Navigating Research with the Genealogical Proof Standard - July 2009

Navigating Research with the GPS Mark Tucker www.ThinkGenealogy.com

Introductions Me: You: • Professional, CG, AG • Employees • FamilySearch • Genealogy Software/Service • ThinkGenealogy readers • GPS Steps • Own Evidence! Or Evidence Explained • Want to do professional quality research

Agenda • 5 Steps of the Genealogical Proof Standard • Worth Tucker Case Study • Genealogy Research Process Map

Brief Timeline Genealogy as Pastime and Profession Donald Lines Jacobus 1930 1940 1950 American Society of Genealogists founded (FASG)

Genealogical Evidence Noel C. Stevenson The Genealogical Helper citation article, Gary B. & Elizabeth Shown Mills BCG founded (CG, CGL) POE 1960 1970 1980 Cite Your Sources Richard S. Lackey

Evidence Explained Mills Evidence! Mills POE Genealogical Proof Standard 1990 1997 2000 2007 The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual BCG Professional Genealogy ed. Mills

Where do I start?

What should I research? North Carolina? Parents? Marriage? 1870? Birth? Military Service? Yadkin County? 1869? Death? Land Ownership? Ashe County?

• Create before research begins • Identify: Principal Person Objective  Known information  Research Strategy • “Game plan”

• Keeps us focused on our goal • Tracks the sources searched • Records information found & not found • Our long-term “memory”

Research Plan Research Log

Research Plan Principal Person: Worth Tucker Objective: What is Worth Tucker’s birth date and place?

Known Information

Known Information: Informant / Source Information Relationship Pedigree Chart Worth - son of Moses Kirtley E. Tucker – son Tucker and Mary Jane of Worth Tucker & Dollar. Florence Abby AND Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Pulsipher Ashe Co. N. Carolina Family Group Sheet – Married: Florence Worth Tucker & Abby Pulsipher on 22 Florence Abby May 1895 Pulsipher Died: 5 Nov 1927 at Livingston, Montana

Known Information … cont. Informant / Source Information Relationship Family Group Sheet – Worth - son of Moses Andrew Mason Moses Tucker & Mary Tucker and Mary Jane Tucker – son of Jane Dollar Dollar Moses Tucker and Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Emeline Dollar. Ashe Co. N. C. Married: Florence Half brother of Worth Abby Pulsipher on 22 (20 years younger) May 1894 Died: 5 Nov 1927

Research Strategy Help • FamilySearch.org – Research Guidance by location – Research Outlines • Genealogy Software • Personal Experience • Visit a Family History Center • Join a Genealogy Society • Hire a Professional

Research Guidance: www.FamilySearch.org

Family History Library Catalog: Place Search

Research Strategy 1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File 2. Census Population Schedules: North Carolina - 1870, 1880; Utah - 1900, 1910, 1920 3. Tombstone and Sexton Records: Grave Marker … 15. Death Record: Death certificate 16. Birth Record: Birth certificate

Research Log Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe 1 Pedigree Chart Co. N. Carolina 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Born: 30 Nov 1870 in 2 Family Group Sheet – Ashe Co. N. C. Moses Tucker & Mary Jane Dollar 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Born: 30 Nov 1870 in 3 Family Group Sheet – Ashe Co. North Carolina Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Work the Plan 1 Follow Update 3 Research Plan Log Research Log Plan Find Source 2

1 Research Plan 1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File 2

3 Research Log Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.family Ancestral File v4.19 Born: 30 Nov 1870 Yadkin 4 search.org Co., Nc Worth Tucker Individual Record

3 Research Log Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 1870, Ashe, 5 search.org No source information North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 30 Nov 1870, 6 search.org Film Number: 457622 Ashe, North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 30 Nov 1870, 7 search.org Source Call No.: 035126 Creston, Ashe, North Record of members … Carolina 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 30 Nov 1870, Of, , 8 search.org Film Number: 1239624 Ashe, North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 30 Nov 1870, 9 search.org Film Number: 170485 Ashe, North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.family IGI v5.0 Born: 30 Nov 1870, 10 search.org Film Number: 170490 Ashe, North Carolina

3 Research Log Date Location Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 1870, North Carolina 11 Disc #89… 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 30 Nov 1870, Yadkin, 12 Disc #129… North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, 13 Disc #117… North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, NC 14 Disc #13… 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 1870, NC 15 Disc #130… 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 1870, NC 16 Disc #101… 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 1870, NC 17 Disc #127… 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Born: 30 Nov 1870, North 18 Disc #134… Fork, Ashe, North Carolina 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File 30 Nov 1870, Yadkin Co., NC 19 Disc #135…

Research Plan 1. Previous Research: Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File 2. Census Population Schedules: North Carolina - 1870, 1880 ; Utah - 1900, 1910, 1920 …

Do I really need to search any more?

“We conduct a reasonably exhaustive search in reliable sources for all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question.”

From that already First oral or written form written or spoken

Tracking of each representation of a source back to the original. Original ← D1 ← D2 ← D3 D? → … → Original

Why Source Provenance? Independent Origin Better O O O D D D D D D D D D D

Provenance Example Original Derivative 1 Derivative 2 Derivative 3 Microfilm Digital Census Printout Copy Copy Enumerator Genealogist

Research Analysis Research Plan Research Log

Identify: Original or Derivative Research Analysis Source Analysis: Source Type Doc Pedigree Chart Derivative 1 Family Group Sheet Derivative 2,3 Ancestral File Derivative 4 IGI Derivative 5-10 Pedigree Resource File Derivative 11-19

Do I need to keep track of more than the information that I find?

