What makes it worse is that people in general have a tendency to believe a record because *obviously* all this work has been done, so it must be accurate...
Without sources, it ain't accurate. If another researcher can't duplicate the research (and that eliminates websites as really valid sources, because they change so often) from the data you give, it ain't accurate. (Sorry - must be an "ain't" day). Still, downloaded gedcoms without sources can provide clues, leads, and hints that *may* allow you to document and verify. But until it's documented - and that means copies (preferably, but not necessarily, certified, with the exact location of the original designated) of the original documents, not somebody's handwritten notes copying parts of a record - then the data is not reliable. (I'm learning this point more and more as I go along. Got to go back and start documenting all the data I have - most of it is based on mom's handwritten notes (bless her) which, as often as not, do not designate the exact source of the data... Arrgh!) And that brings it right back to Legacy (and similar programs) which offer ready means to document sources AND to incorporate graphic copies of documents into the record. It's a far cry from what this field was when mom was doing her genealogy work 15-30 years ago. trapper John Lancaster Trapper's Genealogy on the Web: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jclancaster/ Email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Just to clarify, as there have been several comments > along this vein, I certainly didn't mean to imply that > people should include their sources. I understand that > you put work in to your research just as I do. What I > don't understand is why there are so many sites that > let you download GEDCOMs (meaning it is obviously a > popular thing) if they don't include sources. To me, > they become largely useless (other than for clues as > someone mentioned) without original sources. > > I think the real answer is that a lot of people don't > care about sources. For these people, downloaded > GEDCOMs w/out sources would be great. I think it's > just that I have become so used to not beliving any > information without a convincing (meaning vital > record, book, etc as opposed to a downloaded > file)source that I didn't understand the perceived > value in these files. > > I also was concerned with making sure that there > really were (often) no sources included as opposed to > me making a mistake importing it into Legacy. You all > were very helpful in clarifying this. Thank you. > > --- "J. Hugh Sullivan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Sources not furnished? Excuse the ego and > > selfishness but you probably > > won't get my sources. I might give them on your > > family but not the > > peripheral lines - pay me $120 per hour to do your > > research or do it > > yourself. > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! > http://greetings.yahoo.com > To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp
