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Archiver > APG > 2009-03 > 1237690470


From: <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Mormon News
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:54:30 -0500
References: <05FC3A32-1608-411F-B742-65A032C7F161@keyconn.net><49C3B044.7040209@reevesweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <49C3B044.7040209@reevesweb.com>


Peggy wrote:
>My previous mention of Celia Rae Elbert, the made-up child of
Revolutionary General Samuel Elbert, is a case in point. Try looking
her up at familysearch.org and you find an approximate date of marriage
to Allen Gay, christening date, etc...all of it completely bogus. Much
time and money was spent by my client, who used 25 different proof
documents to conclusive prove the non-existence of this woman, and show
that one person was responsible for making up the story and helping to
legitimize it. You will find the story of Celia Rae Elbert in many
"history of" books, and published family genealogies. We proved that it
all came from the same woman in the 1920s.



Peggy's frustration is understandable. The reality, however, is that the
fault lies not with that one website and not with our chosen field. The
problem is just as rampant in more-established academic disciplines, and the
careless "research" of those who perpetuate mistakes is costly not just to
clients but to those who do any type of scholarly research. The professional
genealogist should not be surprised if, after working a project as a client
commission, they must then continue to revisit it without compensation--for
decades thereafter--in order to protect their own reputations against
published allegations of error by those who do not do thorough research.

It's a fact of life, although it's not one we anticipate when we embark so
excitedly--and so naively--on a research career.

Elizabeth

-------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
APG member, Tennessee



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