13. Sourcing

 

Source, Source, Source.  Almost all new genealogists make the same mistake and regret it later: They don't record their sources.

It's critically important to record where information comes from.  It could be an online source; it could be from a certificate you have in your hand; it could be from a family bible or it could be information from a living person. 

If your aunt tells you your grandfather's birth date, don't just record the date. Record that your aunt told you the date.

Even better, ask your aunt how she knows his birth date and record her answer. It might sound silly, asking your aunt how she knows her own father's birth date. She may tell you she's always known it. But sometimes the day that a family celebrates isn't the birthday that's recorded on official documents.

The best thing would be to ask your aunt if she has any documents that show your grandfather's birthdate. Ideally, you should make a copy of them. (Making a copy can be as easy as taking a picture with your phone!)

When someone tells you a date, it's considered second-hand or derivative information. That doesn't mean it isn't true. It's just slightly less reliable than primary or original sources.

We know this might sound overly formal. You might just be a casual family historian, not a genealogical scholar.  But like we said, most genealogists end up regretting that they didn't record their sources when they were first getting started. 

If you use online sites to store your family tree information, like WikiTree, it's a requirement that you record your sources.

And, yes, there are formal definitions of what constitutes an acceptable source statement.  Ask your good friend, Google, to give you the details.

 

Ron Gilmore

Email:         rvg3@me.com

Website:     https://www.rgenealogy.ca