GenDoc Study Group: Chapter 9

Mastering Genealogical Documentation Study Group

Chapter Nine – Citing Absent, Hidden, Obvious, and Perplexing Dates

Marceline Beem

Reference:

Jones, Thomas W. "Citing Absent, Hidden, Obvious, and Perplexing Dates." In Mastering Genealogical Documentation, 89-94. Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2017.

This week’s chapter discusses how to answer the WHEN question in a citation.   The homework section suggests we use sources from our own research to answer the when question for several types of sources (see questions 79-83).  

Books

Citations for books use the date of publication to answer the WHEN question.  In my example, the book was published in 1936.  Notice that the answer to WHEN is not included in the shortened citation, as it is not necessary to identifying the source. 

Source List Entry

Beem, Nelson.  A History of the Michael Beem Family.  Loudonville, Ohio: n.p., 1936.

Full Reference Note

Beem, Nelson Clifford, A History of the Michael Beem Family (Loudonville, Ohio: n.p., 1936), 32.

Short Note

Beem,  A History of the Michael Beem Family, 32.

Journal or magazine

To answer the WHEN question for journals or magazines, use the date of publication, including the month or quarter. In citing an article from the Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly, I use October 1901, the issue date of the article.  Again, the date is not included in the short note, as it is not needed for clarity in identifying the source. 

Source List Entry

Jennings, William H., “Marriage Record, Washington County, Ohio,” Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly 4 (October 1901): 128-131.

Full Reference Note

William H. Jennings, “Marriage Record, Washington County, Ohio,” Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly 4 (October 1901): 128-131, specifically page 130.

Short Note

Jennings, “Marriage Record, Washington County, Ohio,” 130.

Website

Citations for website use the date of publication, if known, or the date viewed/accessed. This particular website was first published in 2009, and I viewed it on September 23, 2017. Once again, the WHEN is not needed in the short note, so it is omitted.

Source List Entry

Coggins, Allen R. The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. http://www.tennesseeencyclopedia.net : 2009.

Full Reference Note

Allen R. Coggins, The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (http://www.tennesseeencyclopedia.net : published 2009, viewed 26 September 2017), “Fraterville Mine Explosion.”

Short Note

Coggins, The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, “Fraterville Mine Explosion.”

Unpublished source with only one WHEN answer 

I interviewed my great-aunt, Nel (Beem) Critchett, by phone early in my genealogy research.  I took notes, but did not record and transcribe the interview.  I also didn’t record the date, a newbie mistake, but I can estimate one because I know when I started doing genealogy research, and remember that I interviewed her within a year of my father’s death in 1998.  I can cite the date by using a qualifier to let my audience know that the date is an estimate.  Here the when IS included in the short note, as I may have more than one interview with Aunt Nel.  The date is needed to identify which interview is being referenced.

Source List Entry

Critchett, Nella (Beem).  Bend, Oregon. Phone interview by Marceline R. Beem, about 1999.  Interview notes.  Privately held by interviewer, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] Melrose, Florida, 1999.

Full Reference Note

Nella (Beem) Critchett, daughter of Frances Horton Wallace Beem, (Bend, Oregon), phone interview by Marceline Beem, about 1999; notes privately held by interviewer, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] Melrose, Florida, 1999.

Short Note

Nella (Beem) Critchett, phone interview, about 1999.

Unpublished source with more than one WHEN answer

My great-grandfather received a military pension for his Spanish-American War service.  When citing this pension, I need to include the record group and the date span of that record group.  However, that is not enough to answer the WHEN question.  This particular pension file covers a broad date range (1924-1954), and contains close to 1,500 pages.  I always include the particular document – medical exam, interview, sworn affidavit, letter – and the date it was created as part of the citation.  The WHEN answer is included in the short note, as it is needed to identify which document is being referenced.

 

Arthur M. Beem's Spanish-American War Pension File

Source List Entry

Civil War and Later Pension Files.  Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15.  National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Full Reference Note

Letter from Arthur Beem dated July 13, 1950, Arthur M. Beem (Sgt., Co. E, 4^th Ill. Inf., Spanish American War), certificate number 1,257,614, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C

Short Note

Letter from Arthur Beem dated July 13, 1950, Arthur M. Beem, Spanish American War pension certificate number 1,257,614.