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We live in a day of collaboration. With tools such as the new FamilySearch Tree, it is more important than ever that we produce correct and verifiable genealogy. Properly utilizing information from a source is essential for producing correct genealogies. | We live in a day of collaboration. With tools such as the new FamilySearch Tree, it is more important than ever that we produce correct and verifiable genealogy. Properly utilizing information from a source is essential for producing correct genealogies. | ||
This class teaches industry best practices (the BCG Genealogical Proof Standard and associated Evidence Analysis Research Process ) established by the country’s foremost genealogists. From sources we find information. From information we select evidence. From evidence we make conclusions. Conclusions reference citations. Citations point back to sources. | This class teaches industry best practices (the BCG Genealogical Proof Standard and associated Evidence Analysis Research Process ) established by the country’s foremost genealogists. From ''sources'' we find ''information''. From ''information ''we select ''evidence''. From ''evidence ''we make ''conclusions''. ''Conclusions'' reference ''citations''. ''Citations ''point back to ''sources''. | ||
The Genealogical Proof Standard is a straight-forward means of producing genealogies that are verifiable and correct. In simple terms: | The Genealogical Proof Standard is a straight-forward means of producing genealogies that are verifiable and correct. In simple terms: | ||
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With experience, genealogists come to realize that not all information is created equal. Take for example the information on a death certificate. The information provided by the doctor about the date and cause of death tends to be factual and reliable. The accuracy of the information provided by the informant (named near the bottom of the certificate) depends on what he or she knew. Generally he knows the decedent’s name and address. He is almost as reliable with marriage status and a little less so with birth date. Accuracy drops successively for birth place, parents’ names, and parents’ birth place. | With experience, genealogists come to realize that not all information is created equal. Take for example the information on a death certificate. The information provided by the doctor about the date and cause of death tends to be factual and reliable. The accuracy of the information provided by the informant (named near the bottom of the certificate) depends on what he or she knew. Generally he knows the decedent’s name and address. He is almost as reliable with marriage status and a little less so with birth date. Accuracy drops successively for birth place, parents’ names, and parents’ birth place. | ||
This situation confuses the concept of primary and secondary sources. Is a death certificate a primary source or a secondary source? The information about birth and parents is second hand. It is secondary information. The information about death is primary information. While the concept of primary/secondary sources works well in other fields, it fails genealogists. Information, not sources, is primary or secondary. | This situation confuses the concept of primary and secondary sources. Is a death certificate a primary source or a secondary source? The information about birth and parents is second hand. It is secondary information. The information about death is primary information. While the concept of primary/secondary sources works well in other fields, it fails genealogists. ''Information, not sources, is primary or secondary.'' | ||
= Level 3: Practicing Genealogists = | = Level 3: Practicing Genealogists = | ||
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*Books: See recommended book list, below. | *Books: See recommended book list, below. | ||
*Online tutorials and guides: NGS and others are listed on the NARA website. | *Online tutorials and guides: FamilySearch, NGS and others are listed on the NARA website. | ||
*State and regional conferences: UGA, Family History Expos, and many more. | *State and regional conferences: UGA, Family History Expos, and many more. | ||
*National Conferences: NGS, FGS, and RootsTech. | *National Conferences: NGS, FGS, and RootsTech. | ||
*Intensive week-long study programs called genealogical institutes: SLIG (Salt Lake), British Institute (Salt Lake), NIGR (D.C.), IGHR (Alabama), and GRIP (Pittsburgh). | *Intensive week-long study programs called genealogical institutes: SLIG (Salt Lake), British Institute (Salt Lake), NIGR (D.C.), IGHR (Alabama), and GRIP (Pittsburgh). | ||
*Academic genealogical journals: NGSQ, NEHGS, etc. | *Academic genealogical journals: NGSQ, NEHGS, etc. | ||
*Society magazines. | |||
*At home university degrees or courses: BYU, Akamai University, GenealogicalStudies.com, Boston University, and IHGS. | *At home university degrees or courses: BYU, Akamai University, GenealogicalStudies.com, Boston University, and IHGS. | ||
= Summary = | = Summary = | ||
From sources we find information. From information we select evidence. From evidence we make conclusions. Conclusions reference citations. Citations point back to sources. | From ''sources ''we find ''information''. From ''information ''we select ''evidence''. From ''evidence ''we make ''conclusions''. ''Conclusions'' reference ''citations''. ''Citations'' point back to ''sources''. | ||
Information can be primary or secondary while sources are original or derivative. Information quality differs, depending on source type, informant knowledge, and elapsed time. Subtle bits of information are obtainable with a knowledge of history and the circumstances of record creation. | Information can be primary or secondary while sources are original or derivative. Information quality differs, depending on source type, informant knowledge, and elapsed time. Subtle bits of information are obtainable with a knowledge of history and the circumstances of record creation. | ||
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= Recommended Books = | = Recommended Books = | ||
*Greenwood, Val D. The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, 3rd edition. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990. In particular, see chapter 4. | *Greenwood, Val D. ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy'', 3rd edition. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990. In particular, see chapter 4. | ||
*Leary, Helen F. M., ed. North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local History. 2nd edition. Raleigh: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996. The first section is applicable to research anywhere. Because of the cost, I recommend this book only for those doing research in southern states. | *Leary, Helen F. M., ed. ''North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local History''. 2nd edition. Raleigh: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996. The first section is applicable to research anywhere. Because of the cost, I recommend this book only for those doing research in southern states. | ||
*Merriman, Brenda. Genealogical Standards of Evidence: A Guide for Family Historians. 3rd edition. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 2010. Lacks an index. | *Merriman, Brenda. ''Genealogical Standards of Evidence: A Guide for Family Historians''. 3rd edition. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 2010. Lacks an index. | ||
*Mills, Elizabeth Shown Mills. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Second edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009. To learn more about information, read the 26 pages of chapter 1. | *Mills, Elizabeth Shown Mills. ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace''. Second edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009. To learn more about information, read the 26 pages of chapter 1. | ||
*Rose, Christine. Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case. 3rd revised edition. San José, California: CR Publications, 2009. | *Rose, Christine. ''Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case''. 3rd revised edition. San José, California: CR Publications, 2009. | ||
*Rubincam, Milton. Pitfalls in Genealogical Research. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1987. | *Rubincam, Milton. ''Pitfalls in Genealogical Research''. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1987. | ||
*Stevenson, Noel C. Genealogical Evidence: A Guide to the Standard of Proof, revised edition. Laguna Hills : Aegean Park Press, 1989. Using legal terminology is outdated. | *Stevenson, Noel C. ''Genealogical Evidence: A Guide to the Standard of Proof'', revised edition. Laguna Hills : Aegean Park Press, 1989. Using legal terminology is outdated. | ||
[[Category:Genealogy_Education]] | [[Category:Genealogy_Education]] | ||