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About this project This collection contains California railroad employment records. It includes the employment records of railroad companies operating in California, pay lists, and various employment records for those who worked on the railroad. Many of these workers were immigrants who came to build the railroad across America.

Need help keying this project?

This collection contains employment information from California railroad workers. Many of these workers were immigrants.

For this project we will be keying name, occupation, and record dates.

There are three form types for this project. A "Date and Names" form type where all the information is on the same image. The "Page 1 (Names Only)" form type and "Page 2 (Date Only)" form type are for images which are split across two images. The first image will contain names, the second image will contain dates.

Choose a sample image from below to see the corresponding form field examples.
Date and Names
Page 1 (Names Only)
Page 2 (Date Only)

Date and Names

http://c.mfcreative.com/i/akt/projecthelp/33027/33027_1521003237_0112-00100.jpg

Additional Sample Images

This form type would be used for any image that has both names and a date present on the same image.

Record Date Day

Key the day part of the record date as seen at the top of each image or beside each primary name. On some images the record date may not be present. Normally a day range will be given. Enter the last day of the day range. For example if it says 16 - 31 May, key the day as 31.

Record Date Month

Key the month of the record date as seen at the top of each image or beside each primary name. On some images the record date may not be present. Key the month using the three letter abbreviation for the month. Also key months given as numbers using the three letter abbreviation.

Record Date Year

Key the year of the record date as seen at the top of each image or beside each primary name. On some images the record date may not be present. If only two digits of the year are given, key a 4 digit year.

Prefix

Key any titles before the Given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr" or "Mrs", using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a prefix does not appear in a dictionary then key the prefix as seen.

Given

Key the first name or initial and any middle names of the primary person to whom the record pertains using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a name does not appear in the dictionary then key the name as seen.

Surname

The Surname is the last name of the primary person to whom the record applies. Capture the Surname using the dictionary provided for assistance. If the surname does not appear in the dictionary then key the surname as seen.

Suffix

Key all titles, such as "Jr" or "III", following the surname of the primary person to whom the record applies using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a suffix does not appear in a dictionary then key the suffix as seen.

Occupation

Key the occupation listed for each individual when present as seen. Use the dictionary provided to assist. Many of these occupations will appear abbreviated.

Do not key any punctuation marks in this field such as: slashes (/) commas (,) quotes (") apostrophes (') hyphens (-) or periods (.).

If there are two occupations such as Clerk & Typist, key as Clerk and Typist.

Replace 4Man with the word Foreman.

The above are the only exceptions to the key as seen rule.

Other occupations with Numbers such as 2nd Asst, or 4077 Clerk should be entered using the f12 key to work around the inability to type numbers in the occupation field.

If there are dittoes, key the occupation from the line above.

If there are no dittoes, but you can ascertain that the occupations are the same, key as if there were dittoes.

Do not expand occupations.

Do not add spaces to occupations i.e. don't key Car Bldr when it is shown as CarBldr.

Disregard locations listed with occupations, such as: Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, etc.

Key occupations as seen i.e. Firemen should be keyed as Firemen and not Fireman.

Keying Samples

Page 1 (Names Only)

http://c.mfcreative.com/i/akt/projecthelp/33027/33027_B009228-00025.jpg

This form type is to be used for the first image for records that span two images. Page 1 includes the names of railroad employees, but no date. Most of these pages will also have occupations listed on the record page.

Prefix

Key any titles before the Given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr" or "Mrs", using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a prefix does not appear in a dictionary then key the prefix as seen.

Given

Key the first name or initial and any middle names of the primary person to whom the record pertains using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a name does not appear in the dictionary then key the name as seen.

Surname

The Surname is the last name of the primary person to whom the record applies. Capture the Surname using the dictionary provided for assistance. If the surname does not appear in the dictionary then key the surname as seen.

Suffix

Key all titles, such as "Jr" or "III", following the surname of the primary person to whom the record applies using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a suffix does not appear in a dictionary then key the suffix as seen.

Occupation

Key the occupation listed for each individual when present as seen. Use the dictionary provided to assist. Many of these occupations will appear abbreviated.

Do not key any punctuation marks in this field such as: slashes (/) commas (,) quotes (") apostrophes (') hyphens (-) or periods (.).

If there are two occupations such as Clerk & Typist, key as Clerk and Typist.

Replace 4Man with the word Foreman.

The above are the only exceptions to the key as seen rule.

Other occupations with Numbers such as 2nd Asst, or 4077 Clerk should be entered using the f12 key to work around the inability to type numbers in the occupation field.

If there are dittoes, key the occupation from the line above.

If there are no dittoes, but you can ascertain that the occupations are the same, key as if there were dittoes.

Do not expand occupations.

Do not add spaces to occupations i.e. don't key Car Bldr when it is shown as CarBldr.

Disregard locations listed with occupations, such as: Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, etc.

Key occupations as seen i.e. Firemen should be keyed as Firemen and not Fireman.

Q: I am seeing some records that seem to indicate one person did multiple jobs. Should only the first job be listed or should a second record be created to reflect the second job with the name re-entered? I am also seeing "G. City" in the occupation area. Is that a location notation and thus ignored?

Q: I have pages with numbers in the occupation code. The numbers appear to be unique to each individual rather than an occupation code. Do I key them? --JLAnderson 15:54, 9 August 2013 (UTC)

Keying Samples

Page 2 (Date Only)

http://c.mfcreative.com/i/akt/projecthelp/33027/33027_B009199-00022.jpg

This form type is to be used for the second page for records that span two pages. Page 2 includes a date at the top of the page, and information about wages and payments of railroad workers, but no names. Many of these pages will have signatures present which will not be keyed.