In defence of the professional indexer

Abstract

I thoroughly enjoyed most of David Henige’s article, ‘Indexing: A User’s Perspective’ (JSP, July 2002, 230–247). His passionate and eloquent argument for the inclusion of good indexes in scholarly books is most welcome. That Henige also appears to understand the qualities of a proper index adds even more weight to his fascinating article. However, as a book author (Indexing Books, University of Chicago Press, 1994), a professional indexer (18 years), and former teacher of book indexing (15 years) I must take exception to Henige’s cavalier treatment of professional indexers. Henige writes (p. 234):