| 1. | An index is only an index. It is not a substitute for the record | |
| being indexed. | ||
| 2. | The larger the size of the index, the more easily pertinent listings | |
| are overlooked. | ||
| 3. | In a given record, any vowel may at any point be substituted for any | |
| other vowel - or consonant. | ||
| 4. | Virtually every pre-WWII record, in whatever form we see it today, | |
| originated as an attempt by an individual to put on paper what he or | ||
| she thought was heard. | ||
| 5. | There is no perfect indexing system. | |
| 6. | It doesn't matter how you spell the name; it only matters how the | |
| indexer spelled it. | ||
| 7. | Just because an index is described as complete or comprehensive, | |
| doesn't mean it is complete or comprehensive. | ||
| 8. | If you haven't found it in the index, you can only conclude that you | |
| haven't found it in the index. You cannot conclude that it's not in | ||
| the record. | ||
| 9. | The index isn't always at the back of the book. | |
| 10. | Sometimes it is best to ignore the index altogether. | |
James L. Hansen, State Historical Society of Wisconsin