Question

I only have my grandmother's source citations. Is it OK to just enter that data verbatim?

Answer 1

I would try to verify that those references are still available.

Answer 2

If you're using her citations/sources, then you should say so. For example:

"Apparently as found in Family Bible of John & Mary Smith, once in the possession of [Grandma's name]; information conveyed to Kathryn Smith, summer 2005."

or something like that.

Comments

Please expand on your answer(s).

When one related a personal experience, how do we cite that?  By the person's full name only? Must we include date(s)?  (I only have a few dates because i didn't start dating my notes until about 3 years later.)

Also, it is of value to state who else was present besides me when the person related the story?

Any guidance and/or suggestions of a "good" experience/story citation will be greatly appreciated.

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Connie, explain it as best you can. For example, I have cited things like:

* Memory of John L. Smith, as related to his daughter Jillaine, December 25, 1998, Solana Beach, California.

* Personal knowledge of Henrietta Albert Sess, Laguna Hills, California, as communicated in a letter to her daughter, Eleanor, dated 27 August 1967. Original letter in personal archives of Craig Dye, Washington, DC.

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Thank you.  This is very helpful.

Answer 3

you should use something like familysearch.org to find a citation to a primary source as well to back it up, such as birth and death records, marriage etc. Family testament can often be inaccurate.