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Archiver > TMG > 2006-11 > 1162580418


From: David Ball <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Citations
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:00:18 -0800
In-Reply-To: <000301c6ff71$5bf22120$f00e824a@homerga4zbpiqe>


> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:] On Behalf
> Of Edward L. Monroe
>
> I would like to know if I am doing this right. I am just getting into
> citations and started to develop some of my own. This is for a Marriage
> Registration. I am not sure if I should make up my own or just use the
> Marriage Certificate one.
>
> [SPOUSES' NAMES] marriage<, [DATE]>, <[FILE NUMBER]>, [REPOSITORY],
> [REPOSITORY ADDRESS]. <, [CD]>.

Ed,

"...doing this right." is often a matter of opinion, since TMG's flexibility
allows more than one approach to all aspects of citations. For me the
"proof of the pudding" for any source format is after I have filled in the
"General" tab data for a new source to go to the "Output Form" tab of the
source entry and click on "preview" for each of the three forms (footnote,
short footnote and bibliography). About half of my new sources the default
sentences work just fine, but as often (particularly for on-line sources)
some part just doesn't read smoothly or show all of the data I would like or
something about that source doesn't perfectly fit any of the templates and
that means I have to tinker with the sentences.

I maintain a Word document (Design Criteria Memorandum) that records for a
source type what template I used, what I should put into the template blanks
and what changes I have made, if any, to the output sentences. This allows
me to copy and paste my customizations quickly and accurately, but I still
always test the preview to make sure everything flows well.

As for my marriage certificate, which is based upon my piece of paper that I
keep in my safety deposit box, this is how I record it; I use the template
for "Vital Record (Document)" with no adjustments. The footnote template
is:
[SUBJECT], [RECORD TYPE] certificate, [TITLE],< [FILE REFERENCE]><, [CD]>
([DATE]).
For my record it reads:
David G. Ball and Phyllis M. Bennett, marriage certificate, Cuyahoga County,
OH, License No. New Series 400457<, [CD]> (30 April 1966).

I would use something different for a record that I found at a repository
(meaning I looked at their paper or on a microfilm of that original paper,
but did not have an official copy of my own in my files). For that case my
source is the whole body of records and the CD carries the details on
finding the specific record. Yes, I'm a "lumper". So for Ontario marriage
records I use the "Birth Registration (State Level)" template, but made
adjustments to the output. Standard footnote output is:
[NAME OF PERSON], [RECORD TYPE]< [FILE NUMBER]><, [CD]> ([FILE DATE]),
[REPOSITORY], [REPOSITORY ADDRESS].

I change it to:
[TITLE], [RECORD TYPE]< [FILE NUMBER]><, [CD]>, [REPOSITORY], [REPOSITORY
ADDRESS].
So, for my record the footnote reads (with details of the individual names
and dates in the CD):
Ontario Registrations of Marriages - 1869-1923, microfilm film #: MS932<,
[CD]>, Archives of Ontario, 77 Grenville Street, Toronto, York Region, ON,
Canada M5S 1B3, 416-327-1600.

Bottom line is that the various templates reflect examples of good source
documentation practice, but there is often more than one way to represent
the sources that you have found. These are my two examples. Hope they help
illustrate a couple of options and that others will show theirs, as well.

David G. Ball
North Vancouver, BC, Canada


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