In his presentation on 24 June, David raised queries around whether to trust the information shared on ancestry and sought clarification of the meaning of primary research.

Contributions by the class were spot on, however a closer look at this area seems worthwhile.  

"Primary sources are documents, images or artifacts that provide firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning an historical topic under research investigation. Primary sources are original documents created or experienced contemporaneously with the event being researched. Primary sources enable researchers to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period.

A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or period after the event has occurred and, generally speaking, with the use of primary sources. The same document, or other piece of evidence, may be a primary source in one investigation and secondary in another.

The search for primary sources does not, therefore, automatically include or exclude any format of research materials or type of records, documents, or publications.

As an example, a diary from an immigrant from Vietnam to the United States documenting her travel experiences from Vietnam to Orange County would be considered a primary source for research on Vietnamese immigration to Orange County. However, a book written by a professor that analyzes the various writings of Vietnam immigrants and interprets the experience of those immigrants is a secondary source for this research." 

(Source - University of California -Introduction to online tutorial on 'What are Primary Sources' available at  https://www.lib.uci.edu/what-are-primary-sources)

The last paragraph reminded me that members have, for example, letters from family members documenting life and family events at the time in which they lived, which at first glance would be considered primary sources.  However what if they are reporting on what someone else said to them?  The lines between primary and secondary sources be blur!

Recommended Reading - Article 'Using the Geneological Proof Standard in Your Research'  www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Using_the_Genealogical_Proof_Standard_in_Your_Research_(National_Institute).

​Online tutorial 'What are Primary Sources' https://www.lib.uci.edu/what-are-primary-sources  

Our agenda for today's class includes 'Show and Tell', guest speaker Jim Burnell on DNA, a break, after which we'll share stories on this month's topic 'Found'.  The brief:  One of the thrills of family research is unexpected contact with someone who is also working on your family tree.  They may even be a close, but long lost, family member.  Write about the first contact, how you/they followed up, what you learnt about the contact.  Do you keep in touch?"

Guest speaker Jim Burnell, who is Wendy Webster's brother, was a Professor of Molecular Biology at James Cook University where he lectured medical, dental and other studies for many years.  Jim's presentations explaining DNA for the Benalla Family Research Group members have been very popular.  There will be opportunities to ask questions and to have Jim back again for a continuation session, as Wendy said 'he is not going to leave town'.

Next month's topic is 'I wish I'd met/known...'  The brief:  Sometimes while we are researching we come across someone we wish we'd met or known.  Write about them, what intrigued you about them and what you would like to ask them if you'd met.'

Bev Lee