Cite those sources great examples that show you how. May 01, 2018 think back to your college and high school days, when every research paper you wrote required properly cited sources. Online genealogy sites usually have multiple databases. This is easily accomplished by using genealogy software. You typed the code into your computer, which was a common way of publishing software in the early days. In practice, most of us cite our sources with different degrees of formality. Most genealogy source and citation information does not. Your software might even use those details to generate a formal source citation. The dangers of being careless on citing resources in your. To me this is a no brainer, as i made the decision early on in my research to document all my sources and how they should look when i created a narrative report, so if i had to go back and. I try to follow the documentation guidelines outlined in elizabeth shown mills book, evidence. Dig deep into your familys history using these applications and websites. When a sculptor is commissioned to create a piece of art, the artists efforts are conveyed via the finished statue. When evaluating and documenting the sources used to establish your family genealogy connections, it is important to understand the different types of sources.
Secondary sources a primary source is a record that was created at the time of a event by a person who had reasonably close knowledge of the event. Aug 25, 2017 a source is wherever you get your information. In the add source window, click more to select a template. Although errors can be made when scanning documents as so many genealogical sources are, the actual format of the document is not important to cite e. Besides citing your sources during your research it is also important to cite any sources if you are publishing your very own family history book. Rootsmagic 7 best overall desktopbased family tree software and most used by professional genealogists. How to cite your sources in genealogy the best way to go about citing your sources is to write down what youve found as you find it. Oct 20, 2017 when i started on my genealogy over 40 years ago, i was a name collector and i didnt cite my sources nor did i understand the value of citing sources. For many of us, it was a painfully tedious process. How to cite genealogy sources accurately and effectively, taught by charlotte bocage and available for the november session starting nov. How to create source citations for genealogy research. Software source citations made easy family tree magazine. In fact, in the genealogy world source citations are an important part of the research process as you discover your ancestors.
You may remember writing papers in school that required a list of sources such as a bibliography, footnotes or endnotes. Mills demonstrates, the standards for citation, evidence analysis, and proof. Citing an online database like, or with just the title of the web page is not a sufficient source citation. For example, a marriage license may also divulge birth information and should be cited for both the marriage and the birth. Citing genealogical sources for your family history shouldnt require a degree in rocket science or entail spending every waking moment trying to determine exactly how to document your materials. Genealogical software has a builtin style, some more useful than others.
In or any other software you are using you should cite the sources of all facts and information that you enter into profiles on your family tree. Each genealogy program has its own system for citing sources. In addition, this guide contains over 25 of the most used source citation formats for genealogists. The information you enter is correctly and precisely formatted to match the genealogy.
She sent me this question about how to name sources in rootsmagic. I personally want the citation details on my notes, regardless of where else they may appear. The specific steps vary depending on your program, but most let you create a master source that includes a title, author and publication information, as well as the source s locationwhether its a library, courthouse or your personal filesand a specific call number or web site address. Genealogy software programs rootsmagic, legacy, ancestral quest, paf and others have options that allow you to not only cite your sources but the program formats them for you. How to name sources in rootsmagic 7 genealogy gems. I have written my own book, albeit just printed out and bound for my family, not published, and i have put in citations where appropriate. A manual for documenting family histories and genealogical records lackey, richard s. This is easily accomplished by using genealogy software such as rootsmagic. Most genealogy software and family tree sites let you type in source details and attach digitized records to facts and events in your tree. Jul 14, 2014 one thing that genealogists need to do is to always cite their sources. It can be easy to accidentally put a source on the wrong fact. Jan 30, 2019 i spent 40 hours researching and testing genealogy software to find out which program is the best. By citing your sources you can effectively see what you have researched and what you have missed.
Examples of genealogical source citations national institute. The citing your sources legacy quickguide contains valuable information so you can understand the components of source citations and start tracking your genealogy research in a uniform manner. Keeping track of your source information and citations is the other half of the battle. Genealogy source citations quick reference basic concepts a source is the record used in locating information. Above are links to different examples of how i document my sources using legacy 9.
