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INDEXER'S MANUAL "B"
FOR THE PRESS
FROM 1890 TO PRESENT
1 Revised
* * * *
* * *
* *
*
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
(Illinois)
CHICAGO METROPOLITAN PRESS INDEX
WPA Project 3727
Indexer'B Manual "B"
For the Press from 1890 to Present
I. NATURE OF THE PROJECT
We are engaged in indexing the Chicago newspapers from
the earliest papers available to those of the present day, a
huge task never before attempted by anyone. When completed
the index should be of real merit and of lasting value, a
giant reservoir of source material for historians, journal¬
ists, business men and others interested in what has appeared
in Chicago newspapers during the past century. The indexers
on this project are thus doing a very important piece of
research which requires a high standard of accuracy and
thoroughness. People who use our index in the future will
be dependent on the quality of our work, and an outstanding
accomplishment will be a credit to all who have been
connected with it,
II. HANDLING OF NEWSPAPERS
Newspaper files cannot be replaced and are therefore
especially valuable. Papers printed on wood pulp after the
1870's become very brittle in a few years. Extreme care
must be observed in their use. Turn pages slowly and
carefully. Do not place your elbows on the paper, and
-2-
make no pencil marks. If it appears that pages cannot be
turned without causing serious damage, bring the matter to
the attention of the supervisor in charge. Always use a
protective cardboard on which to rest your arms.
III. STANDARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
The value of the final index will depend entirely
upon the accuracy with which the work is performed.
Careless work is useless. Accuracy is more important than
speed. Indexers must meet this requirement in order to
remain on the project.
IV. CONDUCT IN LIBRARIES
All indexers working on this project must observe
exemplary conduct at the locations where they are assigned.
When the work is being done in library reading rooms, con¬
sultation 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 small
amount of whispered consultation may be permitted, but no
talking and general wandering about in the corridors will
be tolerated. WPA employees are NOT permitted to smoke,
eat peanuts, candy, food and confections, anywhere on library
premises, This is a general rule that applies to all users
of libraries.
-3-
V. PROCEDURE
A. Index Cards
(1) Each indexer will be supplied with 3X5 cards
like the following diagram:
_Paper
Edition
Mo
D
S ec
Year
Indexer
Checker
Editor
WPA CI11)
Reference
Line
The card is to be filled in as follows:
(2) Sub.ject
The first line of the card is for the subject
heading. This line is to be left blank except
when the subject 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:
4-
D
I
0
-
Daily Inter Ocean
C
D
H
mm
Chicago
Daily Herald
C
D
N
-
Chicago
Daily News
C
D
T
-
Chicago
Daily Tribune
C
D
N R
-
Chicago
Daily News Record
C
E
mm
Chicago
Examiner
C
H
-
Chicago
Herald
C
H
E
-
Chicago
Herald Examiner
C
M
N
-
Chicago
Morning News
c
R
-
Chicago
Record
c
R
H
-
Chicago
Record Herald
c
S
T
-
Chicago
Sunday Tribune
c
T
-
Chicago
Times
D
C
A
—
Daily Chicago American
Code letters will be assigned for papers
not listed here.
Edition - Write the name of the edition if one is
given, thus: "Extra," "2S Final", "Met."
for "Metropolitan", "L" for "Last Edition,"
"5 pm" for "5 p. rn. edition," "L - 5 pm"
for "Last Edition - 5 p. m." etc.
Mo - Write the month,using the following
abbreviations: Ja, F, Mar, Ap, My, Jun,
Jul, Aug, S, Oct, N, Dec.
D - Write the day of the month.
Sec - Write the section number if there is one.
P - Write the number of the page.
C - Write the number of the column in which
the article begins, even when the name
indexed is found on a later page. Thus,
every card of an article has exactly the
same information as to page and column,
even though it is continued to other
columns or pages. Items on unrelated
subjects appearing in columns or news
miscellanies are indexed according to
page and column in which they appear.
Columns are counted from left to right.
