Maiden Names

Why I use Maiden Names

I have been working to add text labels to our family's photos for genealogical purposes.  I have taken to using a consistent labeling method, to make it quicker to label, as well as make it simpler for the future generations to read and understand.  The date or approximate date, and location is pretty self-explanatory and obvious.  However, I've gotten some questions around how I label the names on the photos.  The answer is somewhat lengthy, so I tend to just assure them I have good reasons.  I'm going to try to explain my reasoning here around my choice of using Maiden names almost exclusively for the married women in our family.

1. Consistency across my files.  The children of our family aren't married yet!  When I label their photos now, it's going to be their maiden name.  Going through old photos of family members I don't recognize and didn't know personally, which were labeled by others, I often am trying to figure out whether they were using maiden names or married.  One of the clues I use, is the hand writing.  If I know who labeled them, I often am familiar enough with them to know how they would've likely labeled them.  Consistency helps people interpret my files, etc.  
2. Consistency across changing events. It's helpful if all the photos for Mary Jones who married a Matthews, be labeled the same.  The photos of her as a child before she was married, should those be labeled with her married name?  What if she got married more than once?  Should the photos taken with her and her first husband be labeled with her second husband's name? To someone who didn't know her, would the conflicting names confuse them?
3. Hurt Feelings.  The reality is that today, more and more, women are marrying more than once or twice.  There are many reasons for this most of which are NOT the fault of the woman!  However, it's complicated and although it shouldn't be cause for shame, reality is, it still can bring up embarrassment and/or hurt feelings to have an ex husband's name on a picture being held for genealogy purposes which keeps getting shoved in their face.  I don't know what tomorrow holds.  The person they're married to today, could become the ex, or they could be painfully widowed. Either of which, they may not want that reminder in the form of text on every single photo! 
4. Speed.  You might say, well, ok then, but what about the couples who've been married 55 years and it's pretty darn safe to say, there's no additional marriage coming along.  I respond with, I have literally thousands of photos to label.  The process is one photo at a time, and it's a multi step process.  Each photo takes at least 10 minutes, sometimes much more.  For me to add another step of judging whether or not this couple is one of those situations, will slow me down.  If I want to finish this within my lifetime, I need to remove all non required steps.  Sorry.  Also, See Reason #1.
5. Maiden Name plus Married names - Space.  Some folks label photos with Maiden name plus married name(s).  Many of the photos I'm working with have quite limited space.  Group photos make it even more difficult, and all women photos make it absolutely impossible.  
6. Maiden Name plus Married names - Hurt Feelings!  A woman may understandably feel self conscious if every photo of her appears with Maiden, Ex1, Ex2, Ex3, Current name trailing.  She shouldn't, but, reality is, she very well might. 
7. Maiden Name plus single current Married Name - Consistency.  Again, we don't know what the future holds, the current husband, could become deceased or an ex.  So Jane Smith Matthews could become married again, and then other photos would be labeled Jane Smith Jones.  See Reasons 2 and 3.

I have carefully considered several options in how I label my photos and files with regards to Maiden Names.  Although there will be some who do not agree with me, I still feel that this pattern works for my purposes.  I hope that this has helped you to understand where I'm coming from, and what I'm trying to accomplish.  Thank you.