Recently, on the Cyndi's List Facebook page, on an unrelated topic, the following two statements were made:
"Be careful with the LDS thing. Very little documentation.""Yes, my ancestors on one side joined when the church first began - lots of wrong, wrong, wrong info on them on the LDS site!!! No verification of information at all. It's like going on Ancestry and just grabbing family trees without documenting the info!"
I was disappointed with the very general, broadly condemning, generic statements that were made about an invaluable resource to genealogists worldwide. And I was disappointed that the statements weren't more specific with verifiable facts. This is something that we, as genealogists, should attempt in all written communications. Therefore, I have a few points to make about these statements.
- When people refer to the "LDS site" they are generally referring to FamilySearch located at http://www.familysearch.org. FamilySearch is made up of numerous resources for genealogical research, including:
- A searchable catalog of all the holdings of the Family History Library located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The library is open to the public and the holdings are shared with everyone.
- The new FamilySearch Indexing Project that allows volunteers worldwide to index the records on microfilm held by the library. The indexes are available through FamilySearch Record Search.
- The ability to share your research with others.
- Research helps in the way of articles, Research Guidance, FamilySearch Wiki, Ask a Question forums, and online classes.
- And databases including Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index (IGI), the Pedigree Resource File, the US Social Security Death Index (SSDI), a Vital Records Index for Mexico and Scandinavia, and free access to three censuses (1880 United States, 1881 British Isles, or the 1881 Canadian Census)
- See my page for FamilySearch for a breakdown and deep-links into this incredible site.
- When people are talking about that "LDS thing" and "very little documentation" they are actually referring to the lineage-linked databases hosted at FamilySearch. Those are the Ancestral File, the IGI, and the Pedigree Resource File. And here is where I get a bit picky about language and broadly painting these databases with a negative brush. Those three databases are not the only lineage-linked databases out there. There are similar databases hosted at RootsWeb, Ancestry, OneGreatFamily, and many others. See my page for Lineage Linked Databases for definitions and examples. Basically, the lineage-linked databases are a dumping ground where everyone can put a copy of their family tree. The problem is that most people who do so do it when they are relatively new to genealogical research. Sometimes they are also put there by people who don't really care about doing any research beyond talking to Grandma and writing down what she remembers. And often the family trees are generally just a collection of names and dates without verification and documentation to prove each of those items. Lineage-linked databases should be used with caution and used only as possible clues that point you in the direction you need. It is up to you to find the documentation to prove the data you will use in your research.
- There are a lot of things that go into being a good genealogist. One of the most important is that the statements we make—sentences, names, dates, research conclusions, proof arguments, and more—MUST be clearly written and factual. And when a fact is not known the statement must clearly indicate that a fact is not known. If a guess is being made it needs to be labeled as a guess. If an assumption is being made, you shouldn't be a genealogist.
Clearly the "LDS site" has a lot of great records and documentation available, as well as other information that will help you in your research. And you do not have to be a member of the church in order to reap the benefits of their dedication to genealogy.
Clearly, "very little documentation" is not something specific to that "LDS thing" at all. The cautionary statements should refer more specifically to all lineage-linked databases and all sites that contain a collection of names and dates without something to back to them up.
I believe that the statements made on the CL FB page were misleading and wrong. I believe the intent was to point out that it is important to know that lineage-linked databases can contain unproven data. However, the statements pointed unfairly to the entirety of all LDS holdings for genealogy online. And in doing so they also indicated unfairly that all LDS research is something to be wary of using. I used these statements as an example to show that sometimes the intent of what we are saying isn't what ends up being said. I challenge all of us to be careful in what we write and be thorough in how we present our ideas and opinions.
9 comments:
This is all so true. I recently found potential links to my family tree on Ancestry, where people had added parents for individuals, who were actually born after them!
As you say, the linkage sites are really useful for providing new research avenues, however, if you take your family history seriously you will always wish to verify the information - otherwise why bother?
Thank you Cyndi for your comments. There are no doubt errors, as you say..there are everywhere. However, errors or not, the LDS folks spend years putting information together..it's all volunteer - and offering it for free. As you pointed out, they do not hoard info for members only nor do they charge for it. In fact, a member will help you for free whether you are a member or not. I'm one of those members - one who helps folks and one of the ones who volunteered my hours to help transcribe records and to beta test the new family search system. To anyone that wants to put down the system because humans make mistakes or because they are untrained and don't know any better - may I suggest you spend that energy going out and helping to fix what is incorrect. Also, Ancestry will always gladly take your money.
Cyndi, yes, I agree. I might also add that "wrong, wrong, wrong" information can also be good good good. We so often look for the easy route to our ancestors, but as genealogists, we know sleuthing is almost always necessary. Any bits and pieces of info are invaluable in that sense including the names and addresses of contributors to those family databases on Family Search.
I wanted to say thanks for the thought-provoking and clearly-written post. Your intention for this post is a very helpful one. But for me, I am glad these haphazard comments were made. Your response was a very good reminder for me about the value of family tree posting and the pitfalls to keep in mind. I have made a recent vow to comment more when I read these excellent commentaries in my genealogy blogs. So THANKS.
Nancy Hurley
Thank you Cyndi for all you do and have done for family history. I am taking a course on genealogy and have been directed to your website many times. What a great resource. (I hope you won't mind if I make a editing suggestion here...while browsing the ethnic group list in the topical index I noticed that the South American country Colombia, is misspelled.) Thanks again for all you do!
A worthy challenge. We can use this rule and example in all areas of communication.
"Lineage-linked databases should be used with caution and used only as possible clues that point you in the direction you need. It is up to you to find the documentation to prove the data you will use in your research."
I think this is the best I've ever heard this point made. All of us come up against unverified, unsourced info. That doesn't make it useless, just unsourced. The bulk of the family trees at Ancestry that I find are almost always unsourced and source documents is primarily what Ancestry sells. In the end, this unverified info can help us rule someone in or out and should be used in that way.
Thanks for a great post.
Thank you, Cyndi, for your words. This education you have shared with us is all encompassing, no matter where we search. LDS was my very first source - in the micro-fiche days and what a treasure to find!
Yet, more than in a genealogical sense.... "watch what you say and how you say it"... for me, is the greater message ....across all aspects of this world we share.
Thank you!
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