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From:
Subject: [WILLEY] January Project
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 19:41:24 EST


Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!  I hope you all enjoyed the Holidays with family and
friends...8-)

Our Roll Call Project for January is to give the name of the program we use
to house our online genealogy, and to share our reasons for using that
particular software.  You might also include any drawbacks you've encountered
with the program you use.

If you don't currently store your gen data in such a program, this will be
the perfect opportunity to read about the various software that is available,
and learn the pros and cons of each.  Feel free to ask any questions you may
have about the different gen programs, and we'll see if we can find the
answers for you.  

Also, please post the surnames and locales you research.  I've been surprised
in the past to correspond with someone about one surname only to find that,
unknown to both of us, we shared other lines.

The following message contains a terrific set of guidelines to keep in mind
as we begin our family research projects.  The best advice is to double check
online information yourself, and to use it only as a starting point for your
own research.  The author has given his permission to forward this on to you,
and even though it is a bit long, it is interesting reading.

Good luck in your research,
LaRae Halsey-Brooks, listmgr.

-----------

This suggestion is not only for new family history researchers but it also
serves to jiggle the minds of us old timers too!

Let's all make a resolution to help eliminate errors in our family history

In December 1999, I wrote the following article to help increase the
awareness of the many pitfalls found in genealogical resources. I am
submitting this again to remind us all of our responsibilities toward
perpetuating the truth and accuracy in our historical records.

(Reprint)

HOW ACCURATE ARE OUR RECORDS?

By  LeRoy F. Eastes

When we record our heritage we take great pride in looking at our list of
ancestors and admire their origins, migrations and accomplishments. But, what
good is it unless it's true?

In recent years there are more and more genealogical assumptions and
misleading information being circulated due the coming of the Internet. I
know most of it is unintentional, as I have found myself guilty of doing the
same thing in the past. This innocent practice comes about by picking up
information that is not documented or if it is we don't check the validity of
the references. Then with all good intentions, we record it and pass it on
not knowing if it is true or not!

An element of error has always existed in genealogical research. If we look
closely at public documents, errors have been found in almost every type of
legal record that ever existed. Wills, marriage, birth, land, court and
military records. Many times these are the results of human error but some
have been intentionally induced for a variety of personal reasons.

The coming of the Internet has been a great boon for genealogical research.
At the same time it's multiplying errors and is out of control like a
contagious disease. There are many individuals and organizations that collect
files from donors everywhere they can be found, which in itself is fine.

Unfortunately, not all of these records are correct. Many do not show any
documentation, others are found with misleading and often inaccurate
information and references. Also unfortunately, some researchers are too
eager to grab the first thing that "sounds reasonable" and treat it as a
gospel fact. These records are copied by the unwary, passed on to an untold
number of others, accepted as fact and the problem is perpetuated into the
future.

There is nothing wrong with recording and passing along estimates of dates,
places and even theories and stories. This is where we find the key elements
that lead to the true picture of the past.   However, information of this
nature must be recognized and treated as such by all of us.

----------------------------------------------------------

The following are the Standards recommended by the National Genealogical
Society and can be found on the Internet at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/

Standards For Sound Genealogical Research

Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth,
family history researchers consistently --

--  record the source for each item of information they collect.

--  test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject
those that are not supported by the evidence.

--  seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is
reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their
research conclusions.

--  use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or
electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original
records.

--  state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing
evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others.

--  limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement that is
based on less than convincing evidence, and state the reasons for concluding
that it is probable or possible.

--  avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly
distributing or publishing inaccurate information.

--  state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and
acknowledge all use of others work.

--  recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their
work available to others through publication, or by placing copies in
appropriate libraries or repositories, and by welcoming critical comment.

--  consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their
work and the conclusions they have reached.

By the National Genealogical Society.
Permission is granted to copy or publish this material provided it is
reproduced in its entirety, including this notice

----------------------------------------------------------

I encourage everyone to consider these guidelines. All of us who are
searching for our ancestors should make an attempt to minimize the
possibility of errors. If we don't, our children's children will be led down
false trails and they will never be able to find their true heritage.

We need stories and rumors, they are great and often lead to the truth!  BUT
- Help eliminate errors. Don't take anything as Fact!  Check references for
validity!  

I would be happy for you to pass this message along to others and ask them to
also pass it along!

Best Regards,
Roy Eastes


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