APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2004-12 > 1102009099


From: "Mills" <>
Subject: RE: [APG] Citing Sources - Original, Derived, etc.
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:39:01 -0600
In-Reply-To: <010101c4d848$95cde480$c800a8c0@domain.local>


Natalie wrote:

<An extra line of detailed information in a footnote can be a . . .
journal editor's nightmare, and that has been pointed out to us before. But,
with ongoing personal or client research (think years), it seems efficient
to have the citation do two things for us: a) tell exactly what the source
was and where the genealogist viewed it b) tell what condition it was in
when the genealogist viewed it >

Natalie, I wouldn't dare speak for all journals, but at NGSQ you'd get
resounding applause!

In my experience, the "extra line of detailed information in a footnote"
that causes people to wince comes not from good journal editors in genealogy
but from (a) "everyday researchers" who complain about the
intimidation-factor of long notes and the increased publishing costs; and
(b) academic presses that trim citations radically in order to reduce
costs--and, generally, omit all citations for genealogical matters on the
premise that they really don't matter anyway :(.


<Is it in German? Is it legible? Was it an
old typescript on decaying onion skin paper? Does one need special access to
a website to see that record again? Did access to the source require hiring
an agent in Ukraine?).>

Oh, praise St. Genie! Our research would be so much better if everybody
included these "informational" notes along with their "citations."


< But, these days, with so many
of us working globally - with agents all over the world, with eclectic
unique records sources housed in unusual places, and/or with all the new
electronic media - I have found it practical and efficient to include
information about the repository, call # and quality in citations. >

This very point was apparent in last night's post by Mary Swanson who said
she had received jpg images of documents with sources cited as "HFL, A1:3,
page 85." How many people who aren't experienced Swedish researchers would
know where to find a record with a skeletal citation of this sort -- or even
how much reliance to place on a piece of information accompanied by this
citation?

Elizabeth

-----------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
*Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian*


This thread: