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JtNDEXER'S MANUAL "A"
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FOR THE PRESS FROM I833 to 1839 INCLUSIVE
REVISED ,
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION ^
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CHICAGO METROPOLITAN PRESS INDEX
WPA Project 3727
Indexer's Manual "A"
For the Press from 1833 to 1889 Inclusive
I. NATURE OF THE PROJECT
We are engaged in indexing the Chicago newspapers from
the earliest papers available to the present day. The
index will be composite; that is, items from all papers
indexed will be grouped together for publication. For
example, a subject such as "Civil ViTar - Siege of Vicksburg,"
may have listed under it reference to articles in several
papers of different date. The completed index will be
especially valuable for historians, researchers, journalists
and others who have occasion to refer to newspapers.
II. HANDLING OF NEWSPAPERS
Newspaper files, especially the old ones, cannot be
replaced. They are, therefore, especially valuable.
Extreme care must be used in handling these papers. Turn
pages slowly and carefully. Do not place your elbows on the
paper, and make no pencil marks. Papers printed on wood
pulp become very brittle in a few years. This situation
will be found to prevail generally with most of the news¬
papers published after about 1865• If the volume you have
is especially dilapidated, or if it appears that pages
cannot be turned without causing serious damage, bring the
matter to the attention of a senior clerk who will consult
the supervisor in charge. Always use a protective card¬
board on which to rest your arms.
HI. STANDARD OF AClildVEMENT
The value of the final Index will depend entirely
upon the accuracy with which the work is performed*
Inaccurate work is worse than useless, and will have to be
done again# Remember that accuracy is more important than
speed. Indexers who cannot maintain this requirement will
not remain on the project.
IV. CONDUCT IN LIBRARIES
All indexers working on this project must observe
exemplary conduct on the locations where they are assigned.
Til/hen the work is being done in library reading rooms,
consultation between workers must be at a minimum. It will
usually be possible to write questions on slips of paper for
the attention of senior clerks and supervisors. A snail
amount of whispered consultation may be permitted. Talking
and general wandering about in the corridors cannot be
permitted. WPA employees are NOT permitted to smoke anywhere
on library premises. This is a general rule that applies
to all users of libraries. Peanuts, candy, and other food
and confections must not be eaten in libraries.
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V. PROCEDURE
A. Index Cards
(1) Each indexer will be supplied with 3X5
cards like the following diagram:
Paper
Edition
Mo
D
Sec
P
c
Year
Indexer
Checker
Editor
WPa (iii)
Reference
Line
The card is to be filled in as follows s
(2) Sub.ject
The first line of the card is for the
subject heading. This line is to be left
blank except when the sub.ject is a name or
a book review.
(3) Reference Line
Paper - Write the code letters for the
newspaper on which you are working. The
code letters will be as follows:
c
D
-
Chicago Democrat
c
D
D
-
Chicago Daily Democrat
c
D
E
-
Chicago Daily Express
D
D
P
-
Chicago Daily Democratic Press
C
D
N
-
Chicago Daily News
C
D
T
-
Chicago Daily Tribune
c
D
J
-
Chicago Daily Journal
c
D
N
R-Chicago Daily News Record
c
M
D
-
Chicago Morning Democrat
c
S
T
-
Chicago Sunday Tribune
c
T
-
Chicago Times
c
W
J
mm
Chicago Weekly Journal
D
C
A
-
Dally Chicago American
D
P
T
mm
Chicago Daily Press & Tribune
T D
P
-
Tri-Weekly Democratic Press
W
c
D
-
Weekly Chicago Democrat
w
D
P
-
Weekly Democratic Press
w
C
T
-
Weekly Chicago Times
When papers not listed here are used, code letters will
be assigned.
Edition - Write the name of the edition if there is one.
This applies to "Extras," "8 p. ed." "am" or
"pm", if morning or evening. If the paper
has no clearly marked edition, do not write
anything in this space.
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Mo - Write the month» using the
following abbreviationsj
Ja, F, Mar, Ap, My, Jun, Jul,
Aug, S, 0, N, D.
D - Write the day of the month
Sec - Early papers seldom have sections ,
so this will usually be left
blank.
