NOTATION FOR TITLES AND FILIAL RELATIONSHIPS

 

Recommendations related to placement of notation for titles and filial relationships in the Arkansas Gravestones database are summarized below:  

 

TITLES:  Titles such as Dr. and Rev. should follow the surname separated by a comma.  Thus, for a minister by the name of John Doe, the AGP software displays the public view of this record as:

 

John DOE, REV

 

[However, in the edit view for this record, the software will display the name as DOE, REV, John.]

 

FILIAL RELATIONSHIPS:  Filial relationships refer to designations that distinguish a child from his forebearer who has the same name (i.e., Jr., I, II, III, etc.). These designations are a part of the child’s official or legal name and should appear on the surname line following the surname.  Very often, perhaps most often, the parent will assume the designation, Sr. or I, to distinguish himself from the child; however, this designation is usually not an official part of this person’s name. Nevertheless, notation for the senior person may be included in AGP records with its placement after the surname. 

 

Thus, for a child by the name of John Doe who was the third in a line of persons with the same name, the AGP software displays the public view of this record as:

 

John DOE III

 

His father, of course, is John Doe II or John Doe, Jr.

 

Recently, we were asked for advice regarding notation for a person, e.g., John Doe Sr., who was also a minister. Although it is cumbersome, the senior designation and title could both follow the surname. However, it would be much less cumbersome if only the senior designation were used on the surname in-put line with notation in the comments about the title; that is, notation in the comments might appear as:

 

Rev. John Doe, Sr.