Keep track of everything piece of information,
including where you did not find any information. Documenting your sources is important in verifying
that your data is correct and it will also assist to prevent the duplication of
research.
Types of sources:
Derivative vs. Original:
Original are records that have contributed to written, oral, and visual
information. Derivative are copies,
abstracted, transcribe, or summarized from other existing sources.
When documenting your
sources include the following information:
- Author: the person or organization that authored the book, provided an interview, wrote the letter, confirmed the records for example who issued the birth, death, marriage records.
- Publication details is the place of publication, name of a publisher, date of publication. Include volume, issue, page numbers, series, roll and microfilm numbers.
- Location of where was your source found and include web site name, urls, cemetery names, any physical place that the documentation was found.
- Be specific on page and entry numbers, include dates, etc.
Suggested Sources For Documenting Recent
Generations include:
Birth
Completed Birth
Certificate
|
Birth Record
|
Delayed Birth
Certificate
|
Baptismal
Certificate/Record
|
Church Records
|
Newspaper Announcement
|
Census - State -
Federal - School
|
School Records
|
Social Security
Applications
|
Hospital Certificate/Record
|
Passport Application
|
Baby Book
|
Doctor and Midwife
Records
|
Work Permit
Application
|
Marriage
Complete Marriage
Record
|
Marriage
Certificate/Record
|
Marriage Bond
|
Published Marriage
Bans
|
Newspaper Announcement
|
Divorce Record
|
Engraved Article
(Caution)
|
Tombstones
|
Death
Complete Death Record
|
Delayed Death
Certificate
|
Tombstone/Cemetery
Record
|
Church Notice
|
Commercial Cemetery
record
|
Obituary
|
Mourning Cards
|
Professional
Organizations
|
Funeral Home Records
|
Fraternal Organization
Records
|
Coffin Sales & Burial
Permits
|
Insurance Policy
|
Classic Sources
Census - Federal &
State
|
Probate Records
|
Land Record
|
Bible & Family
Records
|
Military & Pension
Records
|
Church Registers &
Records
|
Tax Records
|
Encounters With The
Law
|
Contemporary Sources
Employment Record - Private,
Industry
|
Telegrams
|
Church Personnel
|
Resume (Use Caution)
|
Mortgage or Loan
Applications
|
Passport & Visa
Applications
|
Business/Trade License
Applications
|
Cemetery Associations
|
Letters from Town
Clerks and Town Historians
|
Institutional (Orphanage,
Prison, Police)
|
Problem Areas
Certificate of Failure
to Locate Records
|
Sworn Statement &
Affidavits
|
Records in Foreign
Language
|
Unreadable Records
|
Regarding VITAL RECORDS:
Obtain a copy of the
pamphlet,
"Where to Write For
Vital Records in the United States"
Publications.usa.gov at
http://publications.usa.gov/
Most of the State vital
records (except New England) begin about 1900.
Documenting your research leads to properly
citing all your sources and leave a big trail for others to follow or not. Keep Research logs and properly document all
sources. For more information on documenting your family history, please
contact me.
Copyright (c) 2014