P - Write the number of the page.
£ - Write the number of the column
in which the article begins.
Determine this number by counting
the columns from left to right.
'ear - Write the year, such as 185&.
Exceptional care must be given
to filling in the reference line.
(4) Explanation
On the third line of the card state the place
where the news item occurred. A place must be
given for every article, even though it be
Chicago. If no place is mentioned in the
article write, (no place given). Sometimes
the location can be determined by giving the
source of the news, the paper from which it
was reprinted. On the fourth line of the card
begin the explanation proper. There are two
kinds of cards; general and name. There will
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be at least one of these cards for each article®
and most articles will require both kinds. On
the general oard no sub.iect heading is written.
Names of principal persons mentioned in the
article should be included, and the explanation
must be accurate as to facts and relatively
complete; that is, it must contain sufficient
information for a researcher to determine
whether or not a given article contains the
information he is seeking. This does not
mean that the article is to be reproduced, but
the indexer must answer as many as possible of
the following questions: Who? What? Why?
How? Whore? When? Be especially careful to
show the relationship between persons and events,
and between events and other events. Examples
of explanations will be found on pages 13 - 16
and 19 - 26.
A name card must be made for every name
mentioned, whether it be of a person, organ¬
ization, or anything else. See the instructions
relating to names on pages 11 - 12.
(5) Indexer - In this space the worker must write
his name and the date on which he
took the note, thus: 5-19-38.
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(6) Checker - The senior clerk will sign his name
on eaoh oard after he has checked
all the material on it. The checker
not only must verify the reference
line, but also be certain that the
explanation is sufficiently complete.
B. Finished Work
Index cards are to be kept in the exact order in which
they were made by each indexor- At the end of the day
each senior clerk is to deposit, in a box designated
for that purpose by the supervisor, all cards that
have been prepared under his supsrvision. Do not
turn in cards for columns which have not been completely
indexed, but keep thorn in a separate box.
C. Progress Records
Every indexer is to keep a Progress Record card for
each paper on which he works. The supervisor will
distribute these cards. The name of the indexer,
name of the newspaper, and year of the newspaper,
must be given. The Progress Record card is in the
form of a blanket calendar, by mouths.
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For example if the indexer has completed the issue of
Friday, March 4i 1938» he will write the number 4
in the sixth square in the first row for March
as follows:
March
4
Do not write the numbers in the squares until
you have completed that issue.
Indexer's "Begin At" Slip
Each indexer will be supplied with a quantity
of "Begin At" slips. At the close of work
each day, each indexer will fill out one of
these slips and attach it to the Checker's
Column Control, or to the Progress Record
card, whichever is available. These slips
will be filed chronologically by indexers.
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D. Checker's Column Control
The senior clerk or checker will keep a record
on the "Checker's Column Control" sheet of the
columns indexed or omitted. If a column is all
advertising, write the letter "A" in the space.
If a combination of news items and advertising,
the oolumn, when indexed, should be marked with
a (\/) in the proper space.
The following page shows how this record is to be
kept. The letters "A" for page 1 show the entire
page to be advertisements. The horizontal lines
from columns 5 to 9 show that there were no such
columns. The checks on page 2 show columns 1,
2, 3 and 4 as indexed. Pages 3 and 4 wore
advertisements. The diagonal lines indicate that
there were no more pages.
E. Writing Materials, Erasures
Use pencils with black lead. No other color is
permissible. Do not use indelible pencils.
Do not write over figures or letters. Erase
mistakes before correcting them.
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CHECKER'S COLUMN CONTROL
Newspaper: Dally Chicago Amorican ChenVer: Godfrey Werner
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F. WHAT TO INDEX
(l) Names
Every name, whether of business oonoern,
organization, or person, must be indexed.
In the explanation show the relation of the
name to the article in whioh it ocours. The
names of organizations, companies, sooieties,
are all indexed under the exaot names. Do
not index the name of a city, county, state,
or other governmental division unless such
governmental division is itself the subject
of the article. If a train, bound from Chicago
to St. Louis is robbed near Joliet, none of
these cities will be indexed. But if the
«
article deals with the history of Chicago, or
some other matter relating to the city, the
name will be indexed.
