Introduction to the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)

Overview of the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)

  • The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) was established and published by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG).
  • The BCG is an organization that provides a certification process for professional genealogists to ensure their work meets specific standards of quality and accuracy.
  • While the BCG offers professional certification, the GPS is designed for use by anyone engaged in family history, whether they are a professional, a hobbyist, or a beginner.
  • Following the GPS provides a way to measure the quality of research against a established benchmark, ensuring that the researcher is accurately building their own family tree rather than documenting a different family by mistake.

The Fundamental Concept of Proof

  • Proof in genealogy is essential for meriting confidence in research conclusions.
  • A conclusion about an ancestor must have "sufficient credibility" to be accepted as proved.
  • The primary goal for any researcher should be to have confidence in their own work, regardless of whether it is intended for publication, shared with relatives, or kept as a personal hobby.
  • Everyone researches for different reasons—curiosity, publishing, passing information to descendants—but the through-line is the necessity of building an accurate tree.
  • The Scenario: Christa Cowen (the speaker) shared a personal anecdote regarding her mother's research in the early 1970s. Her mother was attempting to identify her grandfather, as the family had lost contact with that side due to negative family dynamics and an early death in the family.
  • The Research Method: The mother used census microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Her data recording system involved writing proven facts in pen and tentative placeholders in pencil on a pedigree chart.
  • The Error: In the early 1970s, the mother found a boy in the census that matched the name, age, and birth state (Arkansas) of her grandfather. She recorded the parents in pencil.
  • The Proliferation of Error: In the mid-1980s, a cousin requested a copy of the research. Due to the poor quality of 1980s copy machines, the distinction between pen and pencil was lost. The cousin assumed the penciled-in parents were proven facts.
  • Long-term Consequences: This unproven link was accepted as factual for decades. It was passed through the family, digitized on five-inch floppy disks, and uploaded as a GEDCOM file.
  • The Correction: Approximately 1010 years ago, while rebuilding her tree from scratch as a test user for Ancestry.com, Cowen discovered the error. Further research revealed there were actually three different boys of the same name and age living in the same area at that time.
  • Quantifiable Impact: By the time the error was found, that branch of the tree contained 437437 individuals. Thousands of hours and thousands of dollars had been spent researching a family that was not actually related to the speaker.
  • Emotional Weight: Unlinking the incorrect people from the tree was described as an "emotionally painful" process, underscoring the importance of verifying every link using the GPS.

The Five Elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard

1. A Reasonably Exhaustive Search
  • The term is "reasonably exhaustive," not "reasonably exhausting."
  • This means the researcher has looked at enough original sources to draw a valid conclusion.
  • It requires checking for all potential evidence to ensure no overlooked information (like the "three boys with the same name" scenario) could overturn the conclusion later.
2. Complete and Accurate Citation of Sources
  • Source citation is not intended to be scary or overwhelming; it is the process of recording where information was found.
  • The purpose is threefold:
    • To allow the researcher or others to find the source again.
    • To help assess the credibility of the source.
    • To confirm exactly what information that specific source provided.
3. Analysis and Correlation of Collected Information
  • Researchers must look at all pieces of information in context with one another.
  • A single record (like a census) is rarely enough to provide a complete picture of an ancestor's life.
  • The speaker notes that when asked how many sources are needed to prove a point, the answer is usually "all of them."
  • Analysis includes understanding that not all sources are equal; for example, three different documents might all stem from the same person (the same "informant"), meaning they are not independent verifications.
4. Resolution of Conflicting Evidence
  • Research often unearths documents that contradict one another (e.g., different birth years or spellings).
  • The GPS requires the researcher to confront and resolve these conflicts rather than ignoring them or picking the one that "fits."
  • This process is non-linear; resolving conflicts often sends the researcher back to step one (further searching) or step two (re-evaluating citations).
5. A Soundly Reasoned, Coherently Written Conclusion
  • Conclusions should not just be names and dates in a box; they should be explained in writing.
  • Writing out the reasoning helps the researcher remember why a certain decision was made, especially in cases where evidence was conflicting.
  • It provides a trail for future generations or other researchers to follow, allowing them to understand the logic behind the link.
  • Tools like the "Notes" feature in Family Tree Maker can be used to document transcriptions of records and personal notes on why specific conclusions were reached.

Recommended Resources

  • The Core Text: "Genealogy Standards: 50th Anniversary Edition."
  • Publisher: Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG).
  • Availability: Can be purchased through the BCG website or on Amazon.com.
  • Price Range: Approximately $12.00\$12.00 to $15.00\$15.00.
  • This manual provides an in-depth dive into the standards and is considered an essential tool for improving one's skills as a genealogist.