Saturday, March 17, 2012

A Stickler for Sources

A serious genealogist always wants to record the source of data discovered during a search. Unsubstantiated details don't belong in a well researched family history. For that matter, the larger genealogy community does not benefit from errors that can't be traced to source documents.

You should strive to be as dedicated to properly identifying your sources as you are to finding the deepest roots of your family tree. Here are some sites you can use to support or develop your list of sources:

Genealogy.com
North Carolina Museum of History
Olive Tree Genealogy
SteveMorse.org

When you post genealogy information online, you should always cite your sources. By doing so, you build credibility for your efforts and prevent the propagation of false data. When other researchers locate your family tree, they can rest assured that you didn't introduce unsubstantiated guess-work into your project. Doubtful information can be included, but it should be noted as such.

Hopefully, you will always encounter equally verifiable information. Either way, happy hunting!

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