Chicago Manual of Style 18.39 (15th edition) lists how to index clerical titles but does not mention how to index the names of nuns. Nuns are commonly known only by their first name and title and not by their family name. Indexers frown upon listing a person by their first name, but may do so if that is the only name consistently used throughout a text. An indexer seemingly faces a dilemma when an author discusses a nun as, for example, "Sister Mary" in one passage and in another refers to her as "Mary Smith." Although most people would know the nun primarily as "Sister Mary" now the last name has become known to the reader. So, which is the correct entry for the Sister?
a) Smith, Sister Mary
b) Sister Mary (Smith)
c) Mary (Smith), Sister
The answer, according to consensus on Indexers Discussion List, is to double-post choice "a" and choice "c." All agree -- do not enter under "Sister."