Year - Write the year, such as 1893.
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 occured. A
place must be given for eVory article,
even though it be Chicago, Unless the
article is of such a nature that there
is no locality, as in some editorials and
feature articles. The place given should
be the place where the incident happened,
not that from which the news originated.
If no place is mentioned in the article
write: (no place given): Sometimes the
location can be determined by giving the
-6-
source of the news, the p?„per from which
it was reprinted. Be very careful that
such expressions as "three miles from here"
are not misleading. Make clear the location
of "here". When the location of the incident
is given, there is no need of mentioning
the place where the news was first printed.
On the fourth line of the card begin the
explanation proper. There are two kinds
of cards: general and name. There will be
« A4—» I., i ■■ ■ , -
at least one of these cards for each article,
and most articles will require both kinds.
On the general card no subject heading is
written. Names of principal persons men¬
tioned in the article should be included,
and the explanation must contain sufficient
information for a researcher to determine
whether or not a given article contains the
information he is seeking. The article is
not to be reproduced, but the indexer must
answer as many as possible of the following
questions: Who? What? Why? How? Where?
When? Be especially careful to show the
relationship between persons and events, and
between events and other events. Remember
that the information on each card must be
complete and able to stand by itself. The
editors are not familiar with the information
-7-
on the other cards related to the same
article. A name card must be made for
every name mentioned, whether of a person
or organization, except as noted on pp.11-
14.
(5) Indexer - In this space the worker must write
his name and the date on which he took
the note, thus: 5-19-38,
(6) Checker - The senior clerk will sign his name on
each card after verifying the reference,
being certain that the explanation is
sufficiently complete, and that all items
are indexed.
B. Finished Work
Index cards are to be kept in the exact order in which
they appear in the newspaper. At the end of the day each
senior clerk must deposit all cards that have been prepared
under his supervision, in a box designated for the
purpose.
C• Progress Records
The supervisor will distribute progress record cards
to every indexer, who must keep a record for each paper
on which he works. (The Progress Record card is in the
%
form of a blanket calendar, by months and must show the
name of the indexer, the name and year of the newspaper.
For example if the indexer has completed the issue
of Friday, March 4, 1938, he will write the number
4 in the sixth square in the first row for March
as follows:
..
March
4
Do not write a number in a square 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
leave it with his work.
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. When a column has been indexed,
wholly or in part, place a check mark in the proper
space. If the column is not indexed, write one of
the following abbreviations to 3how why it was omitted.
A - Advertising
C - Column
F - Foreign News
Fic - Fiction
J - Jokes, etc.
Lr - Letters to the editor
M - Market Reports
0 - Obituaries
P - Poetry
S - Sports
Soc - Society
Sum - News Summary
" Con - Articles continued from other columns.
When an article is part one thing and part another, a
diagonal line should be drawn across the square and
correct insertions made in the division.
The following sample shows how a "Checker's Column
Control" might appear when made out for the Chicago
Daily Tribune. April 21, 1938:
Newspaperi
-10-
CHBCKER'S COLUMN CONTROL
Chicago Daily Tribune Checker
H. J. Jones
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Columns
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Sum
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Soc
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18
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Fic
A
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19
Soc
C
C
A
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A
A
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Z
20
Z
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21
S
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Z
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24
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25
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Con
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mm
28
M
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29
/
A
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30
A
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31
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—
32
A
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34
-
WPA (111
Project
.)
2727
-11-
F. Writing Materials, Erasures
Use pencils with black lead, not too hard. No other
color is permissible. Do not use indelible pencils.
Do not write over figures or letters. Erase mistakes
before correcting them.
G. What To Index
(1) Names
Every name, whether of business concern,
organization, or person, must be indexed except
for special cases noted below. Show under
"explanation" the relation of the name to the
article in which it occurs. The names of
organizations, companies, societies, are all
indexed under the exact names. Do not index
the name of a city, county, state or other
governmental division unless it is of itself
the subject of the article. If an airplane,
bound from New York to Chicago makes a forced
landing at Cleveland, none of those cities
will be indexed. But if the article deals
with the history of New York City, or some
other matter relating to the city, the name of
the city will be indexed.