Incomplete Names
If a name is not given completely, write the
last name and the person's title, such as, Mr.,
Mrs., Miss, General, Governor, Senator, etc.
For example:
Subject:
Jones, Mr,
Explanation:
Cook County District Attorney,
attacks lotteries in Chicago.
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Lists of Names
When long lists of names are given, eaoh name
need not be indexed, if there are more than five.
There may be a report on a Chicago City Council
meeting, with a list of the members present,
who made motions, nominated candidates, etc.
In such a case, the article might be indexed
as follows:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Chicago City Council fails to
enact ordinance to improve State
Street, List of members present.
When social functions are reported with lists
of guests present, the explanation would include
the statement "List of guests present." Votes
of legislative bodies when reported by name of
legislator or council member, will be shown
similarly.
News Articles. Domestic
Every news article will be indexed both by
general card and names. There may be more than
one general card in an article and several name
cards. For dealing with names, see the previous
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instructions under "Names". In Indexing be
oertain to give oomplete information. For example,
in the Daily Demooratio Press. April 7» 1857»
p. 3» Col 2, there is a long article about a
labor riot which should be indexed by at least
a dozen cards. The following arc samples of
three of them:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Patrick Brown, Morris Geary and
Bill Galvin, runners for Limerick
House, attacked by Byron Potter,
watchman for Missouri Southern
R. R. in Chicago.
Subject:
Brown, Patrick
Explanation:
Runner for Limerick House, stabbed
fatally by Byron Potter, watchman
for Missouri Southern R. R. in
Chicago.
Subject:
Geary, Morris
Explanation:
Runner for Limerick House, wounded
by Byron Potter, watchman for
Missouri Southern R. R. in Chicago.
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News Articles. Foreign
(a) Foreign art loles. that is, news articles
originating abroad, will be indexed by
general card only. Names in such articles
will be indexed only if they are known to
be of Americans, or are of special
importance to Americans. Under explanation,
give adequate information about the subject.
For example, an article about the Crimean
War would be indexed as follows;
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation;
Russian army fails in attack
on Sebastopol; British troops
rush to support Turkey; German
states to remain neutral.
(b) Despatches from Foreign Correspondents
These will be indexed by general card, as
explained above. There will also be a
card for the correspondent. For example;
Subject:
Stanley, Henry M.
Explanation:
Despatch from Morocco
concerning recent explorations.
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Cartoons. Drawings. Comlo Strips
Index by general oard, giving an explanation
of the nature of the drawing. If there is a
cartoon in an article, write the words
"oartoon of " after the explanation.
Do not index comics, popularly called "funnies."
Reports of Battles
Reports of battles, campaigns, military
maneuvers, etc., when of foreign wars, are
indexed like all foreign articles. In the
case of battles in American wars, the article
should be indexed by name of battle and names
of principal commanders. For example, in the
Chicago Times. June 1, 1862, there is a long
aocount of the Battle of James Island. The
card should be made as follows:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Description of battle of James
Island; regiments engaged;
losses by regiments.
There should, of course, also be cards for each
of the principal commanders.
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(6) Editorials
Editorials vary widely in type. They may give
information about some subject; criticize a
condition, action, or proposal; analyse a
situation; make recommendations for action;
eulogize a prominent person who has died; eto.
For example:
In the Chicago Daily Democratlo Press,
September 3» 1857, an editorial appeared
criticizing the action of a grand jury.
The editorial should be indexed as follows:
Subjeot:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
(Ed.) Grand jury asks Senator
Douglas to speak at Springfield,
Illinois; accused of meddling
in politics.
Subjeot:
Douglas, Stephen A.
Explanation:
(Ed#) Invited by grand jury
to speak at Springfield, Illinois.
(7) Proceedings of Legislative Bodies
(a) Council Meetings. Chicago; County Board
Meetings. Cook County; Township Board
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Meetings, Cook County; Town Meetings, Cook
County; Village Board Meetings. Cook County*
Index by general cards, making a card for
each sub.iect discussed; but do not write in
the subject headings. The rules regarding
names will be followed. After 1865 do not
index Council Proceedings but make a card
showing where article may be found.
