navigating research with the genealogical proof standard - july 2009

Navigating Research with the GPS

Mark Tuckerwww.ThinkGenealogy.com

Introductions

• Professional, CG, AG

• Employees

• FamilySearch

• Genealogy Software/Service

• ThinkGenealogy readers

• GPS Steps

• Own Evidence! Or Evidence Explained

• Want to do professional quality research

You:Me:

Agenda

• 5 Steps of the Genealogical Proof Standard

• Worth Tucker Case Study

• Genealogy Research Process Map

1930 19501940

Genealogy as Pastime and ProfessionDonald Lines Jacobus

Brief Timeline

American Society of Genealogists founded(FASG)

1960 19801970

Cite Your Sources Richard S. Lackey

Genealogical Evidence Noel C. StevensonThe Genealogical Helper citation article,

Gary B. & Elizabeth Shown Mills

POE

BCG founded(CG, CGL)

Evidence! Mills

2007

Evidence Explained Mills

2000

The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual BCG

Professional Genealogy ed. Mills

1990 1997POE Genealogical Proof Standard

Where do I start?

What should I research?

Birth?

Marriage?

Death?

Military Service?

Land Ownership?

Parents?

North Carolina?

Ashe County?

Yadkin County? 1869?

1870?

Lost?

1

• Create before research begins• Identify: Principal Person Objective Known information Research Strategy

• “Game plan”

• Keeps us focused on our goal• Tracks the sources searched• Records information found & not found• Our long-term “memory”

Research Plan

Research Log

Research Plan

Principal Person: Worth Tucker

Objective: What is Worth Tucker’s birth date and place?

Known Information

Known Information:

Source InformationInformant /Relationship

Pedigree Chart

AND

Family Group Sheet –Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Worth - son of Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar.Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. CarolinaMarried: Florence Abby Pulsipher on 22 May 1895Died: 5 Nov 1927 at Livingston, Montana

Kirtley E. Tucker – sonof Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Known Information … cont.

Source InformationInformant /Relationship

Family Group Sheet –Moses Tucker & Mary Jane Dollar

Worth - son of Moses Tucker and Mary Jane DollarBorn: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. C.Married: Florence Abby Pulsipher on 22 May 1894Died: 5 Nov 1927

Andrew Mason Tucker – son of Moses Tucker and Emeline Dollar.

Half brother of Worth (20 years younger)

Research Strategy Help

• FamilySearch.org –Research Guidance by location

–Research Outlines

• Genealogy Software

• Personal Experience

• Visit a Family History Center

• Join a Genealogy Society

• Hire a Professional

Research Guidance: www.FamilySearch.org

Family History Library Catalog: Place Search

Research Strategy

…

1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File

2. Census Population Schedules: North Carolina - 1870, 1880; Utah - 1900, 1910, 1920

3. Tombstone and Sexton Records: Grave Marker

15. Death Record: Death certificate16. Birth Record: Birth certificate

Research Log

Date Location Record/Source Results Doc7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History:

Pedigree ChartBorn: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe

Co. N. Carolina

1

7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Family Group Sheet –Moses Tucker & Mary Jane Dollar

Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. C.

2

7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Family Group Sheet –Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. North Carolina

3

Follow Plan

Find Source

Update Log

Work the Plan

1

Research Plan

3

Research Log

2

Research Plan

1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History,

Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File

1

2

Research Log

Date Location Record/Source Results Doc7/5/2008 www.family

search.orgAncestral File v4.19

Worth TuckerIndividual Record

Born: 30 Nov 1870 Yadkin

Co., Nc

4

3

Research Plan

1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History,

Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File

1

2

Research Log

Date Location Record/Source Results Doc7/5/2008 www.family

search.orgIGI v5.0No source information

Born: 1870, Ashe,

North Carolina

5

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org

IGI v5.0Film Number: 457622

Born: 30 Nov 1870,

Ashe, North Carolina

6

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org

IGI v5.0Source Call No.: 035126Record of members …

Born: 30 Nov 1870,

Creston, Ashe, North

Carolina

7

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org

IGI v5.0Film Number: 1239624

Born: 30 Nov 1870, Of, ,

Ashe, North Carolina

8

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org

IGI v5.0Film Number: 170485

Born: 30 Nov 1870,

Ashe, North Carolina

9

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org

IGI v5.0Film Number: 170490

Born: 30 Nov 1870,

Ashe, North Carolina

10

3

Research Plan

1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History,

Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File

1

2

Research LogDate Location Source Results Doc7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File

