Carol, You wrote: > Why wouldn't a death certificate be a primary source? Since I have been asked this before, I am posting my reply to the lists. Billie Jones Camden, SC tjones@camden.net ------------------------------------------------------------ A primary source is given by the individual himself or it is given at the time of the event. The Dr. fills out the DC with the date and cause of death at the time of the death. All other information is given by others: a wife, a child, the funeral home, etc. In the emotion of the time, mistakes are made. I have seen more than just a few where the informant gave their parents, one who was the deceased, instead of the parents of the deceased. The date of birth is often a guess, especially when the person if quite old and grandchildren are giving the information. My great aunt gave her great-grandmother's name, rather than her grandmother's name as the mother of her deceased mother on her death cert. My aunt gave my grandmother's birthdate one day off her real date, recorded by herself in her family Bible, which came to me. That same erroneous date is on her tombstone, so those contain errors too. Billie