-12-
Special Treatment of Names
Do not confuse with rules concerning general
cards.
a. Accidents and Disasters
Index only the names of the persons killed
or injured, the name of the person direct¬
ing relief operations and others of
importance to the occurrence. Do not index
the names of witnesses, police officers, or
medical attendants.
b. News of Churches, Clubs and Organizations
Index only the names of chairmen or presi¬
dents of organizations and principal speakers.
Do not index the names of attendants, members
and committee personnel.
c. Crimes and Criminal Trials
Index only the names of persons accused of
crimes, victims, and attorneys. Do not index
the names of witnesses, relatives, judicial
officers and police officers.
d. Damage Suits
Index only the names of plaintiffs and
defendants and their attorneys. Do not
index names of witnesses, relatives,
judicial and police officers.
e. News Items Concerning Births and Deaths
Index only the names of persons who died.
-13-
In the case of young children, indicate the
parents' names in the explanation. Do not
index the names of physicians, nurses,,
friends and relatives.
f. Fires
Index only the names of persons injured and
the owners of the property involved. Do not
index names of relatives, witnesses, firemen,
police officers, etc.
g. Weddings
Index only the names of persons being married.
Do not index names of attendants, ministers,
judges, or others who officiated. Names of
parents may be shown in the explanation,
h• Personal Items
In accounts of illnesses, including operations,
index only-the names of the persons incapaci¬
tated. Do not index names of medical attend¬
ants, friends or relatives,
i . Speeches and Lectures
Index only the name of the speaker or lecturer.
In the explanation indicate the occasion,
organization, and subject involved.
Incomplete Names
If the 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:
-14-
Subject:
Jones,
Explanation:
Cook County, Illinois, District
Attorney, threatens to attack
slot machine syndicate in
Chicago, in press interview.
Lists of Names
When long lists of names are given, each name
need not be indexed if there are more than five.
A report of a City Council meeting, with a list
of the members present, who made motions, nominated
candidates, etc., should be indexed as follows:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Chicago Illinois, City Council
fails to enact ordinance to
consolidate elevated and surface
lines. List of members present.
Votes of legislative bodies reported by name of
legislators or council members, are shown similarly.
When a list of guests at a social function is given,
the explanation should state, "List of guests
present." If the names seem to merit indexing
consult your supervisor.
(2) News Articles, Domestic
a. Every news article will be indexed both
-15-
by name and general cards. There may be more
than one general card for an article and
several name cards. When dealing with names,
see the instructions under "Names,." Be
certain to give complete information. For
example, in the Chicago Daily Tribune,
February 15, 1938, p, 3, Col, 7, three star
final, there is an article about radio amateurs.
There should be five cards for this article,
as follows:
(1) Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Grover Campbell, Johnson, Tenn.,
and John F. Stanberg, Okemah,
Okla., radio amateurs, locate
mother of Wm, Bolus, Johnson
City, Tenn., at Sydney, N. S. W.,
after separation of 34 years.
(2) Subject:
Bolus, Wm.
Explanation:
of Johnson City, Tenn., locates
his mother in Sydney, N. S. W.,
after separation of 34 years, through
efforts of radio amateurs, Grover
Campbell of Johnson, Tenn., and
John F, Stanberg of Okemah, Okla.
-16-
(3) Subject:
Stanberg, John F,
I
Explanation:
Radio amateur, Okemah, Okla.,
assists in locating mother of
Wm. Bolus, Johnson City, Tenn.,
in Sydney, N. S. W.
(4) Subject:
Campbell, Grover D.
Explanation:
Radio amateur, Johnson City,
Tenn., assists in locating
mother of Wm. Bolus in Sydney,
N. S. W.
(5) Subject:
Nuby, Mrs. M.
