TMG-L Archives

From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] 5.07 & specificity of census sources
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 12:09:38 -0400
In-Reply-To: <007e01c33a66$37a43750$fee8e33f@D2Y8ST21>

Darrel Jiles wrote:
> I have previously named specific sources in this manner: "USCen 1860 IA,
> Mitchell Co." I have since learned that this is not very helpful
> because if I fill in the "Household" field (which I take to mean,
> "Anthony Jordan household" or "Jordan household"), I have thus limited
> myself to using that specific source to that single household. In other
> words, if I have several families from the same county, same census I
> cannot re-use this source. However, some other users have found a way
> to make more specific sources such as, "1860 US Census, IA Mitchell
> Co., Jordan, Anthony" or perhaps "1860 CEN Anthony Jordan" or the like.
> This would create an enormous number of distinct sources. I am not
> opposed to doing this but I want to make sure I don92t take off in yet
> another ill advised direction. Can anyone help me with what I not
> understanding here?

The design of the Census Source Types is based on the models given in
Elizabeth Shown Mills "Evidence!". As the models are designed for specific
citations, they do not do well for multiple or generic use. In those
cases, you must either modify the Source Templates in the Output Forms tab
of the Source Definition screen or create a Custom Source Type (requires
selecting the Custom Source Category in Preferences) so that the citation
can be used in a more generic way.


> Also, since I'm babbling on, how do those of you who have more specific
>census sources list them in the abbreviation on the source list so they
>can be identifiable and still fit within the character count limit?

I think this depends on each persons data and what each person will allow
in the way of abbreviations. For example, if all your data is for the US,
then you may not need "US" in the Abbreviation, Mitchell could be further
abbreviated to Mtchl (or even further), Jordan could be Jrdn, etc. If the
Source is more generic, you might change it to "1860 Cens, Mtchl, IA". If
you make it generic enough, you could even have a single Source for all
census citations with the remaining information placed in the Citation Detail.

One thing you should keep in mind when you have generic Sources is to be
consistent in their use. That is, use the generic Sources as much as
possible (with no or very few specific Sources of that kind). Also be
consistent in the "format" of what you enter in the Citation Detail field.


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

This thread:

• [TMG] 5.07 & specificity of census sources by "Darrel Jiles" <>