How to Cite Your Sources
You should know the correct way to record your information sources
It's important to cite your sources, but also important to cite them correctly. These are the proper formats for recording your genealogy research findings.
I've already mentioned how important it is to properly document and cite your sources when doing genealogy research. There are so many possible sources that you may come across, that it is vital that you keep proper track of where each piece of information came from.
So this week, I am going to explain how this is done and provide you with some examples of good citations that you can follow. Just to be clear on terminology: a source is the place where you got your info, such as a book, newspaper clipping, vital record certificate or e-mail exchange. A citation is how you record that source for future reference and connect it to your data.
There are many ways to record a citation, and they vary for the different kinds of sources. How you record a book is different from how you would record a newspaper clipping. While I wouldn't expect a hobby genealogist to learn a dozen different citation formats, you should still try to be as complete and consistent as possible. Whether you use the usual punctuation and style (brackets, etc) is really up to you. Most genealogy software programs will guide you in creating a proper citation anyway.
Books: Author, book title, (publisher, publication date), page numbers, location of source.
John Smith, Our Family History in Wales, (Family Tree Books, 1973), p. 45-55, found at the Huntsville Public Library.
Newspaper Clippings: "Title of piece", name of newspaper, city, date of publication, page numbers, location of source.
"Old Courthouse Demolished", Huntsville Daily Press, Huntsville Ontario, March 16, 1962, p. 13, found on microfiche at the Huntsville Public Library.
Vital Records: Kind of record, date, file or certificate number, where record was issued, location of source.
Death registration for Joe Smith, May 5 1903, File #34900, copy in my possession.
Website: Name of site, owner (if known), URL, date last verified
Bob's Family Tree Site, Bob Smith, http://www.bobstree.com/page5.htm, last checked December 3 2005.
While the location of the source isn't usually include in citations used for other research, I think it's an important fact that should be included for genealogy. You might find that you need to find a particular book again, and knowing which library or archive is home to that book will make that search simpler. This is particularly true if you travel a lot to locate source documents.
One more thing to point out, if you find information from someone who has a recorded citation, you should not simply add that citation to your records until you have verified it for yourself. You should still record the source info, but make sure you also note where you got the actual information from. You should also make notes if you are getting your information from the actual document or a transcription.
