Talk:FamilySearch Indexing: Italian Civil Registration Projects, Updates

Help us improve the indexing and arbitration of this project. Click the Edit This Page button to make suggestions. Messages will be removed after careful review by support and any updates will be posted to the Project Updates page.

Many commonly asked questions, such as indexing crossed out information, have already been answered in the Basic indexing instructions.

Thank you for your observations. Once the guidelines are published we have to rely on individual indexers/arbitrators to follow them.

Father surname in birth, death and marriage Italian records

When indexing Italian Birth, Death or Marriage Certificates, sometimes the surname of the father is not explicitly written. For example: A birth certificate reads: Maria Catalani, figlia di Piero e Antonia Rossi which means Maria Catalani, daughter of Piero (Catalani) and Antonia Rossi (mother's maiden name). The surname of the father in this case is not written, but it is the same as the child, and in my opinion it should be indexed as such. When is listed as blank it is not searchable, losing an important search field.

We will publish any changes about this issue when they are made. You need not assume that the field will not be populated with a surname. There are many steps taken after the records are indexed to make them searchable. Those who oversee these projects do not make decisions without careful consideration of the results. Guidelines for individual projects are made by those who are best able to insure that the results will be of the most value to researchers.