Every now and then it is appropriate to acquaint our subcribers with this material. - Sandy Hunt,Co coordinator Hunt-L. GENEALOGICAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (NGS) Genealogical Standards http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandards.htm These Genealogical Standards are recommended by the National Genealogical Society. The NGS recommends Standards and Guidelines for the benefit of those who wish to improve their skills and performance in genealogy. NGS is neither an accrediting nor an enforcement agency, and does not determine whether its recommendations are being followed in any particular case. These recommendations have served their purpose when an individual decides that the Standards and Guidelines have or have not been applied in a matter of personal interest. NGS welcomes links to its Standards and Guidelines on other web sites, or their reproduction by others, as permitted by the copyright notice, but such support from others doesn't assure that their web sites or works conform to the recommended Standards or Guidelines. Should such a claim be made, it is a matter for each individual to consider, and to take whatever action seems appropriate from a personal standpoint. Genealogical Standards Standards For Sound Genealogical Research Recommended by the National Genealogical Society http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandsound.htm Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers consistently-- o record the source for each item of information they collect. o test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject those that are not supported by the evidence. o 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. o use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records, or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence discussed in them. o state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others. o 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. o avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate information. o state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and acknowledge all use of other researchers' work. o 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. o consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached. © 1997, 2002 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted to copy or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, including this notice. Previously published in MISSING LINKS, Vol. 8, No. 8, 23 February 2003 http://www.petuniapress.com END