Names Not Spelled the Same The concept of exact spelling has evolved over time, even personal name spelling. It is especially important in the computer age to have consistency in name spellings, but not so crucial in times past. Seasoned genealogists know that name spelling varied almost as widely as the people recording them. Clerks

Embellishing the family history to include royalty, an Indian princess, or a famous historical figure was more common than most people would imagine. We run into it frequently in our business. My great-grandmother, Alva Belle Calahan, grew up with a vagabond father who never stayed in one place for more than a couple of years.  The