Difference between revisions of "Sources"
m (→Religious documents) |
m (→Official documents) |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
=== Official documents === | === Official documents === | ||
* [[Birth certificate]]s | * [[Birth certificate]]s | ||
− | |||
* Still births | * Still births | ||
* Marriage certificates | * Marriage certificates | ||
* Divorces | * Divorces | ||
− | |||
* [[Death certificate]]s | * [[Death certificate]]s | ||
− | |||
* Official name changes | * Official name changes | ||
* Naturalization records | * Naturalization records | ||
− | + | ||
=== Religious documents === | === Religious documents === | ||
* [[Baptise record|Baptism records]] | * [[Baptise record|Baptism records]] |
Revision as of 08:51, 9 May 2010
Sources play a key role in genealogy.
Contents
Definition
A source is anything (personal testimony, video recording, photograph, newspaper column, gravestone...) from which (genealogical) information can be derived.
It is useful to make the following distinctions between sources:
- Primary source: firsthand evidence of history, made at the time of the event. For example, diaries, certificates, newspapers, ...
- Secondary source: accounts of history based upon primary and secondary sources, offering commentary and analysis, such as history books, genealogical publications,...
- Tertiary source: a selection and compilation from primary and secondary sources. For example, library catalogues, bibliographies, ...
Most important genealogical sources
Official documents
- Birth certificates
- Still births
- Marriage certificates
- Divorces
- Death certificates
- Official name changes
- Naturalization records
Religious documents
Residences
- Census records