![\"Family-History-Through-the-Alphabet\"](\"http:\/\/lh4.ggpht.com\/-gMEcWo6ji0A\/US6hq0O6LGI\/AAAAAAAAIOw\/njIV08LbL5I\/Family-History-Through-the-Alphabet5.jpg?imgmax=800\" "\\"Family-History-Through-the-Alphabet\\"")
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For 26 weeks I will take you on a family history journey through the alphabet, one letter at a time.\u00a0 I have decided that each post will be educational in nature, focusing on topics related to resources, methodology, tools, etc.\u00a0 Although the challenge is complete, there are still some people who are finishing up and Alona, the host, is encouraging others to participate anyway.\u00a0 Additional information on the challenge, can be found at Take the \u2018Family History Through the Alphabet\u2019 Challenge<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n The legal-based principles didn\u2019t really address all the needs or varying scenarios for genealogy research.\u00a0 Realizing this as an issue, and in order to give genealogical research the proper scholarly footing it deserves, expert genealogists essentially got together and developed a set of \u201cuniform standards\u201d that are \u201cgenerally accepted\u201d for conducting sound genealogical research.1<\/sup>\u00a0 These standards are thoroughly documented in The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One result of the development of these standards was the differentiating between a source and the information it provides.\u00a0 It further goes onto define evidence and how all of these components figure into properly evaluating and analyzing all of the data we accumulate to answer a research question.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Shown Mills puts it best by defining the basic concept of the evidence analysis process as: \u201cSources<\/em> give us information<\/em> from which we select evidence<\/em> for analysis<\/em>. A sound conclusion may be considered proof<\/em>.\u201d2<\/sup><\/p>\n The terms source, information, and evidence, are further broken down into types, and are thoroughly defined in both the Standards Manual<\/em>.<\/p>\n Yet I constantly see these terms misused or improperly defined.\u00a0 This only confuses the issue and muddles the discussion.\u00a0 The biggest hang-up is continuing to use the terms \u201cprimary source\u201d and \u201csecondary source,\u201d instead of the terms defined in the Standards Manual<\/em>.\u00a0 When I\u2019m reading an article or listening to a lecture and hear those terms used incorrectly, I have to stop and think, \u201care they talking about the source or the information it contains?\u201d\u00a0 I get myself all confused and that gives me a headache, and I\u2019m cranky when my head hurts.\u00a0 It also frustrates me because for people who are new to genealogy and don\u2019t know any better, they\u2019re getting contradicting information by the people they trust to learn from, which only perpetuates the situation down the line.<\/p>\n I realize that for people who have been around genealogy for many years it can be hard to use and define the terms set forth in the Standards Manual<\/em> because for so long the legal terms were used and for most of us, these were the terms we learned in school.\u00a0 Change is sometimes difficult, I get that.\u00a0 But as members of the genealogical community, whether you\u2019re a hobbyist, professional, or somewhere in between, we need to take our research seriously and practice our craft by adhering to the genealogical standards that were established. That also means we need to speak the same language, especially when educating others.<\/p>\n I also realize that the genealogical standards continue to evolve as expert genealogists explore new options and considerations, such as dealing with negative evidence and varying classes of derivative sources, including duplicate originals and image copies.3<\/sup>\u00a0 This is why it is so important to keep up with the goings-on in the genealogical community and participate in educational activities.4<\/sup><\/p>\n Although I have not been a member of this community for very long, I have heard and read that genealogy was (still is?) the \u201cbad apple\u201d of historical research.\u00a0 One way to help erase that perception is to follow the genealogical standards in order to produce quality research and to pass on our knowledge to those who share our same passion.<\/p>\n I really want to see the genealogy field grow and gain the respect it deserves.\u00a0 And while genealogical standards may seem like a scary and overwhelming subject, designed for the advanced and\/or professional researchers, it really isn\u2019t.\u00a0 These same principles are found in most beginning genealogy books, just in less-intimidating terms.<\/p>\n Several genealogists took the time and effort to put these genealogical standards together so that we (and the field of genealogy) could all benefit.\u00a0 We should repay them by incorporating these standards into our own research.\u00a0 And when we discuss or teach these standards, we should pass down the knowledge of those genealogists by using the terminology correctly, even if that means relearning and\/or adapting.<\/p>\n Recommended Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n To get a good understanding of sources, information, evidence, and their classifications, I recommend the following articles published by Elizabeth Shown Mills on her website Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citations & Source Usage<\/a>.<\/p>\n To learn more about genealogical standards in general, refer to the following sources:<\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 The Board for Certification of Genealogists, editor, The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual<\/em> (Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2000), x.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace<\/em>, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007), 24.<\/p>\n 3. For an explanation of negative evidence, duplicate originals, and image copies, refer to Evidence Explained<\/em>, p. 25-30.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 For education opportunities, refer to my recent blog post Family History Through the Alphabet \u2013 Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Until relatively recently, there wasn\u2019t a truly recognized set of standards for sound genealogical research.\u00a0 Genealogical research was mainly conducted by principles borrowed from the legal world (primary and secondary sources, preponderance of evidence, and such).<\/p>\n\n
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