“We collect and include in our compilation a complete, accurate citation to the source or sources of each item of information we use.”

• Credibility to our research • Confidence in other’s research • Aids during analysis

Source Citation Guides: • Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian • Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to By Elizabeth Shown Mills CG, CGL, FASG Cyberspace Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.

Why special citation guidelines?

Citation Model Derivatives: Church Records Database, Online Source: Evidence Explained, pg 320 (also 346-350)

Source Citations Source Doc Kirtley E. Tucker, Kirtley Elwood Tucker Pedigree Chart, Some Tucker 1 History; supplied by Kirtley E. Tucker, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Kaysville, Utah, abt. 1977. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "International 7 Genealogical Index," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource 11 File," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record.

Should there be one standard set of citation guidelines?

Online Source Citation Confusion FamilySearch Ancestry Evidence Explained

How do I analyze all this information?

“We analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence.”

Transcript Duplicate Image Original Record Copy Extract (Counterparts) Copy (Clerk’s copy) Abstract

Firsthand Secondhand •Participant •Non-Participant •Eyewitness

Partially Absence of Completely answers information answers goal

3 Common Derivatives 1 2 Transcript Extract 3 Abstract

Image Copy Source Original or Derivative

Record Copy (Clerk’s copy) Legal copy made by an official Original Register Clerk Informant

Duplicate Originals 1 2 Fed Copy Grantor Grantee Deed 3 Enumerator Local Copy Census Counterpart

Derivatives used as Originals Duplicate Image Image Image Original Copy Copy Copy Census Microfilm Digital Printout Fed Copy Copy Copy Search Census Extract Index Original Similar to an Abstract Original or treat as original Enumerator Derivative

Who can provide primary information of Worth’s birth?

Information & Evidence Analysis Information & Evidence Analysis: Doc Information Informant 1 Born: 30 Nov Kirtley E. Tucker – son of … 1870 in Ashe Worth Tucker & Florence Co. N. Carolina Abby Pulsipher

Information & Evidence Analysis: Information Evidence (Primary, Secondary) (Direct, Indirect, Negative) … Secondary Direct

From Research Plan • International Genealogical Index (IGI) • US Federal Census: Population Schedules – North Carolina: 1870, 1880 – Utah: 1900, 1910, 1920 • Grave Marker • Death Certificate • Marriage License • Birth Certificate

IGI Sources 1. Sealings of children to parents, 1893- 1942; heir indexes, 1893-1942. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, of Ashe, North Carolina 2. Sealings for the dead: couples and children, 1943-1970; heir indexes 1943-1965. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

IGI Sources… cont. 3. Record of members, 1886-1912. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Díaz Ward (Chihuahua, Mexico) 30 Nov 1870, Creston, Ashe, North Carolina 4. Endowments of the living, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 5. Sealings of living couples, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

US Federal Census: FHL microfilm 1900 1910 Nov 1869, age 30 calc. 1870, age 39

Grave Marker: www.findagrave.com Nov 30, 1870

Death Certificate Primary vs. Secondary Information November 12th. 1872 North Carolina

Marriage License Age 24 on 15 May 1895 Born: calc. 1870

Birth Certificate County Date Formed Birth Parent Marriage County/ies Death Ashe 1799 1913 Wilkes 1828 1913

Research Completed • 15 Sources – 8 Originals (image copies), 6 Derivatives, 1 not found – 3 databases, 16 records • Information – 0 Primary, 27 Secondary • Evidence – 15 Direct, 11 Indirect, 1 Negative • 4 Conflicts

What do I do about conflicts?

“We resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed (hypothetical) solution to the question.”

Compare weights Usually: • Sources: Original > Derivatives • Information: Primary > Secondary • Evidence: Indirect >= Direct

All conflicts must be resolved. Even primary information from an original source can be wrong.

Resolve Conflicts Conflicting Evidence: Conflict Resolution 12 Nov 1872 Grieving son was informant. 1869 or 1870 Calculated dates either 1869 or 1870. Worth not in June 1870 Census. Unknown informant for 1900 Census which stated 1869. Ashe or Yadkin Family in Ashe Co. in 1870 & 1880. IGI lists Ashe. Yadkin 50 miles away. Creston, North Family in Laurel in 1870 & 1880. Each place Fork, or Laurel within 5 miles of each other.

Am I done yet?

“We arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.”

Includes: • Problem/Goal • Known sources with citations • Evidence and analysis • Conflicting evidence • Main points • Conclusion

There is no such thing as a final conclusion. New information can support, question, or disprove your current conclusion.

Written Conclusion (Proof Argument) Conclusion: Worth Tucker was born Nov 1870 (possibly on the 30th) in Ashe County, North Carolina. The exact location is likely Laurel Township where his parents (Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar) were living in 1870 & 1880. Other locations within a 5 mile area that are also mentioned are Creston and North Fork.

Next Steps • Search church records in NC • Search local newspapers in NC • Review microfilm for IGI records • Read Worth’s journal (1903-1907) Why? Conclusions are never final.

SOURCES provide INFORMATION from which we select EVIDENCE for ANALYSIS. A sound CONCLUSION may then be considered “PROOF.” - Elizabeth Shown Mills

Desktop References

Genealogy Research Process Map www.thinkgenealogy.com/map

Questions? Mail: mail@ThinkGenealogy.com Blog: www.ThinkGenealogy.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/marktucker Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marktucker1

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Navigating Research with the Genealogical Proof Standard - July 2009

by Mark Tucker on Jul 28, 2009

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Navigating Research with the Genealogical Proof Standard - July 2009 Presentation Transcript