https://megansmolenyak.com/inmates-indexing-genealogy-records/ genealogical adventurer & storyteller Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:15:51 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://megansmolenyak.com/inmates-indexing-genealogy-records/#comment-226 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:15:51 +0000 http://www.megansmolenyak.com/?p=157193#comment-226 When the New Orleans Volunteer Association (NOVA) began typing State of Louisiana vital records into Rootsweb database, we learned the original typed ledgers we were working from were created by state inmates as part of typing skill training while they were in prison. Having worked with the indexes and the documents behind them for many years now, I must say the accuracy of the typed ledgers (spelling of names correctly, no transposition of numbers, etc.) were much more accurate than I find in the “for pay” research sites. The closer the transcriber is to the original record produced, they know the nuances of names and places, and the indexing is more accurate. Glad you posted this article. It gives even more depth to the real need for accuracy in research which not only gives you your own family history, but the background against which it occurred. Paints a very three dimensional picture which can amaze and startle.

]]>