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''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Census|U.S. Census ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Soundex|Soundex]]'' | ''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Census|U.S. Census ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Soundex|Soundex]]'' | ||
The Russell Soundex (a.k.a. American Soundex, and Miracode) and its usefulness to genealogists are explained, some online Soundex converters listed, and rules given for how to manually create a Soundex code. | The Russell Soundex (a.k.a. American Soundex, and Miracode) and its usefulness to genealogists are explained, some online Soundex converters listed, and rules given for how to manually create a Soundex code. [[Image:{{Soun1910cap}}]][[Image:{{Miracodecap}}]] | ||
=== Definition and Value === | === Definition and Value === | ||
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, ''[http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm Soundex - the True Story],'' (http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm amp;nbsp;: 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 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, ''[http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm Soundex - the True Story],'' (http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm amp;nbsp;: 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. | ||
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*'''Names with prefixes''', such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, are coded both with and without the prefix because the name might be listed under either code. Note, however, that Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. For example, '''Van Deusen''' = V532 or D250. | *'''Names with prefixes''', such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, are coded both with and without the prefix because the name might be listed under either code. Note, however, that Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. For example, '''Van Deusen''' = V532 or D250. | ||
==== More Soundex Examples<ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 3rd ed.]'' (Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2000), 22.</ref> ==== | ==== More Soundex Examples<ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 3rd ed.]'' (Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2000), 22.</ref> ==== | ||
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