The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 24, June 10, 2001, Article 13

HOW TO BUILD A USEFUL INDEX 

   Dave Bowers writes: "Concerning indexes, to be REALLY 
   USEFUL an index has to be by SUBJECT and CONTENT, 
   not by title. In my opinion, a proper index should be 
   constructed as follows--easy enough to do in today's computer 
   age. 

   Fictitious example:  Article titled "Outstanding Exhibits at 
   Chicago Show," by William Gibbs, Coin World, April 10, 
  1991, page 8.   In brief, it tells that John Smith exhibited a 
   $500 Confederate  Montgomery note, that John Doe 
   showed an 1884 trade dollar,  and that Sam Jones won a 
   prize with his exhibit of Clark, Gruber & Co. gold coinage. 

   The article should be cross-indexed as follows:  Gibbs, 
   William. 1991, April 10, Coin World: "Outstanding Exhibits 
   at Chicago Show," discussed that John Smith exhibited a 
   $500 Confederate Montgomery note, that John Doe 
   showed an 1884 trade dollar, and that Sam Jones won a 
   prize with his exhibit of Clark, Gruber & Co. gold coinage. 

   Clark, Gruber & Co. 1991, April 10, Coin World: 
   "Outstanding Exhibits at Chicago Show," by William Gibbs. 
   Sam Jones won a prize with his exhibit of Clark, Gruber & 
   Co. gold coinage. Etc., etc. 

   As an avid and constant user of out-of-print numismatic 
   articles  I find that the indexes published in various issues of 
   The Numismatist, Numismatic Scrapbook, etc., are more or 
   less  useless, as they are by titles only." 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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