Genealogical Proof Standard #3 - Thorough Analysis and Correlation

Even when we search broadly, locate original records, and carefully cite every source—those records do not automatically give us an answer.

In Mastering Genealogical Proof, Thomas W. Jones explains "Analysis and correlation test genealogical evidence."

Analysis helps us evaluate the reliability of each source and each detail contained within it. Correlation compares those details across multiple records to identify agreements, conflicts, and patterns. Together, they help prevent us from reaching conclusions simply because they match our expectations. 

When we find a record, it can be tempting to focus on the one piece of information we were looking for.

• A death certificate that gives us that elusive birth date.
• A census gives us a birthplace.
• A marriage record gives us the name of a spouse.

But genealogical analysis requires us to look more closely and ask:

• Who created this record?
• When and why was it created?
• Who provided the information?
• Would that person have known the answer firsthand?
• Was the information recorded near the time of the event?
• Is the record an original record or a later copy or transcription?

Analyzing Records

Most importantly, we need to remember that a record is not the same thing as a fact. A record contains information and the information becomes evidence after we evaluate its reliability.

Start by Analyzing the Source

Sources fall into three categories: 

Original records are the first recorded form. A good quality digital copy or photocopy may be considered an original record, unless it has been altered (cropped) or unreadable.

Derivative records are transcriptions, abstracts, indexes, or other reproductions. For example, an original handwritten marriage register kept by a county clerk is different from a published transcription of that register. The transcription may be perfectly accurate, but each copy introduces the possibility of error. 

Authored works are different. They are compiled interpretations or summaries created from multiple sources, such as family histories or genealogies. 

Derivative records and authored works can be extremely useful. Sometimes they may even be the only surviving source available. But when an original record exists, we should try to examine it ourselves.

Not All Information in the Same Record Is Equally Reliable

Within any record, information varies in reliability. Information falls into three categories: 
Primary information comes from someone with firsthand knowledge of the event. For example, a mother providing information about the birth of her child is reporting something she personally experienced.

Secondary information comes from someone who learned about the event from another person or source. A son reporting his mother's birthplace on her death certificate many decades later may know the answer—but he was not present at her birth.

Undetermined information is provided by an unknown informant, meaning we cannot assess its reliability. When a record does not identify who provided the details, we cannot determine whether the informant had firsthand knowledge, secondhand knowledge, or no knowledge at all. 

Census records are a common example. Most U.S. censuses do not indicate who spoke to the enumerator. For example, it could have been an older child, a second wife, a neighbor. There is no way to determine the reliability of the information given. The only exception is the 1940 U.S. census, where enumerators marked the informant with an X, allowing us to assess whether the information likely came from someone knowledgeable. 

A single record may contain both primary and secondary information. A common example would be a death certificate. An attending physician may have had firsthand knowledge of the death or its circumstances. The information concerning the death is therefore likely to be primary information.

The deceased person's birth date, birthplace, or parents' names may have been supplied by a grieving spouse, child, neighbor, or other informant decades after the person's birth. For those events, the informant was probably relying on secondary information.

It is important to evaluate each piece of information separately. It is also important to remember that primary does not automatically mean the record is correct, and secondary does not automatically mean it's wrong. Someone with firsthand knowledge can make a mistake, while information passed down through the family may turn out to be completely accurate.

Then Comes Correlation

While analysis looks at individual pieces of evidence, correlation looks across them and brings the evidence together. It asks:

• Where does the evidence agree?
• Where does it disagree?
• What patterns emerge when records are compared?

Suppose several records give birth years of 1882, 1884, 1885, and 1887. Which one is correct? We cannot simply choose the date that appears most often. We need to consider whether the information is primary or secondary, who provided it, when it was recorded, and how it compares with the other evidence. 

• Perhaps the 1882 date appears on a death certificate created 70 years after the birth.
• The 1884 estimate comes from a census.
• The 1885 date appears in a Bible entry that seems to have been written years later.
• But the 1887 church baptismal record was recorded shortly after the child's birth.

Correlation requires examining all evidence—both supporting and conflicting. Only then are we able to evaluate the information and begin forming a hypothesis.

