Random Thoughts.
Every so often it's good to remind ourselves that a transcription project
essentially turns us into a very large copier machine.
For instance, we have a space on the entry form for prefixes. Even though an
occupation is listed as Minister, if the image shows no prefix before the
name of the deceased, we aren't allowed to enter anything.
Likewise, a deceased woman listed as married or widowed, is not given Mrs.
as a prefix if the image doesn't show it on the same line as her name.
If the place of birth on the image shows Kentucky, and there are character
spaces enough to fill in the whole word, we don't shorten it to Ky.
Your computer may want to suggest a word based on the first couple of
letters you type. It may be close, but not exactly what you want. Kelley instead of
Kelly, for instance. Be sure you examine an 'automatic' entry VERY closely.
And for some reason, the program once in a while gives odd fill-ins for age
if the entry is either 'stillbirth' or 'under 1.' Please don't accept
the
prefilled (good term; I've adopted it!) information for age without making sure
it's appropriate.
Then there are the judgment calls. For example, a death certificate for a
stillborn or very young child may show the words, "Infant John Gray". If the
father's name is listed as John Gray, you can be pretty sure that the entry
was meant to be read as, "Infant (of) John Gray." You would keep the surname
of Gray, and leave the given name blank, as usual.
I leave you with my favorite hobbyhorse.
Until a couple of decades after these certificates were produced, very few
people were given names that were 'oddball'. PLEASE - Ethnic situations
aside, if a name looks unusual, say it out loud a couple of times; try to
determine what it reminds you of, then see if you can find those letters in the
image. A curl on the end could be an e or an s -- or just be an embellishment.
Bettis is pretty, but Bettie is more likely to be the name on the image. Use
your common sense. Which is about all that can be asked of anyone.
You people are the best. I'm proud to be one of you.
Janice
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