TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2001-09 > 1001020172


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Entering Citation Detail
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 17:09:32 -0400
In-Reply-To: <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.
>
>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!
>
>What do other folks suggest? I've been happy with putting the full citation
>in the CD field up til now.

The Citation Detail (CD) field is designed to enter data that help others
find the entry being referenced. Each citation is likely to be different
as to whether and how much is entered in the CD. While most citations are
designed such that only a small amount of data is needed (volume, chapter,
section, page, etc.), other citations (and especially if the Source is
somewhat generic) may need a greater amount of data entered in the CD. Add
to this two other factors, the desires of the user as to what should be
entered, and the specific situation. By specific situation, I mean those
times when you need to clarify that the document contains more or different
details than (an)other document(s) (e.g., the details of a date, different
given names or initials, different spellings of names or places). In
addition, the CD may be used to enter the users notes/conclusions when this
isn't already entered in the Source Memo/Comments Source Element.

For some documents (e.g., wills), some users will include the entire
transcription in the CD. Personally, I prefer not to do this although I
might include short quotations from a document when I feel it is needed. I
also feel that entering the entire transcription of a document in the Memo
field of a tag is rarely warranted although again short quotations may be
desirable especially if the quotation is an interesting phrase or would
help a narrative in its inclusion. My preference for entire transcriptions
would be to enter it as an Exhibit.

A lot depends on whether you want a full transcription of a document to be
printed in a narrative and if so, where the transcription should print --
in the text, in a footnote or endnote, or in an appendix. Once this
decision has been made, then you can determine where you enter the
transcription based on what other entries have been made for other tags,
Sources, Exhibits.

Hope this helps -

----------
Lee Hoffman/KY
E-mail:
TMG Tips: <http://www.tmgtips.com>;
My website: <http://www.tmgtips.com/lhoffman>;
--------------
A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)


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