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Archiver > TMG > 2001-09 > 1000992190


From: Terry Reigel <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Entering Citation Detail
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 09:23:10 -0400
References: <001401c141ce$db7c2820$ae19c740@prodigy.net>


"Neil S. Smith" wrote:

> I've been using TMG for some time and thought I had the Citation Detail down
> pretty well. However, in reviewing some of the old TMG newsletters, I read
> that I should enter only information in the CD that would help a researcher
> locate the entry. The actual data found should be entered in the memo field
> or other parts of the tag.

In my view, this means that if you have a source with a lot of relevant text, like a will, you wouldn't put the whole text in the CD, but in a Memo.

> I tried this and don't think it is practical. For instance, if I attach a
> source for someone's name and reference a census entry, it usually only
> provides the first and last name. If later I find a marriage license that
> also includes the middle initial and add that source citation to the name
> tag, I can't show which of the two sources provided the MI since I've not
> actually entered the source citation for later reference.
>
> Another drawback is that without the actual citation, other people can not
> judge the material without finding the source themselves, clearly an
> unrealistic expectation. Nor can I re-evaluate what I actually entered
> without finding my copy of the source material, sometimes an ever more
> unrealistic expectation!

I agree completely. In general, I put just the page number or the like if the source clearly states all the facts that I'm using in the tag. But if there is partial information in different sources, like names, dates, or places, I spell out in the CD of each source just what is shown. And if I have to infer the information from what is shown (like in early census that show a man and woman that appear to be married but no relationship is stated) I note just what the source says.

> What do other folks suggest? I've been happy with putting the full citation
> in the CD field up til now.

I'm not sure what you mean by "full citation" but I always add enough detail to know just what I found in the source, though I don't commonly repeat actual the text from the source.

Terry Reigel


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