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From: "Kenneth G. Aitken" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Primary & Secondary Information
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 07:27:00 -0600
References: <194.2ecd1f0a.2e93f208@aol.com>


Cindy,
I used those books this past summer for a client. In my report I suggested
she accept these very cautiously as I saw these books as derivative sources
containing secondary information. Seems to me there was an article by Gary
Mills about using these books and others like them that index registers but
do not also contain original sequences.

Ken Aitken
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 6:48 AM
Subject: [APG] Primary & Secondary Information


> I'm confused and could use some help.
>
> Years ago I would say this source would be secondary. But now with the new
> rules I'm not sure. Opinions would be appreciated.
>
> Example- Hebert, Donald Joseph. Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and
> Civil records vol. 1-40. Hebert Publications, 1942-.
> Note: includes baptisms, marriages and deaths.
>
> (These published books are abstracts of supposed original sources and or
it's
> derivatives)
>
> Now here is my problem, since I have not seen the original and the
churches
> don't allow you to view the original, how can I be certain that any of
this
> information is correct? When contacting the churches they only give you
the
> information that is in the books. They do not even look at the original
priest
> records. Not to mention, most of the information is abstracted years later
by
> someone who was not an official in charge, eye witness to the event or a
> knowledgeable participant.
>
> If using these books as the source, would they then be considered a
> derivative with secondary information? Or how much weight would they
really carry when
> the actual record is not allowed to be viewed?
> Would they then be considered primary information?
> And could someone use these records as proof for societal recognition?
>
> These records are a valuable reference for genealogist in Southwest
> Louisiana. However, How good are they really, when we are not 100% sure of
what source
> father Hebert used?
> I question this because I personally know an individual who worked with
> Father Hebert in the Locale FHC. Who stated several times Hebert used the
LDS
> records for his abstractions.
>
> Any help or advice on how to evaluate these records would be appreciated.
>
> Cindy Hofmeister
>
>
>
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>
>


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