The Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast cover image

The Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast

RLP 338: When City Directory Indexing Goes Wrong

Dec 30, 2024
Discover the intriguing world of city directory indexing errors and the impact they have on genealogical research. Gain insights into the complexities of OCR technology and how indexing mistakes can lead to significant research challenges. Learn effective strategies for navigating city directories, including the importance of creating locality guides and using varied search techniques. The hosts share personal stories that highlight the necessity of examining original documents to uncover valuable information about ancestors.
22:50

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • City directory indexing errors can mislabel names, highlighting the importance of verifying data against original documents to ensure accuracy.
  • Utilizing varied search strategies and browsing original directory images significantly improves the effectiveness of genealogical research in city directories.

Deep dives

Challenges with City Directory Indexing

City directories are often assumed to be straightforward tools for genealogical research due to their clean, typewritten format, making them easier to index than handwritten documents. However, unique formatting can present significant challenges, leading to inaccurate indexing. An example shows that in the city directories for Los Animas County, Colorado, the indexing errors included mislabeling individuals' names by adding post office names as middle names. Such discrepancies can result in researchers missing essential records, underscoring the need for careful validation of indexed data against the original documents.

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