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Archiver > TMG > 2000-07 > 0962479173


From: Linda Lawhon <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Starting to get my sources right
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 14:19:33 -0500
In-Reply-To: <ca.6cefef5.268f982c@aol.com>


said:
> I use UFT, but this is what I do too. I would however give as
> much of the
>source for the original document as was made available to me.

Teresa,

There may be a little confusion in what I said. Sometimes my fingers
don't type what my brain is thinking. <g> What I meant to say -- I
hope -- when I am using the research done by another person -- be
that person a friend, an acquaintence, or a professional genealogist
-- if they have sent copies of the documents, I will cite those
documents as if I had copied them myself. The difference is -- if
someone else has supplied those copies, I will then add to a memo or
the citation detail the statement that the "copy was supplied by
Priscilla Perfect, C.G., address, date." This way I have given all
the details on where the document was obtained -- but I have also
made it clear that I did not personally copy the document.

In the case of a professional, most of the times, I have great
confidence in what is supplied. But sometimes due to things they
might not be aware of, what they send may not be complete. An
example is the birth certificate of my second son. An error was made
on the original. Vital Stats caught it right away and we were
required to fill out paperwork to correct the error -- and have the
paperwork notarized. I thought they would whip a new birth
cert. Nope. There is an amendment. When said son entered
kindergarten, I had to order another copy of birth cert. And here
came all those papers to do for an amendment. I called them and
asked if I would have to do this each and every time I requested a
copy (or my son did) and they said no, "Did you request the amendment
when you requested a copy of the birth cert?" Somewhat stunned, I
replied, "No, isn't the amendment kept with the birth
certificate?" Well, the bottom line is, no it is not. Amendments are
kept in a separate file and they informed me the original is not
tagged in any way to show there is an amendment. I was astonished,
to say the least. I immediately compiled a short note to my son
about this and attached copies of the note to each copy of his birth
certificate I have and also placed a copy of the note in his
file. Hence my comment about giving credit where credit is due. The
above case is unusual but does demonstrate how the best laid plans...
gang oft agley.

Linda


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