Below is a copy of an email that I recently sent to the editors of the Ancestry.com online magazine. I thought it might be useful to others, so I'm forwarding it to this list. Thanks! Mary Jo C. Martin Melbourne, Australia [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Mary Jo C. Martin <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, 6 January 2001 10:54 Subject: Citing countries as well >Your Ancestry Quick Tip of 2 Jan 2001 about including the state of >reference, by Ruth Dunlap, inspired me to write to you about something that >I've been aware of for many years, but never seen discussed elsewhere. It >is not only desirable to indicate the state of reference, but the country as >well. There are a few issues involved in this reminder: > >Not Just a US Phenomenon >As someone who has moved away from my country of origin -- the United >States -- I can attest to the fact that genealogy is not just a US >phenomenon. Many people all over the world are pursuing this hobby with >vigor. As in so many other areas, however, the US -- by virtue of its >demographic size, wealth, educated citizenry, and perhaps its status as an >immigrant nation -- leads the way in genealogical research, especially >electronic. The great majority of genealogical e-zines, websites, and >electronic bulletin boards and lists originate in the US, but American >contributors and users have to remember that they are not the only ones >using them. Anyone whose native language is English -- and a great many who >consider it a second or third language -- also use these valuable resources. >There are 322,000,000 English first language speakers in the world, but a >third of them are not American. English is the modern lingua franca, so >imagine how many other hundreds of millions of people worldwide are able to >access and contribute to online genealogical materials. > >Spell Out States' Names >US citizens save time by writing postal abbreviations instead of the full >names of states. This is appropriate in private correspondence with other >Americans, but even then, it can be confusing. Is MO Missouri or Montana? >Imagine the frustration of non-American users of electronic data. Spelling >out states' names in full will endear a US writer to a great many potential >overseas correspondents. > >Town Names are not Unique >It is also important to remember that American town names are not unique. >When the first immigrants settled what they considered virgin country, they >naturally looked to their countries of origin as a source of names for their >new homes -- think Plymouth, think New England, think Toledo. They also >looked to saints, mythology, geologic formations, the Bible, etc. But this >is also how many Old Country locations got their names. The vast majority >of town names can be found elsewhere in the world, so it's important to >indicate the country as well as the town in any reference citation. > >Entering Countries in Databases >Most genealogists have immigrant ancestors -- indeed, that's one of the most >fascinating things about the hobby -- and they are quite happy to add the >"foreign" country name to their genealogical databases where necessary. But >I would argue that ALL country names should be entered, even the United >States of America. My genealogical software is sprinkled liberally with >entries such as "Milford, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, USA" because I am a >living example that people don't always stay put. > >In years to come, as my grandchildren emigrate to yet another country (or >off this planet?!), will their great-grandchildren be able to figure out >what Milford, NJ means? There are three towns of that name in New Jersey: >Milford, New Milford and West Milford. West Milford is nowhere near the >others, but it's 33.8 miles from New Milford, NY. There are also Milfords >in CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, OH and UT in the USA. Imagine trying to decipher >these abbreviations 200 years from now in a time of exponential change. Was >this town even in America, or was it one of the five in the United Kingdom, >or Milford-on-Sea or Milford Haven there; Millford or either of the two >Milfords in the Republic of Ireland; Mt. Milford or the other two Milfords >in Australia; Milford, Jamaica; Milford Sound, New Zealand; or elsewhere? > >Researchers who are serious about sharing their work with others and >preserving their heritage for future generations, and formal publications >that exist for this purpose, would be well advised to take the time to >indicate country of origin, even if it's the USA. Thanks. > >Sincerely, >Mary Jo C. Martin >Melbourne, Australia >[email protected] > >References: > >Ethnologue USA >http://www.sil.org/ethnologue/countries/USA.html > >Worldwide Directory of Cities & Towns >http://www.calle.com/world/index.html > >AAA Central-West Jersey >http://www.aaacwj.com/ > >