MDSTMARY-L Archives

From: "David Roberts" <>
Subject: [MDSTMARY-L] Index vs. Abstract
Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 10:09:13 -0400
References: <173.19ce71eb.2be9119a@aol.com>

List:

Yes, it can be confusing if people use an Index and think they are using an
Abstract. But, I guess, that's the fault of the researcher and not the
resource.

The 5 printed volumes of "Index of the St. Mary's Beacon" which cover the
years 1852 to 1890 are an "index" and are so called right in the title. The
Southern Maryland Regional Library Association has a form of this index on
the Internet.
For an index you need the actual newspaper.

Abstracts are different. The abstractor picks what he/she wants to
"abstract" "pick out" "choose" "gather" from the newspaper. Probably the
best local abstract is Roberta J. Wearmouth's series "Abstracts from the
Port Tobacco Times and Charles County Advertiser." These books are arranged
by date of the newspaper & week by week contain items of
historical/genealogical interest that Mrs. Wearmouth thought were worth
including. A good researcher like Mrs. Wearmouth generally knows what's
important, but I'm sure if two different people abstracted the same set
papers they might not agree 100% on what to include and what not to include.
That's the only down-side on an abstract. You are able to "wade-thru" the
newspapers quickly, but you are getting only what one person or a small
group of people think is important.

For an example, I just flipped opened her volume 4, 1876-1884:
July 15, 1881
Listed here [and now I'm abstracting from the abstract !! :o)] are two
marriages - one w/ a date T. I Milstead to Annie M. Milstead on July 6th; -
one w/out a date Frank Geise, formerly miller at Port Tobacco, to Miss
Oliver - in Washington, DC.
The death of a 2 year old boy; a reward for lost items; a barn struck by
lightning; two men planning on re-locating to Cumberland, MD [part of the
LONG exodus of people from Southern Maryland]; "global warming 1881 style" -
it was 98-105 in Charles County that week !!!!; various "city" people moving
to their "country" homes.

I would say everything Mrs. Wearmouth included was worth including; but
without seeing the paper itself might there be something you & I would have
included that she didn't ? On the other hand, we know it was 105 in Charles
County in July 1881. The "index" system would have that under "Weather" ...
and we'd have to go look it up to find out what was going on - very hot
weather ? unusually cool weather ? heavy rain storms ? So each has its
values and each its draw-backs.

The two systems each have their value. It only becomes a problem when the
researcher confuses the two and uses one for the other.

David



----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: Solution to Wilkinson Problem


> In a message dated 5/6/2003 9:14:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> writes:
>
> << This index was set up by a professional archivist under professional
rules
> of newspaper indexing, used by major libraries and archives. St. Mary's
> County was damn lucky to have the woman we did of her professional
quality
> to supervise the project. The Index can't be said to be "misleading" if
> people don't use it properly.
> >>

This thread:

• [MDSTMARY-L] Index vs. Abstract by "David Roberts" <>