73,385
edits
m
clean up
m (clean up) |
m (clean up) |
||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
== '''Relevance of the Record''' == | == '''Relevance of the Record''' == | ||
The first evaluation to make is whether the record pertains to the person or family being searched. For example, the christening record of a person with the right name about the right time may not be the person you are seeking. Be especially careful when dealing with common names in densely populated areas. Review other records of the locality to determine how common the name may have been in that place. | The first evaluation to make is whether the record pertains to the person or family being searched. For example, the christening record of a person with the right name about the right time may not be the person you are seeking. Be especially careful when dealing with common names in densely populated areas. Review other records of the locality to determine how common the name may have been in that place. | ||
== '''Category of the Record''' == | == '''Category of the Record''' == | ||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
Photographic copies, including microfilm, microfiche, digital, and photocopies are virtually as good as the actual document, although they may sometimes be hard to read. Be on watch for deliberate alterations. Any errors would be the fault of the person who made the record. | Photographic copies, including microfilm, microfiche, digital, and photocopies are virtually as good as the actual document, although they may sometimes be hard to read. Be on watch for deliberate alterations. Any errors would be the fault of the person who made the record. | ||
Copy error may be introduced in the document was transcribed, extracted, or abstracted. If such copies are printed or published, the researcher must also consider possible typographical errors. Generally the further removed the copy is from the actual document, the more errors are likely to have accumulated. See "[[Obtain and Search the Records#Formats of Records|Formats of Records]]."<br> | Copy error may be introduced in the document was transcribed, extracted, or abstracted. If such copies are printed or published, the researcher must also consider possible typographical errors. Generally the further removed the copy is from the actual document, the more errors are likely to have accumulated. See "[[Obtain and Search the Records#Formats of Records|Formats of Records]]."<br> | ||
== '''Nature of the Information''' == | == '''Nature of the Information''' == | ||
| Line 88: | Line 88: | ||
*''Trustworthiness''. Was the informant or recorder trustworthy? Did he have a reputation of careful accuracy or does he tend to exaggerate? Did she have the necessary knowledge to have recorded the information? Was the recorder disinterested, with no motivation to falsify the facts? | *''Trustworthiness''. Was the informant or recorder trustworthy? Did he have a reputation of careful accuracy or does he tend to exaggerate? Did she have the necessary knowledge to have recorded the information? Was the recorder disinterested, with no motivation to falsify the facts? | ||
*''Necessity''. If no other record is available, it may be necessary to accept unverified evidence, as long as it does not conflict with any proven record. | *''Necessity''. If no other record is available, it may be necessary to accept unverified evidence, as long as it does not conflict with any proven record. | ||
*''Origin''. Determine where the information originated. Was the information recorded before you began your search, before any controversy, or before it could be influenced by other information you have found? | *''Origin''. Determine where the information originated. Was the information recorded before you began your search, before any controversy, or before it could be influenced by other information you have found? | ||
== '''Directness of the Evidence''' == | == '''Directness of the Evidence''' == | ||
| Line 126: | Line 126: | ||
'''''Places.''''' Are the places named and clearly identified? Do place names match those given in other information about the family? Places of origin or foreign names may not have been recorded accurately. Names of cities may also be the names of states or counties, such as Hannover or York. Can you determine the jurisdictions for the places given? | '''''Places.''''' Are the places named and clearly identified? Do place names match those given in other information about the family? Places of origin or foreign names may not have been recorded accurately. Names of cities may also be the names of states or counties, such as Hannover or York. Can you determine the jurisdictions for the places given? | ||
'''''Relationships.''''' Does the document state relationships directly, or only suggest them? For example, some census records give the relationship of persons to the head of the household, while others only list all persons living in the home. Relationships may be inferred, but this leaves room for false assumptions. Relationship terms in past years often had different meanings from today, for example, in the 1800s, the father-in-law also meant step-father. | '''''Relationships.''''' Does the document state relationships directly, or only suggest them? For example, some census records give the relationship of persons to the head of the household, while others only list all persons living in the home. Relationships may be inferred, but this leaves room for false assumptions. Relationship terms in past years often had different meanings from today, for example, in the 1800s, the father-in-law also meant step-father. | ||
== '''Likelihood of Events''' == | == '''Likelihood of Events''' == | ||
| Line 163: | Line 163: | ||
For further suggestions about evaluating evidence see— | For further suggestions about evaluating evidence see— | ||
Mills, Elizabeth Shown. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1407003&disp=Evidence+explained%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace'']. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007. (FHL book 929.1 M625ee) | Mills, Elizabeth Shown. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1407003&disp=Evidence+explained%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace'']. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007. (FHL book 929.1 M625ee) | ||
=== '''''Genealogical Proof Standard''''' === | === '''''Genealogical Proof Standard''''' === | ||
| Line 485: | Line 485: | ||
Epstein, Ellen Robinson and Rona Mendelsohn. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=457053&disp=Record+and+remember%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''Record and Remember: Tracing Your Roots Through Oral History'']. New York: Monarch, 1978. (FHL book 929.1 Ep85r) | Epstein, Ellen Robinson and Rona Mendelsohn. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=457053&disp=Record+and+remember%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''Record and Remember: Tracing Your Roots Through Oral History'']. New York: Monarch, 1978. (FHL book 929.1 Ep85r) | ||
<br> [[Principles of Family History Research|''Return to start of the whole article'']] <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | <br> [[Principles of Family History Research|''Return to start of the whole article'']] <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
<!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
[[Category:Beginners]] | [[Category:Beginners]] | ||