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From: "Rev. David McDonald" <>
Subject: [APG] Evaluating and revising
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 8:39:56 -0400


I am embarrassed to admit how many citations in my personal database, dating from my earliest research, are inadequate. "IGI, Yorkshire," or "US Census," or better still, "personal knowledge" pervade my earliest citations.

One of the pieces of great fun for me, long after the era of finding a new great-grandparent's entire ancestry back to the seventeenth century has past, is revising earlier guesses and conclusions that I had based upon evidence that I now realize is not sound.

Elizabeth's point about reevaluation is absolutely sound: all of us, and our work, are well-served, when we recognize the possibility that early results may not stand up to long-term scrutiny. At this stage in my researching life, I derive enormous pleasure out of proving more thoroughly my own conclusions, disproving flawed assumptions made by me or by others, or in making the connection and supporting my conclusions on families that had previously been unresolved.

Dave
--
Rev. David McDonald, CG(sm)*

*"CG" & "Certified Genealogist" are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and are used by authorized associates following periodic, peer-reviewed competency evaluations. Certificate No. 452, expires 19 April 2009.

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