Explanation:
Sydney, N. S. W., mother of
Wm. Bolus, Johnson City, Tenn.,
located by radio amateurs after
separation of 34 years.
Special Treatment of Certain Subjects
General cards are not needed for the
following types of items:
-17-
Awards
Births
Career Notes
Clubs and Organization News
Deaths
Illnesses and Operations
Speeches and Lectures
Trips taken by prominent persons
Weddings
Names involved in these items will be indexed
according to the instructions under "names."
Make the explanations sufficiently' complete
so that a general card could be made in the
office if necessary.
News Articles, Foreign
Omit entirely, unless the article concerns
American citizens abroad.
Cartoons, Pictures, Comic Strips
Index cartoons by general card, giving an
explanation of the nature of the cartoon. Index
a picture accompanying an article even when it is
on back or picture page, by writing "pic," at
the beginning of the explanation of the article
cards. For example, there is an article
about Theodore Roosevelt, in the Chicago
-18-
Tribune, with a picture of Roosevelt. The
subject would be; Roosevelt, Theodore. Under
the explanation the indexer should write:
(pic.) organizes regiment of Rough
Riders.
If there is a caricature of the person mentioned
in the article, write the word (car.) before
the explanation.
If there is a cartoon not related to an article,
begin the explanation: Cartoon of .
If there is a picture not related to an article,
begin the explanation: Picture of .
Do not index comics, popularly called "funnies."
Reports of battles, campaigns, military maneuvres
etc. in American wars, should be indexed by
name of battle and names of principal commanders.
For example:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Description of battle of
San Juan Hill; regiments
engaged; losses by regiments
There should also be cards for each of the
principal commanders.
-19-
Editorials
Editorials vary widely in type. They may
give information about some subject;
criticize a condition, action or proposal;
analyze a situation; make recommendations
for action; eulogize a prominent person
who has died; etc. They should always be
indexed by general card and by name cards
if names are mentioned. For example, in
the Chicago Daily News, April 12, 1903, an
editorial appeared entitled "How to Reform
the Tariff." The general card should read:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
(ed.) Urges early adoption of
Roosevelt plan for a permanent
non-partisan tariff commission,
and shows advantages of the plan
cites ex-President Cleveland's
recent speech urging Democrats
to sponsor tariff reform.
-20-
There will "be two name cards:
Subject:
Roosevelt, President Theodore
Explanation:
(ed.) Mentioned as sponsor of
plan for establishment of
permanent, non-partisan tariff
commission, highly commended by
the editor.
Subject:
Cleveland, Grover
Explanation:
(ed,) Cites ex-President's recent
speech urging fellow Democrats to
again take up tariff reform.
Editor comments that Cleveland has
recognized public demands for
reform.
Another editorial in a 19S1 paper discusses
President Hoover's attempt to keep expenses
down. There would be two cards on this editorial:
Subject:
Hoover, President Herbert C,
-21-
Explanation:
(ed.) On political reasons
behind his attempts to
keep expenses down.
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
(ed.) On political reasons
behind President Hoover's
attempts to keep
expenses down.
Proceedings of Legislative Bodies
(a) Council Meetings, Chicago; County Board
Meetings, Cook County; Town Meetings,
Cook County; Village Board Meetings,
Cook County.
Index by general card without noting each
subject reported. But when a subject
considered by one of the above meetings is
treated in a news article, a general card
is made similar to all news articles.
(b) 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
-22-
news article, a general card is made as for all*
news articles. When indexing articles
relating to the legislature, be specific
as to the branch. Use the following
forms:
111., House of Reps.
111., Sen.
(c) 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, make a general card as for all
. news articles,
When indexing articles relating to
Congress, be specific as to the
branch. Use the following forms:
U. S. House of Reps.
U. S. Sen,
Columns
Daily and weekly columns such as those written
by Amy Leslie, Brisbane, Eugene Field, do not
need a name card for the columnist, but must
have both a name and general card when the
subject deals with a political, social or
economic situation. Columns dealing with
health, cooking, sewing, homemaking, advice
to the lovelorn, etc. are not indexed. Columns
-23-
devoted to sports are not indexed unless they
contain items of news interest concerning
prominent sports individuals. Columns must
be read carefully in order that nothing is
omitted which should be indexed.
