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Ethics Question
DearREADERS,
This question is one of several that came across my desk Thursday evening. I
discussed much of this with the chat group over at http://www.bhocutt.com
and we came to many of these same conclusions. HOW DO YOU FEEL about:
What must the online genealogist consider as far as copyright, not only
taking care to give proper credit and citations, but also to avoid being ripped
off?
Basically, I believe that the guidelines posted as Standards at the NGS National
Genealogical Society http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandards.htm
web site should guide each researcher.
Traditionally genealogists have been a kindly, sharing group of individuals. After
all, no single researcher has every piece of the ancestral puzzle. We need to
share research back and forth among those with common ancestors. Successful
genealogy research does not exist in a vacuum where one works totally alone. Its
then only a matter of common sense to cite the source of each piece of the
puzzle, to leave a WIDE audit trail for those that follow, and to give credit
where credit is due.
That wide audit trail is essential for others to be able to evaluate the
reliability of our research in our absence. Given such source citations (author,
title, call number, microfilm number, publication date, etc.) it would be
possible for a great-great-grandchild to obtain photocopies (or whatever they'll
be using then) of original documents relating to his family tree. WHAT A JOY
that would be for him -- that's certainly how I feel when I find a new census or
probate record mentioning an ancestor!
Should additional documentation come to light in the mean time, that
distant great-great-grandchild should compare it with our old compiled
genealogy, to see if the new information supports or refutes the lineage
assumptions we've made.
Hopefully, genealogies will improve over time, as we take what others
have compiled and obtain additional documentation -- perhaps distinguishing
between two John Smiths in an area where it was previously thought there was
only one individual by that name. In such as case, it isn't necessary to
denigrate the work of the previous researcher. Merely point out the expanded
list of documents proving the distinctions and bring the family puzzle into a
new light. I am sure the older genealogies accomplished a lot in providing other
pieces of the puzzle. Cite all sources!
Fortunately, I know of only one person who has stated she is unwilling to
share her compiled genealogy data & documentation with others because she
plans to print a book. <sigh> I suspect, though, that the individual in
question most certainly benefited from previously compiled research in books,
web sites and CD databases. It would be impossible to avoid the use of these
items as clues leading to the discovery of original documents. For example, one
would even have to consider a clerk of the court's marriage indexes as
previously compiled research. Such an index is indeed one step removed from the
original creation of marriage licenses and marriage returns.
The NGS and other nationally ranked genealogy societies rightfully push for
high standards in documentation and high standards in the presentation of
one's compiled genealogy. (Hence the Henry numbering system, footnotes in
quarterly publications, etc.) I believe there is also room for individuals who
merely take their computer print outs and photocopy 25 pages of their personal
recollections at the local office supply store and send them in manila envelopes
to their distant family members. Wouldn't we each give our eye teeth to have
such a write up from our Civil War or Revolutionary War ancestor?
But as always, family lore must be proved before incorporating it into
our pedigree charts. Looking at documents created at the time our ancestors
lived are eyewitness accounts of life as they knew it.
YES, it costs money to order microfilm, send away for a marriage record
and a complete military pension file. Its a major investment with the current
price of gasoline to take that essential cemetery research trip to the next
state. But then what price can we truly put on knowing from whence we came?
For Further Reading:
Evidence! Source Citation & Analysis by Elizabeth Shown Mills. http://www.genealogical.com
Happy Family Tree Climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Daily Genealogy Columnist
AOL Keywords: roots, myrtle
To post a message on this topic, go to Myrt's Message Board
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