An earlier article in this column described the Genealogical Proof Standard. This Proof Standard consists of five steps:
1. Conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for all information that is or may be pertinent to the question for which you are seeking an answer.
2. Completely and accurately cite every source of information discovered in this search.
3. Analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence.
4. Resolve any conflicts caused by contradictory items of evidence or information contrary to your conclusion.
5. Arrive at a “soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion”
This article focuses on the first step, “conduct a reasonably exhaustive search...”
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The first step of the Genealogical Proof Standard requires that one “conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for all information that is or may be pertinent to the question for which you are seeking an answer [emphasis added].” This step is the information-gathering part of the process.
What exactly is a “reasonably exhaustive search,” as defined in genealogical research? To put it in simpler terms, one must search all records available for information that may be relevant to your problem.
For example, say that you are researching your great-grandfather, who lived from 1897 to 1978. First, you must define your problem. For the purposes of this article, we will define the problem as his date of birth. In order to conduct a reasonably exhaustive search, you must locate any record that might possibly contain his date of birth or his age:
- Depending on the state in which he was born, your great-grandfather’s birth may also have been recorded. Check the laws of the state to determine when vital registration began; if it began before his birth, you should attempt to locate a birth certificate or registration.
- Church baptismal records may have his date of birth as well as the date of his baptism.
- His marriage license or marriage certificate may include his age at the time of his marriage.
- His death certificate, obituary, tombstone, and entry in the Social Security Death Index, would all likely contain his date of birth. All of these records should be obtained. You should also request a copy of his original SS-5 (request for a social security number) from the Social Security Administration.
- The federal census records from 1900 through 1930 should all be located, as these would contain his age.
- His date of birth in 1897 would have required him to register for the World War I Draft in 1917-1918, as well as the Fourth Registration of the Draft during World War II, in 1942. Both of these draft cards should be sought and obtained.
- If you know that he served in the military, you should request his service file from the National Personnel Records Center, in St. Louis, Missouri.
All of these records, and possibly others, contain information that is relevant to your search for his date of birth.
Now, say that your defined problem is to identify his father. All of the above records would still be relevant, as some of them would contain direct evidence of this fact as well. For example, birth certificates and death certificates both usually contain the name of the father, as should any church baptismal records. The federal census records should show your great-grandfather living in his father’s household as a child and a young man, unless there was a reason otherwise, such as death or divorce.
In this case, other records would contain additional information relevant to the problem, though these would not be obtainable until you have identified a potential father. The father’s obituary, for example, may list his surviving family, including your great- grandfather. The father’s probate records may include a list of heirs, which should include, once again, your great-grandfather. These records will help to corroborate your preliminary conclusions, and should also be obtained.
Each individual problem in your genealogical research should be thus identified, and a “reasonably exhaustive search” performed. Once you complete this step, you can move on to the remainder of the Genealogical Proof Standard. The next step will be explored in a future article.
For more information on the Genealogical Proof Standard, read the following books:
Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case
The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual
Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace
Comments
Thank you so very much for this article :) I needed some this spelled out for me. I started my tree online and have been going though their database for 2 years. Now I really understand what information is out there that I don't have access to online. Hope to see more beginner stuff like this.
Michael, thank you for putting this process in such clear and understandible terms. Great contribution to advocating the GPS!
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