Referring to the provenance of the record, original sources are records that contribute written, oral, or visual information not derived copied, abstracted. Say goodbye to uncertainty about citation templates and formats. So, once youve entered that census record as a source for greatgrandpas birthplace, it only takes a few clicks of the mouse to add it as a source. Link each source citation to the events it documents. Taking time to document your findings, will bring credibility to your work, and save you hours of reresearching. Sourcewriter is a template driven sourcing system that makes it easy for you to select the correct input screen so that you enter all the pieces needed to correctly cite any source of information in the thousands of formats that exist for them. A citation is the link that connects a source to our conclusion.
Cite your sources source footnotes genealogy familysearch. Sources and citations made simple, standard, and powerful. As you enter source citation information, your genealogy software automatically formats it to create three types of references used in written family histories and reports. Be careful when citing your sources, especially on genealogy family tree software programs. The family tree university course source documentation. A source is any material book, document, record, or periodical, for example that provides information for your genealogy research. For standard genealogy programs such as gramps, my recommendation is to cite i. Learn how to link your citations to your paper and digital records.
Citing sources eastmans online genealogy newsletter. While youre researching, just make it a point to write down what record you are using. A footnote is a reference system using numbers or special characters to alert the reader to a source citation at the bottom of the page. A citation is a notation that connects the source to your research and supports any conclusions made. Where to cite sources person, family, or facts discussion. While there are many opinions out there as to the correct way to cite various kinds of sources e. Detail information on citing sources basic source system. Keeping track of sources helps you remember where you discovered the information and helps other researchers retrace your steps. Cite the census source for each member of the family listed. Facebook has a genealogy site called cite your sources and i think you will find this answered there, also. This handy 5page pdf guide can be used on your computer or mobile device for. Your genealogy computer program should have a way to add your sources. Sourcewriter makes it simple for you to select the correct input screen so that you enter all the pieces needed to correctly cite any source of information in the thousands of formats that exist for them.
Geoff rasmussen has volunteered to give several examples of how he would enter varying types of sources with legacy. Simple citations was created for use with rootmagic as that was the first program that introduced templates for citing genealogical sources. Apr 09, 2016 helen recently transitioned from mac family tree 7 to rootsmagic 7. Well show you how the current versions of three popular desktop genealogy programsfamily tree maker, legacy family tree and rootsmagiccan turn the sometimesscary task of source citation into a satisfying one instead. Mar 03, 2015 the best genealogy software and services. The blank 1940 census form may be found by clicking here. Discussion of proper source citations in genealogy research. Referring to the provenance of the record, original sources are records that contribute written, oral, or visual information not derived copied, abstracted, transcribed, or summarized from another written or oral record. Many genealogy software programs offer source citation templates which create footnotes or endnotes in printed charts and forms. Genealogy software programs like family tree maker allow you to enter source information once, and then apply it to multiple records as necessary. Throughout that week, i consulted with genealogy experts, built my own family tree back five generations, created family trees based on fictional characters, and learned a lot about irish kings and u. Its been many months since i first decided that i wanted to manually transfer my sources from to my genealogy program of choice, legacy family tree.
This not only makes your work look sloppy and unprofessional to other researchers, but it can also be confusing for you when you look at your research later. What genealogy software programs can use simple citations. I would write down names, dates, places, and perhaps a bit more information that. If you share your file with relatives who use genealogy software, they wont need to reenter all your sources. Is the citation clear enough that they can understand the merit of the source being cited. Referring to the provenance of the record, original sources are records that contribute written, oral, or visual information not derived copied, abstracted, transcribed, or summarized from another. These samples have been put together using legacys basic style of sources. Examples of genealogical source citations national. Also called a source list entry, this is information about the source itself.
