What are some of the cautions I need to be aware of when using the SPR Indexes and films?
We must all remember the intent of the index – and that it is only a stepping stone to lead you to the film where the “real data”resides . . . There are many difficulties in extracting these data from these films. There are writing problems, there are spelling problems, etc. The extractors have been able to do their best to bring you the data the way it reads. If they have spelled a name different than you know the name, that does not mean you nor they are right or wrong . . . you need to be aware of some of the many problems that arise when folks try to read these films. When you do get on the film, be prepared that it can change within a single year for a parish. You may see a different hand writing. You may see a different way of listing the data . . . If you take an index entry to a film and don’t find the entry there – if you apply logic there are other ways of perhaps isolating on the correct entry. The index has many different safeguards built into the form, and in most instance
