A. Where can I find variant spellings for my search?

B. What about dit, patronymic, alias, and truncated names?

C. What other family members can be searched for?

D. What time periods should I search?