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Archiver > TMG > 2000-04 > 0954771115


From:
Subject: TMG-L: Re: Sources - E-Mail and Web Site Addresses and Others
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 09:11:55 -0500


In my simplistic way of looking at sources and citing sources, I see one
doing so to identify from where the information came from so the reader
(and ourselves) can determine how "correct" the information might be.

For example, obtaining a birth date from Aunt Elisabeth, who was 84 years
at the time, for her cousin who was 76 years and died five years before,
should leave a bit of doubt as to how correct the information might be.
On the other hand, if the source was a birth certificate from the local
court house, one can pretty well "assume" the date is correct or at least
as correct we might be able to get; collaborating independent sources are
better. For other than primary sources, it is important to identify when
the information was obtained in relationship to when the event actually
happened (that Aunt Elizabeth was 84 years when she passed on a 81 year
old date)

Now if the best we can do, at least at that time, is to cite as a source
Aunt Elizabeth, well and good, for that is what we must cite, for that is
the source of our date. It though behooves us to do better, and we
should attempt to do so.

Now if Uncle Joe received this same information from Aunt Elizabeth, be
this on the telephone, in a letter, or though email, but in his
communication to us he did not cite Aunt Elisabeth as his source, we must
cite Uncle Joe for he was our source.

If Uncle Joe identified Aunt Elizabeth as his source, I then cite Aunt
Elizabeth "for she is the source" and as a courtesy I also identify that
I receive the information through Uncle Joe.

Bottom line to me for identifying and citing a source is to allow the
reader (and ourselves) to easily determine how correct the piece of
information might be and to contact or actually view the source to verify
the recorded information.

It is our responsibly as Genealogists to cite primary sources when a
primary source is available to be cited. You talk about work. Yes this
is work, and blood, and sweat, and tears, but it is a responsibility we
inherit if we are to call ourselves a Genealogist.

I do not but I still go after primary sources.

Donald Schulteis

>bob gillis wrote:
>>
>> Frem a thread on MAESSEX about appropriating posted GEDCOM files that
>> evolved into sources and citations:
>>
>> Bruce Lord wrote:
>> >
>> > An interesting point that has been brought up in this discussion is
the
>> > proper way to source something that was obtained from others.
>> > Unfortunately, I have not done a good job of this. I like the idea
of
>> > sourcing "courtesy of" but should that also include a web site or
>> >an e-mail address or what?
>>
>> Lewis Peregory replied:
>>
>> >I would suggest that anyone on the list that is interested in sources
>> >and citation get "EVIDENCE, Citation and Analysis for the Family
>> >Historian" by Elizabeth Shown Mills, Genealogical Publishing 1997.
It
>> >has many examples of good citations and source references. ESM is
the
>> >editor of the NGS journal.
>> snip

>> >The source that you cite should be where you found or received the
>> >information and not the source where the person who sent it to you
>found it.
>> >She says to include e-mail addresses and URLs.>
>>
>> and Bob Bamford further commented:
>>
>> > There is also an article in New England Ancestors (NEHGS used to be
Nexus)
>> > by Steve Kyner on the same subject. Frankly, I disagree with
Elizabeth in
>> > so far as the e-mail/ URL only. In this day and age, electronic
addresses
>> > are even less stable than physical addresses. In the few case where
I site
>> > such info, I give the source and "provided by " or
>> > "per www.xxx.yyy.com.">
>>
>> I think Bob Bamford has a good point. bob gillis


>Lewis Peregory responded:
>
>Mills and Lackey both emphasize that researchers should always site
>the source examined by the researcher. To cite a source received
>from an email or web site as coming from the source mentioned in the
>email or web site would not be proper.

Donald
Living in Dallas, Texas; Born in Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin
Ancestors from: Rheinbach, Rhineland; Vollmau, Bohemia; Kemnath, Bavaria
Researching: Henseler, Kachelmeier, Kachelmeyer, Kuchenreuther,
Odenbrett, Ott, Schulteis, Siegl, Wolf
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