Multiple Myths & Misconceptions

Did you know that everything has been scanned and made available online? Speaking of online, did you know that you can trust everything on an online family tree? If you have done genealogy for a while, you have likely encountered a few myths and misconceptions (like these!), which have proven to be false, incomplete, or misleading. These can sometimes derail your research or confuse you for a time. Hopefully, you have been able to recover and retool if they have caused problems for you.

To potentially save you from falling victim to these myths and misconceptions, we have identified several to discuss further, in hopes that you will be able to recognize and avoid them, should they come your way. We have also offered some antidotes and strategies to combat them when you are confronted with them.

Everything Has Been Scanned and Made Available Online!

FALSE

While a lot of materials have been scanned and made available online, there are just as many (or more!) that are only accessible in print, on-location at a library, museum, archive, church, courthouse, etc. Many places are actively scanning and adding materials online, but there is no centralized place to find and access these. You can go online to FamilySearch, the Internet Archive, library genealogy databases, etc. and find a lot of scanned records. Thankfully, you can also find print resources through websites like WorldCat and ArchiveGrid. There are also publications in the library collection that discuss the physical items that are held in specific locales and identify genealogy repositories throughout the world. You can then plan a visit or try to contact them to see if they mail or copy materials.

You Can Trust Everything on an Online Family Tree!

FALSE

Many tools make it very easy to connect documents to online trees, and this is a great asset that can help you progress in your research; however, it is also a liability because folks (and AI) sometimes attach the wrong records to the wrong people. You have likely found this to be true if you have an online family tree; however, it is tempting to just add people to your tree when you get a hint or suggestion. Don’t give into temptation! You will want to evaluate these hints before accepting them, which will require you to do your own research and compare it with what you already know. If you find false or inaccurate information in someone else’s tree, you may want to contact them or upload your information that explains why you think their tree is mistaken. Everyone can benefit this way.

Citations Are Only for Professionals or Those Who Plan to Publish!

FALSE

A citation is simply a way to track your research so that you (and others) can find the information later. It is also a way to show how you arrived to a certain conclusion about an ancestor. It is easy to move quickly through research (especially when we are hot on the trail of an elusive ancestor!), but you will want to stop and take the time to document where you find records. Your future self will thank you if you ever need to revisit something. (If you download a record, it is important to have a good way to organize it, and your citation can include where to find the physical or digital copy in your personal records.) For suggestions on how to cite, check out these library resources. Basically, you should develop a method that documents where, when, who, what, and how you found something. The key is to be consistent and develop a method that works for you.

If It Is in Print, It Must Be True!

FALSE

Sometimes, we fall victim to thinking that print is better than online. They both have their potential issues. You should always evaluate a source, no matter where it appears. Published family histories and trees are just as susceptible to errors. They could be mistypes, misinterpreted records, or misunderstood information. The same goes for indexes and original records which can be filled with various mistakes or untruths. You must consider the author, date, and source and then compare the item to other documents to make a judgement about its accuracy and usefulness.

If the Courthouse Burned, the Records Are Lost!

FALSE

Just like the 1890 census which was lost in a fire, many county courthouses have burned over the years. While these disasters may have eliminated certain records and some information was lost forever, there are often surrogates or other ways to find the information. There may have been copies sent to the state or held in another place. There may be ways to piece together or infer the information by collecting other types of documents, too. Do not give up hope when you encounter a fire! You can usually find the information through other means. Thankfully, there have been many different types of records, kept in various places throughout the centuries. Your challenge is locating and collecting these!

We hope that naming and discussing these myths and misconceptions was helpful for you. If you are interested in exploring others, check out a recent Family Tree Magazine article. As you will see, there are many others out there! Stay vigilant and informed.