Disc #89…Born: 1870, North Carolina 11

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #129…

Born: 30 Nov 1870, Yadkin,

North Carolina

12

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #117…

Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe,

North Carolina

13

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #13…

Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, NC 14

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #130…

Born: 1870, NC 15

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #101…

Born: 1870, NC 16

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #127…

Born: 1870, NC 17

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #134…

Born: 30 Nov 1870, North

Fork, Ashe, North Carolina

18

7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource FileDisc #135…

30 Nov 1870, Yadkin Co., NC 19

3

Research Plan

1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File

2. Census Population Schedules: North Carolina - 1870, 1880 ; Utah - 1900, 1910, 1920

…

Do I really need to search any more?

2

“We conduct a reasonably exhaustive search in reliable sources for all information that is or may be pertinentto the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question.”

First oral or written formFrom that already written or spoken

Tracking of each representation of a source back to the original.

Original ← D1 ← D2 ← D3

D? → … → Original

Why Source Provenance?B

ette

r

O

D

O

D

D

Independent Origin

DDDDD

O

D

D

Census

Enumerator

MicrofilmCopy

DigitalCopy

Printout

Provenance Example

Original Derivative 1 Derivative 2 Derivative 3

Genealogist

Research Analysis

Research Plan Research Log

Identify: Original or Derivative

Research Analysis

Source Type Doc

Pedigree Chart Derivative 1

Family Group Sheet Derivative 2,3

Ancestral File Derivative 4

IGI Derivative 5-10

Pedigree Resource File Derivative 11-19

Source Analysis:

Do I need to keep track of more than the information that I find?

3

“We collect and include in our compilation a complete, accurate citation to the source or sources of each item of information we use.”

• Credibility to our research• Confidence in other’s research• Aids during analysis

Source Citation Guides:

• Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian

• Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace

By Elizabeth Shown Mills CG, CGL, FASG

Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.

Why special citation guidelines?

Citation Model

Source: Evidence Explained, pg 320 (also 346-350)

Derivatives: Church Records Database, Online

Source Citations

Source Doc

Kirtley E. Tucker, Kirtley Elwood Tucker Pedigree Chart, Some Tucker History; supplied by Kirtley E. Tucker, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Kaysville, Utah, abt. 1977.

1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "International Genealogical Index," database, FamilySearch(http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record.

7

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record.

11

Should there be one standard set of citation guidelines?

Online Source Citation Confusion

FamilySearch

Ancestry

Evidence Explained

How do I analyze all this information?

4

“We analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence.”

Duplicate Original(Counterparts)

Record Copy(Clerk’s copy)

Image Copy

Transcript

Extract

Abstract

Firsthand•Participant•Eyewitness

Secondhand•Non-Participant

Completely answers goal

Partially answers

Absence of information

3 Common Derivatives

Transcript

1

Extract

2

Abstract

3

Source

Image Copy

Original or Derivative

Original

Record Copy (Clerk’s copy)

Register

Legal copy made by an official

Clerk

Informant

Duplicate Originals

Counterpart

3Enumerator

Fed Copy

Local Copy

Census

1Grantor Grantee

Deed

2

CensusOriginal

Enumerator

Derivatives used as Originals

CensusFed Copy

DuplicateOriginal

MicrofilmCopy

ImageCopy

Original or treat as original

Derivative

DigitalCopy

ImageCopy

Printout

ImageCopy

SearchIndex

Similar to an Abstract

Extract

Who can provide primary information of Worth’s birth?