I stripped out all sources from my old file before exporting the gedcom because i wanted to start fresh with a consistent system in rootsmagic 7. Why citing sources is crucial in genealogy and how to do it. I well remember my early days of family tree searches. Version 7 of legacy heralds the introduction of sourcewriter. Whether you are new to citing sources or you just need a refresher, ive created an easytouse guide at legacy family tree entitled citing your sources. Once youve found a record, book, person, web page, artifact, or any source, make sure you document where you found it. Finding the correct source for information about your ancestor can require timeconsuming research. It was written in microsoft basic for the trs80 by radio shack. Why ancestry and familysearch arent sources amy johnson crow. Sourcewriter cite your sources easily and correctly with the new sourcewriter. In this webinar, geoff rasmussen will 1 explain what makes a good citation, 2 demonstrate how to properly and consistently record the citation, and 3 provide insider tips and tricks for using legacy family trees sourcewriter. When i first started my transferring, family tree maker was still actively supporting transfers of information from to their program and now rootsmagic has introduced support. To allow others to check your facts and perhaps learn from you to let others know enough about the sources so they could find and use the same information to help you find your sources if you need to look at them again to credit others whom you might quote where and when do you cite your sources. Discover the differences between sources and citations.
The legacy sourcewriter style helps you so you dont have to remember all these different. I created simple citations for my own use because all of the existing approaches require too much work, are fraught with ambiguities, and are far. Do a search on genealogy source documentation and you will come up with a long list. Sound genealogy research is built on a variety of sources. One of the most essential elements of a genealogy research report are accurate citations. Easier source citation with your genealogy software. While youre visiting, be sure to visit the rest of this site and find out how easy it is to cite your sources. The same basic process can be used for genealogy research. A manual for documenting family histories and genealogical records was published.
Luckily, genealogy software makes it easy to record your sources. Rootsmagic is the awardwinning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy. After selecting a fact, click the downarrow beside new under the sources tab, and select add new source citation. Luckily for us, citing your sources does not have to be a difficult task. Generate works cited pages, bibliographies and more in mla, apa, chicago and various other formats. The sources for all the information you gather for individuals and marriages should be properly documented. Different sources or media format may require different arrangements.
Sources, citations and documentation with rootsmagic 00. Mar 31, 2019 when evaluating and documenting the sources used to establish your family tree connections, it is important to understand the different types of sources. Your records should be detailed enough so that any other person in the future could. Some people or archival institutions prefer the description to begin with the broadest elements, narrowing to the specific. This not only makes your work look sloppy and unprofessional to other researchers, but it can also be confusing for you when you look at your. Whether youre a beginner or an experienced professional, rootsmagic is the perfect tool for you compare our features with any other genealogy software, or better yet, download our free version and take it for a spin. That, of course, was a major step for users wishing to cite sources consistently. Simplifying genealogy sources and citations helps you cite your research so you always know where you found your genealogy records. If genealogy without documentation is mythology, recording our citations is essential to sound genealogical research. Then you can create a source once and then cite it as needed, avoiding duplication. Lets take a closer look at what genealogy software can do for your research. One of the purposes of this quicksheet is to show how to cite sources in compiling a genealogy using dna analysis. Mar 03, 2015 the best genealogy software and services for 2015. If youre using an online service like familysearch or ancestry, your work is mostly done for you as you can attach source documents directly to an individuals record.
After completing the course, you will be able to safely and confidently record sources, citations, and quality in your genealogy software without having to consult a book or quick sheet. This is the basic and most accepted guide for documenting sources in genealogy. If you keep records in digital form, you can include a source number in each file name and keep a spreadsheet of the corresponding source citations. Cite your sources source footnotes examples of genealogical source citations national institute. A manual for documenting family histories and genealogical records. Before we get into the details of how to cite sources, lets take a brief look at genealogy. But first, heres a quick summary of the best genealogy software. It could be the conversation you had with your aunt betty.
This lets you record each source once and cite it unlimited times. The new legacy sourcewriter will help you prepare properly formatted sources regardless of your expertise. In this way, you and those who come after you from your own descendants to fellow researchers will have an easier time following your. When evaluating and documenting the sources used to establish your family tree connections, it is important to understand the different types of sources. Sources, citations and documentation with rootsmagic. I would record new information into threering notebooks. You should be able to answer affirmatively without hesitation. This was long before the invention of the personal computer. Census, this site has been updated and a blank form is being provided that may be used for transcribing your ancestors information. You could collaborate with a genealogy friend in drafting your basic citations, or ask a respected professional to critique your style. One of our genealogists shows how to properly cite your sources. Some sources are given greater weight than others, and comparing sources is part of genealogical study. Citing genetic sources for history research evidence. Simplifying genealogy sources and citations sassy jane.
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