navigating research with the genealogical proof standard - july 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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:
Blog:
www.ThinkGenealogy.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/marktucker
Facebook:
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