Dora, You are the one that brought up "rules" I have never used that word. I have only stated the "standards". They address the importance of documentation. The only point I have wanted to make all along was in response to the original question that asked if foster children were to be added to the children's list. My point has been that if it can't be documented on the reports, on web pages, or in the databases that they should not be listed that way. Period. I still stand by that based on documentation as the determination of where these relationships are listed. The standards from the National Genealogical Society's website list those standards DO apply. Enough said.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dora Smith Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 8:14 PM To: LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Foster children Paul, I looked through these last night. I can't find anythign at all to do with proper formats for genealogical reports, and I also could find no discussion about multiple spouses, step children, adopted children, and foster children. I looked at standards for sound genealogical research, and guidelines for publishing web pages on the internet. There seems to be no document on standards for publishing genealogical reports. I do not find anything about adopted children, foster children, or step children in anything that you've cited below, either. Do you see something that I missed? Actually, the editor of the NGS Quarterly wrote back to me that he knows of no rules or standards that forbid including these categories of children, that they should be included with proper documentation, and that no currently available genealogical software conforms to the actual standards of the professional genealogical societies, partly because they don't take family complexity into account. Now, I thought I posted this, but the post I answered was in a funny place in my mailbox, and you could also have easily posted this long before I posted that, but just to be safe, I'll post the information again. He specifically recommended a source; NGSQ style is Joan Ferris Curran, Madilyn Coen Crane, and John H. Wray, Numbering Your Genealogy: Basic Systems, Complex Families, and International Kin (Arlington, Va.,: National Genealogical Society, 1999), a publication that every serious genealogist should have. The second chapter addresses step relationships, adoptions, and similar complexities. It is based on a article that appeared in NGSQ about a decade ago. Actually a quarter of this discussion is ending up in the funny place in my mailbox. Some people ahve Fw in the subject line and OE isn't treating that as a list post. He also wanted to know the sources of the idea that it is wrong to include these categories of children, and I'd like to pin that down too. PLEASE don't tell me people are getting this heated over what they extrapolated from their high school manuals on how to write term papers! I think it has to be a little more than that. Is there any chance a desire to hush up irregular family details by ways of thinking a century old have something to do with this? I have to be suspicious when you start saying that you only share information about foster and adopted children privately. Yours, Dora Smith Austin, TX [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul C. Abell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 12:52 PM Subject: RE: [LegacyUG] Foster children > Dora, as you requested. The following standards may be found at this > link: > > http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandards.cfm > > Standards For Sound Genealogical Research > Recommended by the National Genealogical Society > > 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, or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence > discussed in them. > * 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 other researchers' 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. > > C 1997, 2002 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted to > copy > or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, > including this notice. > > Standards For Use of Technology in Genealogical Research > Recommended by the National Genealogical Society > > Mindful that computers are tools, genealogists take full responsibility > for > their work, and therefore they- > > * learn the capabilities and limits of their equipment and software, > and > use them only when they are the most appropriate tools for a purpose. > * do not accept uncritically the ability of software to format, number, > import, modify, check, chart or report their data, and therefore carefully > evaluate any resulting product. > * treat compiled information from on-line sources or digital databases > in the same way as other published sources--useful primarily as a guide to > locating original records, but not as evidence for a conclusion or > assertion. > * accept digital images or enhancements of an original record as a > satisfactory substitute for the original only when there is reasonable > assurance that the image accurately reproduces the unaltered original. > * cite sources for data obtained on-line or from digital media with the > same care that is appropriate for sources on paper and other traditional > media, and enter data into a digital database only when its source can > remain associated with it. > * always cite the sources for information or data posted on-line or > sent > to others, naming the author of a digital file as its immediate source, > while crediting original sources cited within the file. > * preserve the integrity of their own databases by evaluating the > reliability of downloaded data before incorporating it into their own > files. > * provide, whenever they alter data received in digital form, a > description of the change that will accompany the altered data whenever it > is shared with others. > * actively oppose the proliferation of error, rumor and fraud by > personally verifying or correcting information, or noting it as > unverified, > before passing it on to others. > * treat people on-line as courteously and civilly as they would treat > them face-to-face, not separated by networks and anonymity. > * accept that technology has not changed the principles of genealogical > research, only some of the procedures. > > C2000, 2001, 2002 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted > to > copy or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, > including this notice. > > Guidelines For Publishing Web Pages On The Internet > Recommended by the National Genealogical Society > > Appreciating that publishing information through Internet Web sites and > Web > pages shares many similarities with print publishing, considerate family > historians- > > * apply a title identifying both the entire Web site and the particular > group of related pages, similar to a book-and-chapter designation, placing > it both at the top of each Web browser window using the <TITLE> HTML tag, > and in the body of the document, on the opening home or title page and on > any index pages. > * explain the purposes and objectives of their Web sites, placing the > explanation near the top of the title page or including a link from that > page to a special page about the reason for the site. > * display a footer at the bottom of each Web page which contains the > Web > site title, page title, author's name, author's contact information, date > of > last revision and a copyright statement. > * provide complete contact information, including at a minimum a name > and e-mail address, and preferably some means for long-term contact, like > a > postal address. > * assist visitors by providing on each page navigational links that > lead > visitors to other important pages on the Web site, or return them to the > home page. > * adhere to the NGS "Standards for Sharing Information with Others" > regarding copyright, attribution, privacy, and the sharing of sensitive > information. > * include unambiguous source citations for the research data provided > on > the site, and if not complete descriptions, offering full citations upon > request. > * label photographic and scanned images within the graphic itself, with > fuller explanation if required in text adjacent to the graphic. > * identify transcribed, extracted or abstracted data as such, and > provide appropriate source citations. > * include identifying dates and locations when providing information > about specific surnames or individuals. > * respect the rights of others who do not wish information about > themselves to be published, referenced or linked on a Web site. > * provide Web site access to all potential visitors by avoiding > enhanced > technical capabilities that may not be available to all users, remembering > that not all computers are created equal. > * avoid using features that distract from the productive use of the Web > site, like ones that reduce legibility, strain the eyes, dazzle the > vision, > or otherwise detract from the visitor's ability to easily read, study, > comprehend or print the online publication. > * maintain their online publications at frequent intervals, changing > the > content to keep the information current, the links valid, and the Web site > in good working order. > * preserve and archive for future researchers their online publications > and communications that have lasting value, using both electronic and > paper > duplication. > > C2000, 2001 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted to > copy > or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, > including this notice. > > This is only a part of what they have on their website. > > Paul > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.431 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 11/28/2006 3:22 PM *** Give the gift of Legacy for the holidays! Order online at http://legacyfamilytree.com/Redirect/Store-Legacy.asp or call 1-800-753-3453. *** Legacy User Group guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ For online technical support, please visit http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp *** Give the gift of Legacy for the holidays! 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