Feature Articles - Non-fiction
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 would
be three cards on this article:
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Feature article on U. S. successors
to Cosimo de' Medici as art
collectors. J. F. Morgan cited
as leading example.
-24-
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.
(10) Books - Reviews and Notes
Articles about books may be editorials,
announcements or reviews. In the first case
the article is treated like any editorial. In
the second and third cases under explanation,
write "review" or "announcement" and give the
title of the book. Always index the author's
name.
Example of name card:
Subject:
Lewis, Sinclair
Explanation:
Review: It Can't Happen Here
-26-
Example:
Subject:
International Harvester
Company
Explanation:
Graph of price trends of stock for
1933-1938.
All news items on the financial pages must be
indexed similarly to any other news article.
Example:
Subject:
Ford Motor Company
Explanation:
Federal investigation to have
300 witnesses.
General articles on the financial pages con¬
cerning price trends are not indexed, nor
are market quotations and reports. In the
Tribune on May 27, 1938, an article appeared
with the heading, "Edison's new bonds will be
fixed at 102jr." Another stated, "Stocks tumble
to low levels of early April." Such articles
when printed on the financial pages, are not
indexed. However if an article stated, "Sam
Insull explains reason for new decline in
prices," it would be indexed under "Insull."
Always consult supervisor about such omissions.
-27-
(13) Poetry
Index all poems with author card and general curd.
Subject:
Walton, Milly
Explanation:
Poem - "Old Glory"
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Poem - "Old Glory" by Milly Walton
(14) Sports
Index the following:
(a) Championship Events
Index only the results of championship
events, such as Boxing, World's Series,
Bowling Meets, Olympic Games, etc.
The subject of the name card will be the
name of winner, winning team or league, etc.
Subject:
Moody, Helen 'Wills
Explanation:
Wimbledon, England: defeats Helen
Jacobson for women's world's
championship tennis singles.
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Wimbledon, England: Helen wills
Moody wins women's championship
tennis singles vs Helen Jacobson.
Do not index articles which are "build-ups"
for coming events.
-28-
Horse Races,
Index with one card by name of race, such
as Kentucky Derby, Preakness, etc., giving
the three winning horses and jockeys. Do
not index routine races.
Subject:
(Leave blank)
Explanation:
Preakness: Hank Mills wins on
Mate; Gus 0'Toole
on Twenty Grand
second; Tim Ryan
on Boots, Third.
News Articles About Sports Personalities.
When the article is concerned primarily
with some one person, such as Ty Cobb,
Babe Ruth, etc., in which other names are
mentioned, index only the name of the
principal person, i, e,, the one about
whom the article is built. For example,
an article describing Joe Lewis in amateur
theatricals, would receive a card.
Subject:
Lewis, Joe
Explanation:
Appears as Hamlet in amateur
performance at Great Northern
Theater.
—29 —
An animal, a horse or dog, may be a sports
personality, the central figure of a news
article. In such cases index the animal's
name •
(15) 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.
(16) What Not to Index
Do not index the following:
(a) Advertising.
(b) Chatter about sports, movies, care of
children, cooking, home management,
courtship, etc., when in columns, such
as those by O'Brien, Pegler, Winchell
etc. However, pertinent items in
columns must be indexed.
(c) Fiction.
(d) Foreign news items.
(e) Jokes, humorous stories.
(f) Letters to the editor.
—30—
(g) Market reports, including general
accounts of market trends.
(h) Society News - all items referring
to the activities of society people.
However, births, marriages and
deaths are indexed as explained on
pp. 12, 13 and 17.
(i) Obituaries of non-Chicagoans.
REMEMBER
When in doubt, index!