Imagine one day you DIE and five generations pass before a researcher
comes along in your family and finds a copy of your work. Think how
elated this person is to realize that you have dug so deeply into your
roots and have given her/him such a good foundation to continue the
work. BUT, BUT, BUT then imagine how that researcher would feel if while
searching through your work they found absolutely no references to where
you found your work. No film numbers, no dates, no nothing.
I would like to say that everyone in this group needs to take a serious
look at their work and ask the question, "If I die right now will
someone be able to understand where I found what I've found and be able
to carry on the work?"
It makes no sense to keep going with your work if you are not putting
references together with your findings.
Now I'm not saying I'm perfect but with each record I find this is the
information I include and I would suggest you do at least the same:
1) Film Number
2) Volume Number
3) Page Number (where available)
4) Records Number (where available)
5) Date of Record
here is what it looks like:
AntonioDeNicolasLopezAlbinaPerez1158200v20p256_1355.JPG
something to think about,
joseph
ps: Also with Oral History sometimes we just collect the names of
relatives. It would be great to list as a reference: 1) the name of the
relative that gave you the information 2) the date of the interview
pps: What other references do you all add to your records? I'm sure I
haven't included all that is possible.
References: A Must!
I totally agree with you Joseph. I was lucky to have gotten in that habit early on in my research and it has saved me a lot of re-work on multiple occasions. Once I found I had a death date for an ancestress that preceeded the birth of the children. I thought to myself; "What was I thinking?". I looked at the source I cited and realized it was the marriage date and I had simply typed in the date in the wrong box. Without knowing where I got the information I might've just deleted that date and gone back to square one or gone through my prints trying to find the original record. I have also found it's a good way to keep track of what records you've already looked through.
Maria
References: A Must!
When I got the information from a film,in the source I add a few more
details,
1. Name of the library or Archives (example Family History Library).
Film number and name of the film (Example 1891 matrimonios de castas)
in the citation, I add the item number if applicable.
There is a good book on the subject, very easy and inexpensive
CITE YOUR SOURCES
By Richard S. Lackey
It is a small book with lots of examples.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0878052860/ref=ase_markcy…
Saludos
susana
I would add Item number if applicable to your sources
References: A Must!
The Genealogy Guys did a podcast, back in November. Where they talked,
about the importance of and how to cite your sources. Especially, the basic
questions, that need to be answered, when doing so. They also suggest some
excellent books.
Here is the link, to that podcast:
http://www.genealogyguys.com/index.php?post_id=33482
Mexican FHR (aka Jonathan)