Hi John,
A timely reminder for us all. Well said!!
Hilary
-----Original Message-----
From: powys-bounces(a)rootsweb.com [mailto:powys-bounces@rootsweb.com] On
Behalf Of John Ball
Sent: 27 March 2007 11:00
To: Powys List
Subject: [POWYS] What is Genealogical Proof?
Dear Listers,
When investigating our family histories, I'm sure we sometimes wonder what
level of proof is needed in order to satisfy ourselves, and others, that our
research results are sound. Each conclusion we reach about an ancestor must
have sufficient credibility to be accepted as *proved*. Of course, to
satisfy ourselves we can set whatever standard of proof we wish, but to
satisfy others we need to work to a standard of proof which is widely
accepted in the field of genealogy.
Traditionally, genealogists have employed a standard of proof based closely
on the legal principle of 'preponderance of the evidence', which Black's Law
Dictionary defines as evidence which shows "...that what is sought to be
proved is more likely true than not true". The evidence available at the
time is weighed, and a decision is made based on whichever evidence is the
most convincing.
["Black's Law Dictionary" edited by J. R. Nolan and M. J. Connolly, 6th
edition published 1990, West Publishing Co., Minnesota; p. 1182]
However, unlike the law, genealogy is not constrained by deadlines (such as
the date of a court trial) at which time a decision on the evidence *must*
be made. If convincing evidence for a genealogical event is not available,
we can always delay making a decision or drawing a conclusion until we are
able to find suitable evidence. And if no suitable evidence comes to light,
we can say "not known".
Over the past decade or so, genealogists, particularly in North America,
have moved away from the legal principle of 'preponderance of the evidence',
to a standard of proof which is more relevant to the circumstances
prevailing in family history research. This standard of proof has become
known as the 'Genealogical Proof Standard' or 'GPS'.
The Genealogical Proof Standard sets out the requirements that genealogists
must satisfy before using the terms 'proved' or 'proof'. The GPS is
usually
described in five stages. The first four stages relate to the way
genealogical evidence must be tested before reaching a conclusion, while the
final stage relates to how that conclusion must be constructed and written.
The five stages require:
1. a reasonably exhaustive search for evidence;
2. complete and accurate source citations;
3. analysis and correlation of the collected information;
4. resolution of any conflicting evidence; and
5. a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.
The GPS has become the accepted standard in genealogy in North America since
1997/98. It is clearly and fully explained on the website of the [US] Board
for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) at
http://www.bcgcertification.org/resources/standard.html
It is an interesting and sometimes sobering exercise to see how one's own
family history research measures up to the Genealogical Proof Standard!
Kind regards,
John
--------------------
John Ball, Ystalyfera, near Swansea, Wales, UK
E-mail: john(a)jlb2005.plus.com
John's Homepage:
http://www.jlb2005.plus.com/
Images of Wales:
http://www.jlb2005.plus.com/walespic/
Welsh Family History Archive:
http://www.jlb2005.plus.com/wales/
GENUKI Breconshire Maintainer:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/BRE/
Joint Administrator - Powys (& BRE/MGY/RAD) RootsWeb mailing lists
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