Citation Issues

Ship Passenger List Date and Arrival Date are Different

Dear EE,

I'm struggling with my first few citations of ships' passenger lists.  The date on the document is different from the known arrival date of the ship by a day or two (from newspaper ship arrival notices and even naturalization documents).

The date on the list is given as the "arrival date" by Ancestry (as it should be given no other information).

Citing untitled newspaper items

I've been transcribing and citing many items from small-town newspapers recently – and I updated from EE 2nd edition to 4th edition. I couldn't quite find a clear example of citing an untitled newspaper item and I was hoping for some guidance on the preferred style.

Here's an example – these are very small entries.

Evidence Explained and Chat GPT (2 of 2)

Hello Group,

I used ChatGPT to create a template based on the "digital image from an archive" citation style, as outlined in Evidence Explained.

Here is the attached document.

It told me“This follows a'digital image from an archive' citation style that is detailed in Chapter 4 of Evidence Explained under the 'Archival Record, Certified Digital Image' section." Here is the pdf I hope that it follows the Evidence Explained standards?If not please tell me what's missing please.

Evidence Explained and Chat GPT (1 of 2)

Hello Group,

I used ChatGPT to create a template for "Evidence Explained." Initially, it provided a version that used commas to separate the elements. I requested a revision to include way points instead(>), and it adjusted the format accordingly. It also supplied an example along with the updated template. Here is the pdf I hope that it follows the Evidence Explained standards? If not please tell me what's missing. I primarily work with Guatemala records btw.

Citing/Use of a specific Revolutionary War Pension record page as a birth source

I'm trying to construct a citation for an image found at fold3.com.  In my case I'm interested in citing the Bible page as a birth source for people with those birthdates. I've looked at several examples on this forum and believe I have it properly though I feel that I may have left something out or got it wrong.  The link takes you to the specific page, but I didn't see how the page number would be included in the citation.  Additionally, I wasn't sure about what I included after "citing".  I chose the NARA catalog title vice the Publication title.  Any help is appreciated.

Citing DNA information of testers whose kits and accounts have been deleted

With all the concern about the likely bankruptcy sale of 23andMe, the owners of some of the kits I manage wish to have their DNA samples, raw data and all related information deleted from various testing companies and their accounts closed. I am, of course, obligated to comply with their wishes. They do not object to my retaining copies of their raw data files and the reports and other information I’m able to download or take screen shots of. That being the case, I can continue using their test results in my research on our family. My questions are:

Citing a personal copy of a letter

My question concerns a citation issue that I run into frequently, but I cannot find any specific guidance in EE or in the Chicago Manual.

While going through historical archives I often come across autograph (original manuscript) copies of letters made by the letter writer. These were (presumably) made at the time the letter was sent and retained as part of the writer's personal records. Many are labeled "Copy" in the writer's hand.

Citing to Hearing Transcript

Greetings,

I am trying to cite to an immigration hearing transcript that was in an Alien Case File obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.

Going off the Third Edition, the closest thing I could find akin to this document would be 3.32. Admittedly, this was an administrative proceeding transcript and not an interview, but the citation I came up with looked like this:

Database with images and references to several images.

Hello,

I’m trying to create a first reference and then subsequent references for a probate packet of loose papers, imaged on FamilySearch. The papers include the estate inventory, division among heirs, and etc. The widow later remarried and died shortly after and the packet also includes the “Return of Dower.”   

Citing an official in a record

My target, William C Parker, has been playing hard to get for decades. I've nailed down some of his life, but except for a chunk of time in Itawamba, Mississippi, I don't know his birthplace, parents, or death. Knowing where he was at a certain date is helpful. 

Our new, wonderful, friend, the full-text search at FamilySearch found some records that put William in Itawamba in an interesting timeframe. The issue is that William is only on those records as the person who attested that the parties on the deed personally appeared in front of William.