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Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)
No, this discussion is not about the the navigation device, although it certainly would seem appropriate amid the pages on land records and topographical maps. The Genealogical Proof Standard is a five-step guide that helps ensure genealogists that they have performed to a standard approved by the Board for Certification of Genealogists in 1997. Any
serious genealogist can adopt this standard for his or her own to help ensure reliable work. The following is taken from The BCG Standards Manual (Washington, DC: Ancestry Publishing, 2000).
No, this discussion is not about the the navigation device, although it certainly would seem appropriate amid the pages on land records and topographical maps. The Genealogical Proof Standard is a five-step guide that helps ensure genealogists that they have performed to a standard approved by the Board for Certification of Genealogists in 1997. Any
serious genealogist can adopt this standard for his or her own to help ensure reliable work. The following is taken from The BCG Standards Manual (Washington, DC: Ancestry Publishing, 2000).- We conduct a reasonably exhaustive search in reliable sources for all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question
- We collect and include in our compilation a complete, accurate citation to the source or sources of each item of information we use
- We analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence
- We resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed (hypothetical) solution to the question
- We arrive at a soundly resoned, coherently written conclusion
The Board for the Certification of Genealogists website provides a wealth of information about certification and the standards subscribed to in the profession. The link 'Genealogy's Standards' expands on the GPS and The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual would be an extremely helpful tool for any genealogist—whether hobbiest or professional.