In a message dated 10/28/2002 7:38:50 AM Central Standard Time, darrellm@sprynet.com writes: > it is > *not* ethical for anyone to quote primary sources > as if that person had seen them, when that person > Actually, if credit is given to the original researcher, it is ethical to cite primary sources in order that anyone using a compiled history can CHECK those sources. One merely states that not all of the cited sources have been personally verified YET. Cite as "document name and source data, as provided by so-and-so" or "seen on website such-and-such." PROPER citation is ethical. It is the IMPROPER "as if that person had seen them" that is unethical. I am working on a group compiled history of a couple married in 1809 who had thirteen children. While I do some research, my primary function is as an editor for the many cousins who supply information. When conflicts arise, I coordinate efforts to resolve the conflict. I cross check and double check and verify the data. However, the compilation is the result of many people's YEARS of research, and covers thousands of individuals. I do not have the time or money or physical endurance nor remaining lifetime to double check all sources. While I have found a minimal number of transcription errors in Census data, page numbers, dates, and the like, all the sources I have verified have been essentially correct. The compilation will be published with the caveat above. ALL sources will be footnoted, and the footnotes which I have verified will be marked with a note. "Verified by editor (date)." Future genealogists in our family will have plenty of sources to verify and data to locate and work to do, as well as additions to make. This is a legacy project, preserving the oral knowledge of the living as well as documentable sources. Personally, I would rather receive a GEDCOM WITH sources cited than one without, even if the person sharing it with me never saw the original. This reduces my time and effort in verifying the data shared. Furthermore, if the information came from a letter from Great Aunt Minnie to Great Uncle Joseph written in 1901 and they are both dead and I will NEVER see the letter, it would be nice if people stated who has possession of the letter. Otherwise, I will be left with some unverifiable information that IS true, but I cannot prove it. And sometimes we are left trying to guess where the data is! Nothing annoys me more than a GEDCOM devoid of dates and places! If it's a common name, such as WILLIAMS or SMITH or JONES, it even loses much of its value as "a place to start." How the heck will I identify which "William Williams" I am supposed to check out? Many times what we share is NOT a completed work, but an ongoing work in progress. If a cousin in California shares a file that cites a source in a library in North Carolina, where I may never get to travel to see the source, but I then share it with a cousin who is going to North Carolina or is in that state, the second cousin can verify the source, send me a copy, etc. Frankly, I think if one has a document that is unavailable -- it is also wise to include a scanned copy or photocopy of it when one provides the data to anyone else. Example: any original marriage certificate passed down in your line from a courthouse which has burned, or an obit from an 1895 newspaper that has been passed down. Finally, when one cites a book, it would be VERY nice if one stated where the book was found! Some books are not widely available, so the name of the library/collection would be very nice! It isn't required in citation form reference books, but it's certainly considerate and most helpful. As to people borrowing research....if the sources are cited -- whether one has personally seen them or not -- someone else checking those sources will eventually discover the error. If sources are NOT cited, it is MORE likely to perpetuate the error. Just note that the sources were provided by someone else and have not been verified! And footnoting errors in Ancestry and the like is a viable solution. Happy researching all, and "Let's all play nice and be careful out there!"