G2G: Is there a limit to the number of sources one can add to a profileÉ

Question

I am slowly setting up profiles for records I have established on Family Search.  In some cases I only have family notes, in other cases, there are considerable census, land transactions, appearances on children`s death certificates, etc.

Is there a limit?  Should I only use every other census?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Use whatever sources are available for the profiles as needed. The only limit per say is on Inline citations where over 100 inline citations generates a suggestion. 

So if there is a source for the person then use it. Just think if it is actually something that is for the person whose profile you are writing. So for a mention on a child's death certificate after the parent had died isn't needed but if it was the parent informing on the death of their child then it should be recorded. 

Comments

common sense dictates that. why provide multiple sources for a mundane diddy of info. the more central or important the fact, the more sources should be used. ex: he worked 30 years at xyz... if he was pd monthly, why document 360 paydays as sources. if he started as a bottle washer, promoted to brewer and went on to manage then own the brewery, now the sources become more relevant as they document his successes.      this comment should be under reply to the question

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Thank you for your input, good suggestions to consider.

As for death certificates, think I will include only if it is the only source to document a particular child-parent relationship.

Answer 2

Hi,

I don't think there is an official limit. It's up to the profile manager to decide.

I personally think you should include the sources but there's ways to condense the info if the biography is getting long. For example, "Bill and his family lived in Detroit from 1900 the 1950" then follow with the citations.

Hope that helps.

Comments

Many thanks for your thoughts; good to get feedback as I find my way on this WT site.

Answer 3

In general, you should source every statement you make about a person.  Now, if you say your grandfather loved to fish, that doesn't need to be sourced but if you say your ancestor served in the Revolutionary War, that would need a source.  When working on some profiles that have been disputed, I add every fact and source I can find. Some of those have around 50 citations.

Is every census needed?  If the person stayed in the same location and you don't need the census to prove children or things like birthdate or state of birth, then you may not want to add it.

Comments

Thank you for adding to my growing knowledge of sourcing and citations.   Originally I was asking about a limit, thinking of a numerical value, but obviously it will depend on what is available and as all the replies have indicated, the value of the source.

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Just try to think about it like this. How will someone else know what you wrote is correct?  Using my prior example, your grandpa's love of fishing is your personal knowledge but an ancestor serving  in the Rev War is not - that statement needs proof. Also a citation sometimes can just be an explanation about the fact.

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Just a comment on “every census”: It can be useful to include every census no matter how redundant, just to show that nothing changed in that time. Otherwise I have found myself repeatedly searching for the same omitted censuses to see if it has new info, having forgotten that it does not.

Answer 4

You want to include multiple sources for the same event, like marriage, if a source has different information that a previous source.  Some marriage sources have parents info, some have age of the bride and groom, some have occupation, where they lived, so including multiple sources may give more information.

Answer 5

Thanks to all who have replied with thoughtful comments and tips and observations.  I had not anticipated as much interest and it is appreciated.

Comments

The far more common problem is that there are no sources at all, so your question felt very refreshing

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Well, as I go further back, sources are minimal, but I remain hopeful.  Thanks.