As I’ve been starting my go-over (as part of Genealogy Do-Over Cycle 3), I’ve been digging thru my copy of Evidence Explained. Most of my data is documented, just not according to the current standards of Evidence Explained.
This week, I wrote a #52Ancestors post, Counting Horses, on the agriculture census data for one of my ancestors. I tried to document my references according to EE standards. Most of these sources are census records from Ancestry but are state and non-population census records. As I looked at the source data provided by Ancestry and compared it to the format for “Digital Images Online Commercial Site” in EE, I noticed that the Ancestry information did not provide the actual NARA publication number and roll number. For the Kansas census, Ancestry provided a roll number. When I checked the Kansas State Historical Society site, the roll number provided by Ancestry is different than the roll number assigned by Kansas.
Thus, my questions:
- Should I be looking up the NARA microfilm numbers for my citations from Ancestry?
- Should I change the citation for the Ancestry images of the 1875 Kansas census to reflect the correct roll number?
- I have the 2nd edition of Evidence Explained. Should I be updating this?
Even though I won’t be able to participate in the live sessions, I’m looking forward to Dear Myrtle’s upcoming study group, What Does She Say? Hopefully, I can learn more about properly citing genealogical sources and how to handle quandries like those I encountered today.
Although my progress on my do-over is slow, I am learning a lot and really appreciate the chance to improve my genealogical research skills.
Below are the citations I used:
- 1875 Kansas state census, Coffey County, populations schedule, Neosho township, p. 13, dwelling 97, family 97, for Alexander Briles; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 August 2015); citing 1875 Kansas State Census. Microfilm ks1875_4.
- 1875 Kansas state census, Coffey County, agriculture schedule, Neosho township, p. 3, line 24, for Alexander Briles; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 August 2015); citing 1875 Kansas State Census. Microfilm ks1875_4.
- 1870 U.S. census, Coffey County, Kansas, agriculture schedule, p. 2, line 18, Alexander Briles; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 August 2015); citing 1870; Census Place: Neosho, Coffey, Kansas from Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880.
- Corbin, Joyce, “Agriculture in Kansas” Kansapedia : Kansas Historical Society, November 2012, https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/agriculture-in-kansas/14188 : accessed 8 August 2015).