Citing Your Online Sources
Hello again! Let's continue our discussion on making your genealogy research even more robust, this time with a specific focus on citing your online sources.
One of the key aspects of organised genealogy, as highlighted in an earlier blog post, is diligently recording where every piece of information comes from. This practice, known as citing your sources, is essential for ensuring you can always go back and verify the accuracy of your findings. Sources play a crucial role in validating the accuracy of your family tree.
When conducting your research using online platforms like Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast, MyHeritage, or WikiTree, it's important to make use of the tools they provide for adding notes and source citations. These platforms and specialised genealogy software often have useful fields to fill in that help you record this important information. Taking the time to complete these fields will greatly benefit your future research.
Screenshot from Ancestry.co.uk 23 April 2025
The process of creating a source citation involves defining the source (the website or database) and the specific details within that source. When you attach a record from Ancestry into your online tree or through Family Tree Maker, the system automatically creates those source citations for you. However, when you find information on other websites or online databases, you'll need to craft your own source citations. You can typically add a source in the facts view of new Ancestry at the top or bottom of the source column.
When creating a new source on Ancestry, the title field is required, but including additional details like the website name or database title can be very helpful. Remember that the repository you cite should be where you accessed the information. For example, if you find a record on FamilySearch, then FamilySearch is the repository for your citation. The purpose of your citation is to enable yourself and others to find the same information you referenced.
After defining the source, you'll create the citation, which pertains to the specific information you are using from that source. While only a title is required in this field on Ancestry, you can include details like volume or film numbers if applicable to the online collection.
It's considered a good practice to attach the media (like a document image you found online) to the source citation, rather than just to a specific fact. This is because a single source you find online can often provide evidence for multiple pieces of information.
It's also a valuable exercise to review and refine the source citations that Ancestry automatically generates. This will help you understand what information is included and ensure it accurately reflects where you found the data. By double-clicking on any source in the centre section, you can edit the citation details.
Remember, the general guideline is to cite what you saw and where you found it. If you find an index entry on Ancestry, you would cite Ancestry. If you see an actual image of a record on Ancestry, you would still cite Ancestry as where you found it. Both Ancestry and FamilySearch often provide citation text that you can copy and paste into your own records.
For further guidance on how to craft effective source citations for online resources, consider consulting resources like "Evidence Explained" by Elizabeth Shown Mills or "Simple Citations for Genealogical Sources". These resources can provide models and examples for citing various types of online records.
By consistently and accurately citing your online sources, you build a more reliable and transparent record of your family history research.