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Searching Suggestions
Personal Name Indexes
Other
Online Indexes
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Online Resources
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Thanks to the dedicated
work of members of the Volunteers
in Archives program, online indexes are available for several
of our collections, including some of our
more popular genealogical collections. These indexes are
intended to help
researchers more quickly locate specific records from among the
potentially hundreds of thousands available.
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Before viewing a
particular index, you are urged to read the searching suggestions below and then
select the appropriate index to begin
your search.
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The online indexes
available on the Westchester County Archives website have
been or are being created by copying previously existing
index books and by combining information from individual
volume indexes and/or individual pieces of paper.
Thousands of hours have been devoted by many individuals to
transcribing these records. When using these indexes,
it is important to keep a few things in mind:
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Due to the
idiosyncratic nature of name spelling in early records,
the changes in spelling of family names over the years, and the potential for
data entry inconsistencies,
it is strongly recommended that the "Find"
function on your web browser not be used for names that may
have multiple spellings. Such
searches will miss potentially useful records with only the
slightest difference -- such as a single vowel, a
"Mc" instead of a "Mac", or a missing
space after a "Del" at the beginning of the name.
Therefore, it is recommended that the names in needed
index(es) be scrolled through so that any closely related
spelling variations will also be located.
- Names have generally been entered exactly as
they appear on the record. However, in cases where the exact spelling could not be
determined, or where the individual's signature and the clerk's
spelling differed, two entries were made. Users should search for names using a variety of
spellings. The Cross Index to Surnames used at the County Clerk's office
provides suggestions for
alternative spellings of familial names common to
Westchester County.
- These indexes were created using the transcription and data
entry skills of many individuals. In addition, handwriting
style have changed over the years and the penmanship of
individual clerks has varied widely. As a result, although great
care is taken to ensure as much accuracy as possible, some
inconsistencies and typographical errors may exist in the
records. If you think you have discovered an error within an index,
please notify the Archives
Reference Staff.
- Indexing is a
time-consuming process and for some record series not all
records have yet been indexed. Be sure to note the time period
covered by the index before coming to the conclusion that the
Archives' does not have the records you are looking for. It is
also possible that a record was missed in indexing. If you suspect a
record should be at the Archives but is not listed in the
index, please contact the Archives
Reference Staff.
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| Personal
Name Indexes
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| Other
Online Indexes
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Electronic indexes are available at
the Archives Reading Room for our photographic and
maps and plans collections.
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Westchester County Archives
archivesreferencedesk@westchestergov.com
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