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Citations serve two main purposes. The first is to help us find the original source. If we are using an online copy of a record, we need to also indicate the citation of the offline original. This isn’t as hard as it may sound. Reputable websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org provide both citations for you. | Citations serve two main purposes. The first is to help us find the original source. If we are using an online copy of a record, we need to also indicate the citation of the offline original. This isn’t as hard as it may sound. Reputable websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org provide both citations for you. | ||
The second purpose of citations is to help us quickly judge the strength of a source without having to find and look at it. In particular, we indicate if the source is an index only, images, or both index | The second purpose of citations is to help us quickly judge the strength of a source without having to find and look at it. In particular, we indicate if the source is an index only, images, or both index & images. | ||
== Level 2: Emerging == | == Level 2: Emerging == | ||
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Emerging genealogists often lack the experience to know how much information should be included in a citation. For example, it is a bad practice to specify just a URL (web address) or an identification number like a batch number, film number, or call number. | Emerging genealogists often lack the experience to know how much information should be included in a citation. For example, it is a bad practice to specify just a URL (web address) or an identification number like a batch number, film number, or call number. | ||
URLs change, and they do so quickly. URLs for census images on Ancestry.com changed when they switched viewers. Those for FamilySearch Record Search no longer work. Those for the classic FamilySearch website will soon stop working. Batch numbers almost went away on the latest FamilySearch.org. Did you know that the | URLs change, and they do so quickly. URLs for census images on Ancestry.com changed when they switched viewers. Those for FamilySearch Record Search no longer work. Those for the classic FamilySearch website will soon stop working. Batch numbers almost went away on the latest FamilySearch.org. Did you know that the FamilySearch Library changed film numbers many years ago? Robert has a family group sheet with an old film number and it is very difficult to figure out the current film number. Many libraries switched away from the Dewey Decimal call numbers. | ||
Citations for published sources are pretty easy, so emerging genealogists often create them. The basic information is title, author, page numbers, and publication year. The two we sometimes forget are publisher and place of publication. Some books have different authors for each chapter and so the citation includes the name of the chapter and its author. | Citations for published sources are pretty easy, so emerging genealogists often create them. The basic information is title, author, page numbers, and publication year. The two we sometimes forget are publisher and place of publication. Some books have different authors for each chapter and so the citation includes the name of the chapter and its author. | ||
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For example, here’s a citation to the death certificate for Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States: | For example, here’s a citation to the death certificate for Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States: | ||
::1. “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976,” database and images, ''FamilySearch'' ( | ::1. “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976,” database and images, ''FamilySearch'' (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 August 2010), search for Lyndon Baines Johnson, died 1973; citing “Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics. Digital images of originals housed at the State Registrar Office in Austin, Texas.” | ||
== Level 5: Stellar == | == Level 5: Stellar == | ||
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The stellar genealogist understands all citation principles and can produce the highest of quality citations for the most extreme of circumstances. Consider this citation produced by the proficient genealogist: | The stellar genealogist understands all citation principles and can produce the highest of quality citations for the most extreme of circumstances. Consider this citation produced by the proficient genealogist: | ||
::2. “Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923,” database, ''FamilySearch'' ( | ::2. “Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923,” database, ''FamilySearch'' (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 27 September 2011), Emanuel Trepka Bloch, 1873; citing “Index includes the IGI, digital copies of original records, and compiled records. FS Library digital and microfilm copies. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah”; FS Library microfilm 300,491. | ||
The stellar genealogist’s version is: | The stellar genealogist’s version is: | ||
::3. “Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923,” database, ''FamilySearch'' (https://familysearch.org/ | ::3. “Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923,” database, ''FamilySearch'' (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1778463 accessed 27 September 2011), Emanuel Trepka Bloch, 1873; from Den Danske Folkekirke (København Helligånds sogn) [Danish National Church (Copenhagen, Denmark)], “Helligaands Kirkes Daabsprotokol [Holy Church Baptisms], 1872-1880,” p. 27, entry 76, Michael Trepka Bloch and twin Emanuel Trepka Bloch, 29 January 1873, Landsarkivet for Sjælland, København [Provincial Archives of Zealand, Copenhagen]; FS Library microfilm 300,491. | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
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