Proper Sourcing

[RPalmer]

I am relatively new to Genealogy and through classes at our local Genealogical Society have had it drummed into my hard head that complete and proper sourcing is essential from the beginning. Although Evidence! by Elizabeth Mills draws negative thoughts it is the best that I have seen. I also have the "QuickSheet - Citing Online Historical Resources" and have tried to work through them. Although when I start entering information for a source I find myself in "analysis paralysis".
Following is my meager attempt at sourcing a census record that I obtained on Ancentry.com. I throw it out for suggestions and critique.

54. “Census 1900 ,” 14 June 1900, Michigan, Blissfield Twp., Michigan, Internet, Ancestry.com, No. 40, Supervisor District No. 2, Sheet 16.

As a more general question what fields do you use for sources of various types. Any simplified reference site that will get most of the information I need to have. I did do a "search" on Reunion talk for sources and didn't find anything directly related to what I am asking.

Thanks in advance for your information. If it would work better my e-mail is RLPalmer@umich.edu.

[kmgenealogy]

I am relatively new to Genealogy and through classes at our local Genealogical Society have had it drummed into my hard head that complete and proper sourcing is essential from the beginning. Although Evidence! by Elizabeth Mills draws negative thoughts it is the best that I have seen. I also have the "QuickSheet - Citing Online Historical Resources" and have tried to work through them. Although when I start entering information for a source I find myself in "analysis paralysis".
Following is my meager attempt at sourcing a census record that I obtained on Ancentry.com. I throw it out for suggestions and critique.

54. “Census 1900 ,” 14 June 1900, Michigan, Blissfield Twp., Michigan, Internet, Ancestry.com, No. 40, Supervisor District No. 2, Sheet 16. ...

Thanks in advance for your information. If it would work better my e-mail is RLPalmer@umich.edu.

You might want to take a look at Ben Sayer's site: http://genealogytools.com/
He is putting up videos for changing/or adding to Reunion's sources so they are more like Elizabeth's. Small donation allows you to see all the videos and you can download them to your computer. If the video is short, you can see it online but can't download it. If it's long, you have to be a member to see it.

Regards,
Kaye

[AE Palmer]

I am relatively new to Genealogy and through classes at our local Genealogical Society have had it drummed into my hard head that complete and proper sourcing is essential from the beginning. Although Evidence! by Elizabeth Mills draws negative thoughts it is the best that I have seen. I also have the "QuickSheet - Citing Online Historical Resources" and have tried to work through them. Although when I start entering information for a source I find myself in "analysis paralysis".
Following is my meager attempt at sourcing a census record that I obtained on Ancentry.com. I throw it out for suggestions and critique.

54. “Census 1900 ,” 14 June 1900, Michigan, Blissfield Twp., Michigan, Internet, Ancestry.com, No. 40, Supervisor District No. 2, Sheet 16.

As a more general question what fields do you use for sources of various types. Any simplified reference site that will get most of the information I need to have. I did do a "search" on Reunion talk for sources and didn't find anything directly related to what I am asking.

Thanks in advance for your information. If it would work better my e-mail is RLPalmer@umich.edu.

For census records:

Title (US Census, 1850, Schedule 1, Population)
Locality (Maine, Aroostook County, Blaine)
Census page (the original page #)
Media type (microfilm, digital, …)
Location of Source (Heritage Quest, Ancestry.com)
Reference Number (Series: M653 Roll: 434 Page: 153)
MY Doc Number (usually the Reunion Source #)


HTH.

[Kate McCain]

For census records:

Title (US Census, 1850, Schedule 1, Population)
Locality (Maine, Aroostook County, Blaine)
Census page (the original page #)
Media type (microfilm, digital, …)
Location of Source (Heritage Quest, Ancestry.com)
Reference Number (Series: M653 Roll: 434 Page: 153)
MY Doc Number (usually the Reunion Source #)


HTH.

This is good, although I do something a bit different (enumeration # as well as page and haven't mentioned population schedule although I number slave schedules separately). But in both cases, the key is to keep the page information (relatively generic) separate from the family information (detail). I have found additional families on a page a year or two after the first entry and this way of handling the page is the only way to deal with that issue. I think that Mills is a bit over-complicated for online database mgt (I'm not publishing articles in genealogy journals) but I totally get where she's coming from. A citation format that allows accurate identification down to the family level (for census records) is what is needed.

[teresa kcs]

This is good, although I do something a bit different (enumeration # as well as page and haven't mentioned population schedule although I number slave schedules separately). But in both cases, the key is to keep the page information (relatively generic) separate from the family information (detail). I have found additional families on a page a year or two after the first entry and this way of handling the page is the only way to deal with that issue. I think that Mills is a bit over-complicated for online database mgt (I'm not publishing articles in genealogy journals) but I totally get where she's coming from. A citation format that allows accurate identification down to the family level (for census records) is what is needed.

This is an interesting and helpful thread. I haven't known the best way to source things in Reunion. I fill out the citation record with the basics for that record (Title, Locality, etc.) and then put the things that are specific to a particular name in the "Detail" line (page, roll, etc.). I'd appreciate feedback on that--I'm trying to figure out how to source. Thanks.

[RPalmer]

You might want to take a look at Ben Sayer's site: http://genealogytools.com/
He is putting up videos for changing/or adding to Reunion's sources so they are more like Elizabeth's. Small donation allows you to see all the videos and you can download them to your computer. If the video is short, you can see it online but can't download it. If it's long, you have to be a member to see it.

Regards,
Kaye

Thanks for the suggestion. I use his MacGenealogist.com system for organizing my Photos & images. I've already donated and am anxious to view his videos.