Information & Evidence Analysis

Doc Information Informant

1 Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. Carolina

Kirtley E. Tucker – son of

Worth Tucker & Florence

Abby Pulsipher

Information & Evidence Analysis:

…

Information(Primary, Secondary)

Evidence(Direct, Indirect, Negative)

Secondary Direct

Information & Evidence Analysis:

…

From Research Plan

• International Genealogical Index (IGI)

• US Federal Census: Population Schedules

–North Carolina: 1870, 1880

–Utah: 1900, 1910, 1920

• Grave Marker

• Death Certificate

• Marriage License

• Birth Certificate

IGI Sources

1. Sealings of children to parents, 1893-1942; heir indexes, 1893-1942. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, of Ashe, North Carolina

2. Sealings for the dead: couples and children, 1943-1970; heir indexes 1943-1965. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

IGI Sources… cont.

3. Record of members, 1886-1912. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Díaz Ward (Chihuahua, Mexico) 30 Nov 1870, Creston, Ashe, North Carolina

4. Endowments of the living, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

5. Sealings of living couples, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

US Federal Census: FHL microfilm

Nov 1869, age 30

1900

calc. 1870, age 39

1910

Grave Marker: www.findagrave.com

Nov 30, 1870

Death Certificate

November 12th. 1872

North Carolina

Primary vs. Secondary Information

Marriage License

Age 24 on 15 May 1895

Born:calc. 1870

Birth Certificate

County Date Formed BirthParent MarriageCounty/ies Death

Ashe 1799 1913Wilkes 1828

1913

Research Completed

• 15 Sources–8 Originals (image copies), 6 Derivatives,

1 not found

–3 databases, 16 records

• Information–0 Primary, 27 Secondary

• Evidence–15 Direct, 11 Indirect, 1 Negative

• 4 Conflicts

What do I do about conflicts?

5

“We resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed (hypothetical) solution to the question.”

Compare weights

Usually:

• Sources: Original > Derivatives• Information: Primary > Secondary• Evidence: Indirect >= Direct

All conflicts must be resolved.

Even primary information from an original source can be wrong.

Resolve Conflicts

Conflict Resolution

12 Nov 1872 Grieving son was informant.

1869 or 1870 Calculated dates either 1869 or 1870. Worth

not in June 1870 Census. Unknown informant

for 1900 Census which stated 1869.

Ashe or Yadkin Family in Ashe Co. in 1870 & 1880. IGI lists

Ashe. Yadkin 50 miles away.

Creston, North Fork, or Laurel

Family in Laurel in 1870 & 1880. Each place

within 5 miles of each other.

Conflicting Evidence:

Am I done yet?

6

“We arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.”

Includes:

• Problem/Goal• Known sources with citations• Evidence and analysis• Conflicting evidence• Main points• Conclusion

There is no such thing as a finalconclusion.

New information can support, question, or disprove your current conclusion.

Written Conclusion (Proof Argument)

Conclusion:

Worth Tucker was born Nov 1870 (possibly on the 30th) in Ashe County, North Carolina. The exact location is likely Laurel Township where his parents (Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar) were living in 1870 & 1880. Other locations within a 5 mile area that are also mentioned are Creston and North Fork.

Next Steps

• Search church records in NC

• Search local newspapers in NC

• Review microfilm for IGI records

• Read Worth’s journal (1903-1907)

Why?

Conclusions are never final.

SOURCES provide INFORMATIONfrom which we select EVIDENCE for ANALYSIS. A sound CONCLUSIONmay then be considered “PROOF.”

- Elizabeth Shown Mills

Desktop References

Genealogy Research Process Map

www.thinkgenealogy.com/map

Questions?Mail:

mail@ThinkGenealogy.com

Blog:

www.ThinkGenealogy.com

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/marktucker

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/marktucker1