Standards for Sound Genealogical Research from the National Genealogical Society

A cold, blustery, winter day was the perfect time to tackle a pile of old genealogy magazines before relegating them to the recycling bin. It would have been perfectly logical to just pop them into the gaping blue hole, but what if there were something valuable still to be learned in one of those twenty-five-year-old journals? And, of course, there was!

Here, from a 1997 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly is a wonderful reminder of how important it is that we approach our research thoroughly and conscientiously. We offer it to you exactly as it appeared in the journal:

Standards for Sound Genealogical Research

Recommended by the National Genealogical Society

Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers consistently—

• record the source for each item of information they collect.
• test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence and reject those that are not supported by the evidence.
• seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their research conclusions.
• use compilations, communications, and published works, whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records.
• state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence and identify the evidence when communicating a fact to others.
• limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement that is based on less than convincing evidence and state the reasons for concluding that it is probable or possible.
• avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate information.
• state carefully and honestly the results of their own research and acknowledge all use of other researchers' work.
• recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their work available to others through publication, or by placing copies in appropriate libraries or repositories and by welcoming critical comment.
• consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached.

(Copyright 1997 by National Genealogical Society. 

Permission is granted to copy or publish this material, provided it is reproduced in its entirety, including this notice.)

What does this mean for us as genealogists?

1. Citations are vital to our research and should be done as completely as possible.
2. Limiting ourselves to just what we can find on one website or what we have seen on other family trees is potentially harmful to our research and to that of others, if we spread it without analyzing it.
3. We need to always examine evidence carefully to be sure it is logical and accurate.
4. Plagiarism, in any form, is always wrong! That includes "borrowing" text and images from websites or books for reproduction in our own publications.
5. Genealogy is all about sharing: publishing, discussing, disseminating, teaching. We all learn from each other.
6. Just because we thought something was "the truth" doesn't mean it actually is. Be open to discovering new truths, based on our ability to look at new records, new understanding of old theories, and our ability now to analyze DNA in ways we never thought possible.

Learn together!

• Join St. Louis Genealogical Society to keep learning about best practices in genealogy. More information on our website.
• Attend our annual Family History Conference on Saturday, 6 May 2023! "Explore Unique Pathways to Smash Brick Walls!" Registration now open on our website.
• Join the National Genealogical Society for more opportunities to enhance your research skills. Learn more on the NGS website about what they can offer you.