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From: Karen Rhodes <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] BCG Standard #19 + intro to evidence evaluation
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:54:02 -0500
References: <4B7F9E65.26902.33CB649A@hhsh.earthlink.net><330330.71180.qm@web35902.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <330330.71180.qm@web35902.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


Jeanette Daniels wrote:
> Harold,
>
> This is the "standard" that I think many have problems with. I would assume that those
> on this list are educated enough in genealogical research to understand what
> really constitutes a "reasonably exhaustive search." However, I have had too
> many clients who thought that they had done that but hadn't even started to
> look at original records.
>
> "Reasonably exhaustive search" will mean different things to different people.
> I believe that the "reasonably exhaustive search" needs to be defined to include:
>
<snip>


I doubt the practicality of trying to make a specific list of what a
"reasonably exhaustive search" might include, because the universe of
applicable sources is going to change from situation to situation.
Perhaps it could be amplified, though to define it as a search in all
available records of the types applicable to the research problem,
whether in government offices or archives, libraries, museums,
universities, or private hands. An amplified version of this standard
would also state that this requires the researcher to be familiar with
(a) the kinds of records which apply to each situation and (b) the
repositories where such records may be found.

As it stands now, I think the phrase "reasonably exhaustive search" is
too vague. I don't know whether my suggestion is much better, but we
need to hit a mean between being too vague, as it is now, and being so
specific as to be unweildy.

Karen Rhodes,
Middleburg, Clay County, Florida

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