This page offers a glance at some of the various non-biographical errors our researchers have encountered over the years. These are basic research errors that have often been perpetuated by multiple sources.

This page is presented in a temporary HTML format until our new website is complete late in August 2010.

Visit our page of miscellaneous biographical errors for a sampling of biographical inaccuracies.

For a look at common errors contained in many popular almanacs, encyclopedias, and other reference books, visit reference book errors.

Acadia, Arcadia, Arcata - The U.S. cities/towns of Acadia, Arcadia, and Arcata are often confused with one another.

La Jolla and La Jolla Peak - Since the city of La Jolla is located near San Diego, more than a few sources have erroneously assumed La Jolla Peak is also in the San Diego area. La Jolla Peak is actually located northwest of Los Angeles, in Ventura County, California. Not to confuse matters, but there's another La Jolla Peak in Pima County, Arizona, as well.

Lemoncove and Lemon Grove - The town of Lemoncove, California, (which is in central California) is often confused with Lemon Grove, California, (which is in southern California, near San Diego).

Carlsbad, California - The town of Carlsbad, California, is occasionally misspelled "Karlsbad" and also "Carslbad."

Carol Stream, Illinois - The city of Carol Stream, Illinois, is occasionally misspelled "Carroll Stream."

Covina, California - The city of Covina, California, is sometimes misspelled "Corina."

Hannaford, North Dakota - The town of Hannaford, North Dakota, is sometimes misspelled "Hanaford."

Harbison Canyon, California - Located east of San Diego, Harbison Canyon, is occasionally misspelled "Harvison Canyon" and also "Harvason Canyon."

Le Claire, Iowa - The town of Le Claire, in Scott County, Iowa, is occasionally misspelled "Le Clair."

Mammoth Lakes, California - The mountain town of Mammoth Lakes, California is occasionally misspelled "Mammouth Lakes," "Monmouth Lakes" or "Manmouth Lakes."

Quartzsite, Arizona - The town of Quartzsite, Arizona, is sometimes misspelled "Quartzite." Quartzite is certainly the correct spelling for a type of stone, but is not the name of the small Arizona town near the Colorado River in Yuma County, Arizona.

Radersburg, Montana - The town of Radersburg, Montana, is sometimes misspelled "Raidersburg."

Wainscott, New York - The town of Wainscott, New York, is sometimes misspelled "Wainscot." This error is the result of the spelling of the popular wood treatment that covers only the lower portion of a wall and is properly spelled wainscot or wainscoting.

Willcox, Arizona - The town of Willcox, Arizona, is often misspelled "Wilcox, Arizona."


Visit commonly misspelled, confused, and misused words for a vast collection of words that are frequently misspelled.

East Jefferson General Hospital - Some sources erroneously report East Jefferson General Hospital is located in New Orleans. In point of fact, it's in Metairie, just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital and Nursing Center - Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital and Nursing Center, is not located in Washington, D.C. as many sources erroneously report. Not to be nitpicky, but you'll actually find it at 2900 Mercy Lane, in Cheverly, Maryland.

Griffith Observatory - Griffith Park and the Griffith Observatory were both named in honor of the man who donated the land and funds to develop them. Colonel Griffith Jenkins Griffith was a Los Angeles pioneer and multimillionaire philanthropist who donated thousands of acres of land for the recreational use of Los Angeles citizens. It later became the largest city park (over 4,000 acres) in the United States. Contrary to what a few sources report, they were not named in honor of film pioneer D.W. Griffith.

St. Anthony Central Hospital - St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado is mistakenly referred to as "St. Anthony's Central Hospital" on occasion.

St. Joseph Medical Center - St. Joseph Medical Center (now, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center) in Burbank, California, is frequently (and erroneously) referred to as "St. Joseph's Hospital."

St. Vincent Regional Medical Center - St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, in Santa Fe, New Mexico is mistakenly referred to as "St. Vincent's Medical Center" on occasion.