Talk:FamilySearch Indexing: US Veterans Pension Cards, 1907-1933, Additional Helps

There seems to be a problem in that the instructions on the US Veterans Pension Cards slide show for the Charge Dummy cards (2 slides) -- or perhaps the problem is in the project instructions on the indexing page. The second slide of Charge Dummy instructions don't match the instructions in the project instructions. I had been following the slide show instructions and noticed that sometimes the arbitrator was changing my cards and sometimes not. When comparing the two sets of instructions, I noticed the discrepancy. When the Charge Dummy card is on top, should it be marked blank on the upper line or lower line? Which is correct? The incorrect instruction should be removed or changed. '''Thank you, we have removed the slide to avoid confusion. '''

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There has been a change in the slide show on pages 12 and 13. These instructions seem to directly contradict the project instructions: '''DO NOT INDEX: Names of people who received reimbursements or accrued payments, unless the relationship to the veteran or principal person was clearly indicated. Do not assume that a reimbursement recipient was the widow or a guardian unless that relationship was written on the card.'''

Also I believe that it is not clear that a conservator is a type of guardian.

I absolutely understand that these projects are complicated and each project is different from the others, but I have to say that when you make a change like the pages 12 and 13 without mentioning it on the project page, you do a disservice to all the indexers and arbitrators who are working on these records. I care about my accuracy. I want to do it the way you want it done. But please, please help me by making your changes easy to understand, find, and implement.

Most respectfully, Carol Yocom.

Presentation
I'm glad I asked a help question and was directed to this presentation. Very helpful but it did have a contradiction to the help in the project instructions that is next to the cards that are being indexed. The project instruction say not to index other names that are not stated as to the relationship. The presentation shows to add the name that is payable to.

Do we follow the indexing presentation or field helps?
I don't see that this has been addressed for this project. Presentation slide 7 &amp;8 show a widow's card with two minors No where on the card does it say that Mary, the widow is the guardian of the minors ( unless it is under the instruction box) yet the card is indexed with Mary being the guardian. Are we to assume that the widow is the guardian for all minor children?

Slide 13 shows widow Elizabeth Crunk and has a second card indexed for reimbursement to Abner Crunk there is no relationship indicated on the card. Are we to assume that because it is the same last name there is a relationship between Elizabeth and Abner?

The field helps and project instructions state

"Do NOT INDEX"

"Names of people who received reimbursments or accrued payments UNLESS the relationship to the veteran or principle person was CLEARLY indicated. Do not ASSUME that the reimbursement recipient was the widow or guardian unless the realtionship was written on the card"

Field help for guardian says "Do not index a name in this field unless the person was clearly indicated as the guardian"

Field help for recipient says the same as quoted above

So the question is which of the conflicting instructions are we supposed to follow since they appear to be at least to be conflicting. I know I am not the only one questioning this. I want to do what is right but at this point have a 50/50 chance of doing this. Please either fix the slides or fix the field helps which ever is wrong so that we can do this correctly. Until I hear differently I will follow field helps as they are right there in front of me.

Darlene Yasick