End of 2020; Time for Something New!

As the year draws to a close, it feels time to start something new in a an old container: this blog. I've been writing for my society at https://skcgs.blogspot.com/. I've learned a lot about DNA and how to do better research, and it's about time to tell some of the stories uncovered along the way. 

I'll also be writing here for the new study group we are beginning in January, of the book Genetic Genealogy in Practice. 

First though, new book for Christmas:

Mastering Genealogical Proof, by Thomas W. Jones, 2013: National Genealogical Society, Arlington, VA

Thank you Paul & Tara! It is a textbook, with questions at the end of every chapter. 







Mastering Genealogical Proof Chapter One: Genealogy's Standard of Proof


1. What is genealogy?

Genealogy is the study of families, known and unknown, by "accurately reconstructing forgotten or unknown identities and relationships of all sorts.[1] Research is drawn from all sorts of records, including those created by governments, businesses, journalists, photographers, family record-keepers, historians, courts, police, demographers and and genetics. This list is not complete! To assure accurate conclusions, genealogists have agreed on standards, call the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS). 

2. What are the GPS's five elements?

Before one can begin applying the GPS, a research question must be posed. If research begins with a narrow question about identity or relationship, the search can be focused and exhaustive without being exhausting!

GPS element one is reasonably exhaustive research. Gathering evidence can begin once the question is asked. Often rare or obscure record sources must be consulted, and if there questions about multiple people being conflated, each candidate must be thoroughly vetted and compared. "Negative evidence" should be noted as well as sources which seem to answer the research question. At this point, a hypothesis begins to form, which must be supported and proved. 

GPS element two is informative citations, which describe sources which support the hypothesis, and show how the evidence in sources proves the case, and allows others to easily find and consult the source and evaluate it.

GPS element three is analysis and comparison, or correlation. An argument supporting the conclusion is built on the foundation of the evidence found during research, and demonstrated by the citations. 

GPS element four is resolution of conflicting evidence. There will always be conflicting evidence because human-created records are never completely accurate. All the conflicts must be resolved.

GPS element five is a written conclusion. Thus your work is exposed to public view, and available for independent evaluation.

3. You have shared your family history with someone who wants you to omit all the proof statements, proof summaries, and proof arguments, including explanations of reasoning and documentation. How do you reply? 

Asking for a "history" with no proof and documentation is like handing someone an empty (but pretty) plate and saying "Enjoy your dinner!" The whole work is valuable not only now, but to researchers in the future. Without proof, not so.

4. Why can't a genealogical conclusion be partially proved? 

A conclusion means the case is proven and closed until new evidence is presented. If the research is not exhaustive, the case is still open. If the citations are not presented, the analysis and comparisons are not fully made, if all the conflicting evidence is not resolved, or the case is not been written and presented for analysis by others, the case can not be considered closed. 

5. What is the first step in genealogical research? 

Successful research answers a question, so the first step is crafting a clear, focused question. 


Upon consulting the "answers in the back" -- I did leave out that genealogy research covers both living and dead people, and that we seek all the relationships and related information, whether adoptive, biological, marital, extramarital, and other kinds of relationships. In question 5 I left out the word "interdependent" about the 5 elements of the GPS, although I did describe why they depend on one another.

------

1. Mastering Genealogical Proof, by Thomas W. Jones, 2013: National Genealogical Society, Arlington, VA, page 1.

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