ANSWERS: 2
  • Hi. Inside genealogy software programs - and on hard copy family history forms like family group sheets or pedigree charts, etc - all the individuals are entered or written with the name they were born with. So for women, that's with their given name, then maiden name. -- In narratives, I capitalize surnames. Do that when posting genealogy queries online as well. If I published a family history book, I'd also continue that and capitalize all surnames. (but not given names) --- With a marriage, I show a woman's maiden name in parenthesis. For example, if I have a Sally SMITH who married a John JONES .. I'd write Sally (SMITH) JONES. In the software program, she's still Sally SMITH who is linked by the event of marriage with John JONES. I've also seen folks write Sally (Smith) JONES - only capitalizing the most current surname (the married name). Probably the most important thing is whichever way you decide to do it? Just try to stay consistent all the way through your project. Wouldn't be a bad idea to have some sort of key for any abbreviations you use .. or ways you choose to show maiden names, etc. That way, your meanings will be clear to anyone seeing all your hard work (and precious family history!) :)
  • When I wrote the obit for my grandmother (see http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2o_auth_nfts_tributetomamaw.shtml for that an more about her), I simply entered her name with all last names. For her parents, I put her mother's maiden name in parens before their surname. For survivors and predeceaseds, I included spouses' full names in parens. See the article and obit at the link. I believe this is the way it should be done. HOWEVER, when asking in queries, and/or writing a story about them, I believe I would do as debtahals said, and capitalize ALL surnames. It makes them stand out, so people can scan the item and see where the surname THEY are searching for is located faster.

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