Hi Peggy,
I too have grappled long and hard with this. I found "Evidence"
useful, but had to modify her suggestions via trial and error to come
up with something that works for me. I am sure that no two people do
this exactly the same way! So get lots of examples and work out some
simple rules that work for you. Don't agonise over it too much. There
is no one right way.
I will try to articulate the rules that I use.
1. I assign each unique document as a master source and have some
consistent rules for labelling them. (I live in Australia, so some of
my examples differ from US practice). Some examples of the Names I use
for master sources, so I can find them (as distinct from the
citation):
a. BAUER, Keith, Letter to WEISS, Don 1 Aug 1998 [the entire letter]
b. Biographical Index of South Australians, 1836-1885
[this is a multivolume book; I don't include the editor in the
source name, as I can never remember her name!]
c. EVANS, John Stanton - Diary
d. SA, Death Certificate - LAPTHORNE, John [I have lots of master
sources like this]
e. SA Death Index 1842-62 [this is a CD index spanning one set of dates]
f. WEISS, R.A. - Personal Knowledge
Note that I name the master sources by the originator or author, or
something I will remember, not by whom the sources refer to.
I enter in the other fields of the Master Source (Author, Title,
Publication Facts) text so that the citation reads generally as per
Mills' recommendations in "Evidence".
2. On the detail source in the main field I try to summarise very
briefly the information I am citing. I then either copy the text into
the Detail Text tab or scan an appropriate extract into the Pictures
tab, so I can see exactly what I referenced. I used not to do that and
found I got very confused (well - more confuesd than normal,
anyway!!). Some examples, corresponding with the master sources above:
a. "Emigration details found on microfiche" [this was not a very useful letter!]
b. p1691 WEISS Anton Adolf [and include a scanned extract]
c. p3 boarded at Plymouth [and attach extract of text]
d. "Died of pneumonia"
[i.e. what I got off the death certificate that was relevant; I've
found it useful to clearly identify this, as well as attaching a
scanned copy of the certificate to the Master Source]
e. "Date of death; Book 9 p69"
f. "Attended funeral 1 Feb 1998"
This works for me (at long last). The principle I use is simple:
1. Master Source: the document (book, certificate, letter, internet
site or database, or person's knowledge) containing the information.
2. Source Detail: the specific location of this event or fact within
the master source, plus the actual transcribed detail
I find I need to copy Source Details a bit, but generally edit each
instance to make it specific to the event I am sourcing. The Source
Clipboard is essential for this. However, the approach I use gives a
reasonable balance between taking advantage of using Master Sources in
multiple places, and the need to copy details.
Trying to apply these principles to your example:
1. I would make each obituary a Master Source.
2. Depending on how big the clippings are, I'd either make all the
clippings from your mother one Master Source, or each major clipping a
Master Source if you can identify it somehow. If they are not
otherwise identified give them their own ID (Mum -1, Mum-2 or
whatever!!).
3. For something like an obituary, I would scan a copy with the Master
Source, and cite only the relevant detailed text "....was a member of
the Women's auxiliary from xxx to yy..." in the detail source.
I've found enough flexibility with the reporting to control the way
sources print for my needs, though others may disagree. I tick
"Include detail source pictures", but don't tick "Include master
source pictures". This way, the brief extracts that I scan and include
in detail sources print, and seem to fit ok, but the whole
certificates etc that I scan as the Master Source, and which don't
print well, don't print. Because the extract is specific to that
detailed event, I don't get too much repitition, though still get
some.
I hope this helps. I'm sure others on this list will provide a
different perspective.The only right way is one that works for you!
Cheers,
Rob
On 5/3/05, Peggy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> When I used Legacy several years ago I wasn't happy with the way I used the
> Master Source and the details. Now I'm getting bogged down again with this.
>
> For example, I have an obituary that gives a lot of information about a
> person and their spouse and marriage date. If I use a Master Source for this
> under each bit of information, and paste the text into the master source or
> source detail, won't this text print for each event making a lot of
> redundancy in reports and print outs? I tried entering it once in the source
> detail and adding a reference to it in the other events ("See text under
> Jane Doe's death source") but have been re-reading Elizabeth Shown Mills
> "Evidence" and she warns not to do that but to put the whole thing into each
> source.
>
> It seems, when reading her work that many sources won't have source details
> and there will be a lot of master sources. Source details would be primarily
> used for the book number, etc. Is that correct?
>
> I have a number of newspaper obituaries and clippings that my mother saved,
> that are from unidentified newspapers and sometimes are undated (other than
> the dates given in the text). If I make a Master Source: "Unidentified
> Newspaper" and add the details under the source details, "Unidentified
> Newspaper" is listed as a number of separate sources in the Master Source
> list. But if I add the text and details to the Master Source, to
> differentiate it, won't it again print the whole thing out under each event
> it's used for?
>
> Another problem is with funeral cards. I could add that as a category under
> type. Should I list the Master source as "Doe, Jane: Funeral Card? And add a
> type: "Funeral Cards?" Or would it be listed under, "Funeral Card, Doe,
> Jane?
>
> I have to try and go back and do sourcing in a consistant way in my older
> legacy files, but until I understand better how to use them that would be a
> waste of time. I've printed out all the examples from the tips on the legacy
> site, but none address these specific issues (that I can see). I can't seem
> to find help in the help file (may have missed it) and Mills book,
> "Evidence" is focused on how to properly cite the sources, rather than how
> to enter them in Legacy's fields. I've also watched the training video,
> "Ultimate Guide to Sources" and am still confused.
>
> Is there any place online, or in a book that offers simple help in this? I
> would be so grateful to learn how others handle some of these problems. I
> think it must be that I haven't grasped the concept of using Master Sources
> and Source Details.
>
> Peggy
>
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