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Soundex is a phonetic index that groups together names that sound alike but are spelled differently, ''for example'', '''''Stewart''''' and '''''Stuart'''''. This helps searchers find names that are spelled differently than originally expected, a relatively common genealogical research problem. | Soundex is a phonetic index that groups together names that sound alike but are spelled differently, ''for example'', '''''Stewart''''' and '''''Stuart'''''. This helps searchers find names that are spelled differently than originally expected, a relatively common genealogical research problem. | ||
The indexing system was developed by Robert C. Russell and Margaret K. Odell. It was patented in 1918 <ref> Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), archive unknown; digital images,Google Patents(http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=EbdgAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> (reissued 1923 <ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), reissue no. RE15,582 (1923), archive unknown; digital images, Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=ProkAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref>) and 1922.<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,435,663 (1922), archive unknown; digital images, Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=t6FkAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> It is formally called the Russell Soundex, and a variation used on the censuses is called the American Soundex.<ref>Rick Parsons</ref> | The indexing system was developed by Robert C. Russell and Margaret K. Odell. It was patented in 1918 <ref> Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), archive unknown; digital images,Google Patents(http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=EbdgAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> (reissued 1923 <ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), reissue no. RE15,582 (1923), archive unknown; digital images, Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=ProkAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref>) and 1922.<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,435,663 (1922), archive unknown; digital images, Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=t6FkAAAAEBAJ accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> It is formally called the Russell Soundex, and a variation used on the censuses is called the American Soundex.<ref>Rick Parsons</ref> <ref>[http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm _ http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm" Soundex - the True Story]</ref> <ref>(http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm accessed 30 July 2008).</ref> When a computer was used to generate a Soundex index card for a census it was called a Miracode, and the information listed was slightly different from handwritten Soundex cards for the same census. | ||
The most well-known genealogical use of Soundex is on parts of the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States federal censuses. It is also used by the federal government for selected ship passenger arrival lists, certain Canadian border crossings, and some naturalization records. A few county governments have also used a version of Soundex for courthouse kinds of records. More recently, Ancestry.com and other Internet companies have featured a Soundex search for their huge online genealogical databases. | The most well-known genealogical use of Soundex is on parts of the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States federal censuses. It is also used by the federal government for selected ship passenger arrival lists, certain Canadian border crossings, and some naturalization records. A few county governments have also used a version of Soundex for courthouse kinds of records. More recently, Ancestry.com and other Internet companies have featured a Soundex search for their huge online genealogical databases. | ||
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*Zeroes are added at the end if necessary to produce a four-character code. Excess letters are disregarded if they would produce a code longer than four-characters. For example '''Lee''' = L000, and '''Christopherson''' = C623. | *Zeroes are added at the end if necessary to produce a four-character code. Excess letters are disregarded if they would produce a code longer than four-characters. For example '''Lee''' = L000, and '''Christopherson''' = C623. | ||
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|+ <u>'''Soundex Key Letter Codes'''</u> | |+ <u>'''Soundex Key Letter Codes'''</u> | ||
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==== More Soundex Examples ==== | ==== More Soundex Examples ==== | ||
<ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788]referer=brief_results]</ref> | Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 3rd ed.(Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2000), 22. <ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788]referer=brief_results]</ref> | ||
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'''Unrelated names may be grouped together.''' Sometimes names that do not appear to be related show up together on a Soundex index. Ignore clearly unrelated names. For example, if you were looking for '''Wilkins''', you may also find under the same Soundex code, W425, the name '''Walakynowski'''. | '''Unrelated names may be grouped together.''' Sometimes names that do not appear to be related show up together on a Soundex index. Ignore clearly unrelated names. For example, if you were looking for '''Wilkins''', you may also find under the same Soundex code, W425, the name '''Walakynowski'''. | ||
'''Related names may not be grouped together.''' Sometimes names that are obviously related do not come together in the same Soundex index group. For example, '''Clausen''' is under C425 and '''Klausen''' under K425. If you cannot find a name you seek in a Soundex index, there are 20 alternative ideas in the Wiki article | '''Related names may not be grouped together.''' Sometimes names that are obviously related do not come together in the same Soundex index group. For example, '''Clausen''' is under C425 and '''Klausen''' under K425. If you cannot find a name you seek in a Soundex index, there are 20 alternative ideas in the Wiki article [[Guessing a Name Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]] to help find elusive names in indexes. | ||
=== Census Soundex Cards Show Limited Data === | === Census Soundex Cards Show Limited Data === | ||
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One of the most well-known uses of Soundex indexes is for some of the federal censuses of the United States. More recently, these old microfilm indexes have been largely replaced by online search engines. If you ever have an occasion to use a census Soundex on microfilm, keep in mind that the Soundex card is only a summary. It does not show as much information as the original census schedule. | One of the most well-known uses of Soundex indexes is for some of the federal censuses of the United States. More recently, these old microfilm indexes have been largely replaced by online search engines. If you ever have an occasion to use a census Soundex on microfilm, keep in mind that the Soundex card is only a summary. It does not show as much information as the original census schedule. | ||
''Figure 1. Sample 1930 Soundex index cards. Original image from the | ''Figure 1. Sample 1930 Soundex index cards. Original image from the [http://1930census.archives.gov/searchStrategiesSoundex.html NARA 1930 Census Microfilm Locator]''. | ||
[[Image:SoundexCards1930.png|right|335px|SoundexCards1930.png]] | [[Image:SoundexCards1930.png|right|335px|SoundexCards1930.png]] | ||