Sources and References [2 of 8]
FAMILY HISTORY
Sources and References are essential to family history research but ... are they Accurate, Authentic and Appropriate?
Sources and References
Sources and references are essential for any family history research, as they provide evidence and credibility for the information we find about our ancestors. Citing sources correctly helps us to avoid repeating searches, plagiarism, and errors. It also enables us to find the information again, share it with others, and compare it with other sources. Ideally, we should cite sources for every event or fact we add to our family trees, using a consistent and clear format. Some online programs, such as Ancestry Family Trees, can automatically add sources when we save a record to our tree. It may be useful to think of our sources and references using this mnemonic: the 3 A's.
Appropriate: Appropriate sources and references are those that are relevant, credible and current for the topic and purpose of the writing. They should match the expectations of the audience and the discipline.
Authentic: Authentic sources and references are vital for verifying and validating the information we discover about our ancestors. Using authentic sources means consulting the original records or reliable copies, rather than secondary or derivative sources that may contain errors or omissions. Citing authentic sources helps us to evaluate the quality and reliability of the evidence, as well as to identify any conflicts or discrepancies. Additionally, citing authentic sources allows us to trace our research process, share our findings with others, and acknowledge the work of previous researchers. Authentic sources and references, then, are those that are original, trustworthy and unbiased. They should reflect the author's own ideas, opinions and research, and acknowledge the sources of information and inspiration.
Accurate: Accurate sources and references are crucial for establishing and supporting the information we uncover about our ancestors. Citing accurate sources helps us to assess the quality and reliability of the evidence, as well as to resolve any conflicts or inconsistencies. Accurate sources and references are those that are correct, precise and consistent. They should provide factual and verifiable information, and follow the rules of citation and formatting.
Furthermore, sources can be either primary or secondary. Primary sources are the most important sources of information when researching family history. These are documents that were created at the time of the event, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, census records, wills, and land records. They provide us with a direct link to our ancestors and can provide us with a wealth of information about their lives.
Secondary sources are also important when researching family history. These are documents that were created after the event and provide us with information that is not available in primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include newspaper articles, family histories, books, and oral histories. Even when some family members are present at events their memories and interpretations can fade over time. These “facts” must be checked and verified at every step wherever possible.
References can also be useful when researching family history. References are documents that provide us with information about the people, places, and events that are mentioned in the primary and secondary sources. References can also help to provide us with further information about our ancestors and their lives. Effectively, the social history surrounding our ancestor’s life and times. They also provide us with evidence to back up our findings and help us to verify that the information we have found is accurate. If for no other reason, keeping a note of which sources you have been to, when, what did you find there … might save valuable time later and prevent you repeating yourself.