Legislative Sessions. Illinois General Assembly
Index by general card without noting each
subject reported, but, when a subject debated
in the General Assembly is treated in a news
article, a general card is made similar to
that for other news articles. When indexing
articles relating to the legislature, be
specific as to the branch. Use the following
forms j
111. House of Representatives
111. Senate
Legislative Sessions, United States Congress
Index by general card without noting each
subject reported. But. when a subject debated
in Congress is treated in a news article , the
general card is made as for all news articles.
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Ihen indexing articles relating to Congress,
be specific as to the branch. Use the
following forms:
U. S* House of Representatives
U. S* Senate
Columns
Columns about health, care of children, recipes,
home management, etc., will be indexed by general
cards, giving name of author in the explanation
as well as a statement as to the contents of
the article.
Feature Articles
These are generally signed, and deal with some
specific or general subject which may or may
not be connected with the day's news. Such
articles are indexed like all other articles,
on a general card with no subject heading.
The author's name, when given, will also be
indexed. In this case, the explanation would
be "feature article on Index names of
persons mentioned in the article, and give
adequate information about the connection
between each name and the article. For example,
an article relating to art collectors appeared
in the Chicago Democrat. There should be three
cards on this article :
-19-
Subjecti
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Feature article on U. S.
successors to Cosimo de1 Medici
as art collectors. J. P.
Morgan cited as leading
example.
Subject:
Morgan, John P.
Explanation:
Mentioned in feature article
as outstanding modern successor
to Cosimo de' Medici as art
collector.
Subject:
Medici, Cosimo de*
Explanation:
Mentioned in feature article
on patrons of art.
Books - Reviews and Notes
(a) Index by author's name. Under explanation,
write "review" and give the title of the
book.
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Example:
Subjecti
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
Explanation:
Review: "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
(b) Example of subject card:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Stowe, Harriet Beecher.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin."
(11) Drama, Opera« etc., Reviews
For the general card write an explanation of
the nature of the article. Names of directors,
producers, actors and musicians are to be
indexed.
(12) Poetry
Poems are to be indexed by author
Example:
Subject:
Whitman, Walt
Explanation:
Poem - "0 Captain, Vty Captain"
>21
If the poem is signed with a pen name, index
under that name.
Example:
Subject;
"Narcissus"
Explanation:
Poem - "When Knighthood Was
A-Blooming"
The same rule holds when the signature is in
initials. When no author is given, index as
follows:
Subject:
Anonymous
Explanation:
Poem - "That Old Apple Tree."
If names or nicknames of real persons are
mentioned in the poem, they must be indexed.
Poems about personal, political or news items
are also to be indexed by general card.
Example:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Poem by J. B. Smith, lauds
treatment of slaves by masters.
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Fiction
Index by author, giving the title under
explanation. Write "fiction" before the
title.
Example:
Subject:
Smith, George
Explanation:
(Fiction) "The Clock Strikes
Ten."
If it is a continued story, index only when it
first appears, and write "first installment."
Financial Reports, Business Charts and Graphs
Index articles by general card and names.
Statements of financial condition of banks
will be indexed under the name of the bank.
Example :
Subject:
First National Bank, Chicago
Explanation:
Annual financial statement
Market quotations and statistical reports are
not indexed. Always consult the supervisor
about such omissions. Discussions and explanations
other than statistics, even when embodied in
such reports, are to be indexed. If there are
articles about market conditions, index them
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by general card. Business charts and graphs
are indexed by genoral card or name.
Example i
Subject j
Standard Oil Corporation
Explanation:
Graph, net income by quarters,
1887.
Society News
Index engagements, weddings, debuts, births
and other information about persons and
functions, under proper names only. The
rules about names are to be followed.
Sports
Games, such as baseball, football etc., are
indexed under the name of the sport and the
winning team.
Example :
Subject:
Baseball - Chicago Brewers
Explanation:
vs Joliot Browers
Games played in championship series aro
treated in the some way.
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Boxing matches| tournaments, etc. are indexed
by subject and winners.
Example :
Subject j
Boxing - Corbett, James
Explanation:
vs John L. Sullivan
Articles, other than reports of results of contests,
about sports personalities are indexed by name.
