Filing Rules

(1) The last name is the first unit. (2) The first name or initial is the second unit. (3) The middle name or initial is last unit.
Use a cross-reference for unusual names or for papers that might be filed in one or more place.

Put numbers in order for filing
Numbers are in consecutive order from front to back.

Index prepositions (in, at, with, on, for, of, out etc.); conjunctions (and or); and articles (a, an) as they are used in the name.
Use the word that the symbol stands for in place of the symbol.

Index names with certain punctuation marks for filing
Commas, periods, hyphens, apostrophes, and parentheses are not used in indexing names of a person or a business.

Index single letters and abbreviations in personal and business names for filing
An initial in a personal name is indexed as a separate unit. Abbreviations of personal names and brief personal names are indexed as written.

Single letters in business names are indexed as written. If there is a space between single letters, index each letter as a separate unit.
An acronym is a word made up of the initials of other words. (FHS = Frankenmuth High School) These are indexed as one unit. Abbreviations (Y.M.C.A.) are indexed as one unit, with or without spaces or periods.

Radio and TV station call letters are indexed as one unit.

To index titles in a personal and business name for filing
A title (Ms. Mrs.) is the last indexing unit when used with a personal name. Seniority title (11, Jr.) is also last indexing unit. Numeric titles (II, III) are filed before alphabetic titles (Jr. Sr.). Professional titles (P.H.D., M.D.) are also the last unites. Royal and religious titles are also indexed last and as written.

Index the names of married women and the names of persons and business with foreign spelling for filing
A married women's name is indexed and filed as written.

Articles and particles are indexed as one unit. Example: De La Rue = Delarue

Index identical names of persons or business for filing
If identical, use cities next. Then, index states or provinces, street names, house or building numbers in that order.

Index numbers in business names for filing
Numbers spelled out in a business name are indexed as written. Numbers written in number for are indexed as one unit. Names with numbers in first unit are indexed before alphabetic units. Arabic (1, 2, 3...) are filed before roman numerals (I, II, III...)
Inclusive numbers (55-59) are indexed by the first number only (55). Names with numbers coming after the first unit are filed alphabetically before a name without a number.

Index names of organizations and institutes for filing
Names of organizations and institutes are indexed and filed the same way as shown on the company letterhead. If THE is part of the letterhead use THE as the last filing unit.

If a name has to compass directions with a space between them each compass direction is separate unit in indexing, however NORTH-WEST and NORTHWEST are indexed as one unit.

Index hyphenated names and compound names for filing
The name of a person separated with a hyphen is indexed as one unit. The hyphen is not used. The name of the business or place separated with hyphens is indexed as one unit. The hyphen is not used.
A compound name has two words. If a space comes between them there are 2 indexing units. Although ST. MARKS is a compound name, ST. is a word beginning thus being one indexing unit. Compound business or place names with spaces between them are separate indexing units.

Government names for filing
The name of a federal government agency is indexed by the name of the government unit followed by the name of the office, bureau, department, etc. as written. The words OFFICE OF, DEPARTMENT OF, BUREAU OF, etc. are added only if needed for better understanding. The words are kept if they are already part of the name. They are indexed as separate units.