Correct citation

[petwal]

Dear Roots Chatterers
I have received a family tree from a distant relative in a message from Roots Chat. I wish to use this in my "Ancestry" family tree. How do I cite the information & do I acknowledge the person or the Roots chat message board.
Thanks petwal

[andycand]

Hi

You would acknowledge the person but I would also ask them if it was ok to add to your online tree, and I would verify the details before doing so.

Andy

[DavidG02]

Hi petwal

I have been given information on lost family members from RC people which has helped me immensely. I was also asked to not post any pictures given , nor any of the wills.

I have kept that promise.

I would
1. Get permission of what you can and cant
2. Check the information given. ( not doubting the source but its good practice to see what you would have found)
3. Then cite where YOU found the info.

If you wish to give the poster a mention and RootsChat  by all means do so , but I would never cite it as '' Given by a Rootschat genealogist so it must be true''

We help people because we want to and ultimately we have no control what we do give away , but be warned that some posters have long memories and the information you gain today may be lost the next time you ask.

[StevieSteve]

Agree with David apart from the penultimate paragraph.

Where you can't find out the information yourself eg it might be an entry from the poster's family bible, I think it's acceptable to create a source called something like Extract from X's Family Tree. Give a description in the Details section, of course respecting the limits agreed, with a repository of Rootschat.

That way you and whoever looks at your tree can see how you got the information and can assess it against any information they might have

[StevieSteve]

And if the information was posted publicly on the message boards then I don't see what's wrong in providing a link to that

[petwal]

Dear andycand  DavidG02  StevieSteve :)Thanks for the replies and the good advice. I will get in touch with person who gave me the information and ask for permission and check all details that I can
petwal