For example, if there is an article describing
John L. Sullivan as a temperance lecturer :
Example s
Subject:
Sullivan, John L.
Explanation:
to deliver temperance lecture
in Chicago.
(17) Jokes, Quips, Humorous Stories
Index humorous stories only when they aro more
than mere jokes or "wise cracks." It is
impossible to say when a joke becomes a humorous
story, since most yarns con be condensed into a
few lines. Our arbitrary ruling will be that
if tho humorous item excoeds ten lines in
length, It is a humorous story and is to be
indexed. Index by general card, giving an
explanation of the nature of the story, and
also by the name of the person credited with
telling the story if such a name is given.
Example s
Subjectj
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Humorous story about mothers-in-
law, told by John Smith, Oswego,
Illinois.
Subject:
Smith, John
Explanation:
of Oswego, 111., tells humorous
story about mother-in-law.
Letters
People are always writing "letters to the editor.
Index these letters by general card, giving an
explanation of the contents of the letters.
Also index the name of the author when given.
For example, if George Jackson wrote a letter
criticizing the conduct of the Civil V'ar, the
two cards would be as follows :
.26
Example:
Subjecti
(Leave blank)
Explanations
(Irs) from George Jackson,
Flint Michigan, criticizes
conduct of Civil War.
Subject:
Jackson, George
Explanation:
(lr:) from Flint, Michigan,
criticizes conduct of
Civil War.
If more than one subject is discussed in such
letters, each subject requires a general card.
The rules about names apply.
(19) Weather
Index whenever there is an article about weather
conditions, local or otherwise. Do not index
weather reports, temperature and precipitation
summaries, etc. Storms are indexed under
general cards. Be sure to state what area or
place was covered by the storm.
(20) REMEMBER
When in doubt index1
Colors signify location:
Chicago Public Library
Newberry Library
Hild Branch, Chicago Public
Library
Symbols signify newspaper:
CDN - Chicago Dally News
CT - Chicago Times
PROGRESS CHART 1890 - 1909
May June J^ly
September October November
March
April
\
Colors signify location:
■B - Chicago Historical Society
MB - Chicago Public Library
■■ - Newberry Library
Symbols signify newspaper:
WCD - Weekly Chicago Democrat
WCA - Weekly Chicago American
CDA - Chicago Dally American
DDP - Dally Democratic Press
DCT - Daily Chicago Times
xf co cm — oascor^comm-oocm «— ocdcoc^colom-oocm
cm cm cm cm cm
CHICAGO METROPOLITAN PRESS INDEX
Room 477 - 225 South Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois
June 21, 1938
TO THE SPONSORS:
The enclosed Manual "A" explains the method
used "by your project indexing the metropolitan press.
Manual "B" has not yet returned from the printer.
The graphs enclosed show the progress of
two hundred and seventy workers in the two fields being
indexed. Two hundred and five of these workers are employed
at the Chicago Public Library; seven at Newberry Library,
four at the Chicago Historical Society and fifty-four in
the editing and filing office where approximately 10,000
items taken by the indexers from the press, are received
each day.
Every effort has been made to keep the
workers as close together on the papers chronologically, as
Is possible. With this in mind two Indexers are put to work
on every volume. It has been necessary to omit certain
years in the field prior to the C£vil War, due to the
inability to work the volumes containing these papers at this
time. The Chicago Democrat for 1835 cannot be worked
contemporaneously with the Democrat for 1834 as both are
in the same volume. The only newspapers available between
-2-
1841 and 1843 are located at Newberry and the Historical
Society, where all the available space is now occupied by
our workers* Therefore, indexes of these years will have
to be postponed temporarily. Unavailable space explains
the gaps from 1844 to 1854 and from 1859 to I860*
The lack of uniformity of progress in the
different years is due in large part to the manner in which
the volumes are bound. When an entire year is bound in
one volume only four persons in two shifts can work on it.
In the case of the Daily News for 1890 and 1891, Colonel
Knox loaned his personal files, bound monthly, to the
project. This made it possible for forty-eight indexers,
in two shifts, to work on each year, thus expediting the
procedure*. Every effort is being exerted to have entire
years completely indexed before the existing appropriation
is exhausted.
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