Create a Working Hypothesis

Genealogical conclusions should be based on the best available evidence—but remain open to revision if a new record appears. As evidence accumulates, we form a working hypothesis and test it by asking:

• Does the age fit?

• Does the location fit?

• Do the family relationships fit?

• Does the chronology work?

• Do the names make sense?

• Do the records contradict one another?

• What evidence would we expect to find if our hypothesis were correct?

• What evidence would prove us wrong?

Thorough analysis and correlation help us understand what our evidence is—and what it is not. When conflicts remain after this step, the next task is not to ignore them or force agreement, but to resolve them. That process is the focus of the fourth component of the Genealogical Proof Standard.

You’ve Scanned the Photos—Now Preserve the Stories Behind Them

Photo Inventory Log

Old photographs can tell us so much about our families—but only if we preserve the stories that go with them. In a recent post, I shared some pointers on scanning and preserving old photos. In this post, I want to take that idea a step further. 

After scanning, we need to make sure the details aren’t lost. If you have scanned and stored family photos on your computer, now is the perfect time to make sure the who, what, when, and where aren’t forgotten. Here are five simple ways to capture that information for future generations.

1. Add the Information to the Digital File Name

Don't settle for a filename like IMG_2456.jpg. Rename the file with the information you know:

1948-Ford-Family-Reunion-Corpus-Christi-TX.jpg

Even if someone never opens the photo, the filename gives them valuable clues.

2. Add the Information to the Photo's Metadata

Many photo programs allow you to add a caption, description, title, or other information to the digital image.

Use these fields to record details such as:

• Who: Names of the people pictured
• What: The occasion or event
• When: The date or approximate date
• Where: The location
• Source: Who provided the photograph or where the original came from

This information can be especially useful when photos are shared with family members through direct sharing (email, USB drives, or cloud storage).

One drawback—uploading to social media strips the metadata from the photo, so don't rely on metadata as your only method of preserving the information. 

3. Keep a Separate Photo Log

For larger collections, it can be helpful to keep a simple photo log—a spreadsheet or document where you record the essential details of each image. A log gives you one place to note the file name, where the original photograph is stored, who supplied the information, and a brief description of the picture.

Many people create a tab for each surname they’re researching, along with a second tab dedicated to mystery photographs. A mystery photo tab is especially useful because it lets you gather clues that might eventually help identify an unknown person, place, or event. You can jot down things like clothing styles, hairstyles, approximate ages, historical hints, location clues, or anything unusual that stands out.

If you don’t already have a photo log, you’re welcome to use the simple inventory template I’ve made available—it’s designed to make recording these details quick and consistent. Over time, a photo log becomes more than an inventory. It becomes part of your genealogy research, preserving both what you know and the clues that may help you uncover what you don’t.

4. Write a Photo Story or Research Note

Some photographs need more than a caption. If there is a story behind the picture, write it down. Link the story to the photo. Add it to your genealogy software and connect it to any known person or people in the image so the narrative stays with the photograph.

In this example, I recognize my father, but I am not sure when/where this photo was taken or who the other men are that are with him. 

This photograph is of my father, Clay Ford. It was probably taken in Corpus Christi before 1956, when he enlisted in the Air Force. Clay Ford is sitting on the far right. It is possible it was taken in Pick's Diner, a popular local hangout at the time. The identities of the other men are unknown.

Here is another example:

Elisabeth ‘Kathy’ Lukas (Hall)  traveled with her daughter, Lisa Ford (Petersen), back to Straubing, Bavaria to visit her family around 1998. This is a photo of Elisabeth and her brother, Eduard Lukas. They are standing in front of St. Jakob, the school they attended as children. It had been many years since brother and sister had seen each other. They had a great time visiting and went to many of the places Elisabeth knew from childhood.   

Don't worry about making it perfect. You're preserving the clues and stories. 

5. Preserve the Original and Its Context

A digital scan is wonderful, but don't forget about the original photograph. We should preserve the physical photograph and the context in which it was passed down.

Keep the original in a safe, appropriate storage environment, and make a note of where it is kept so it can be located later. If the photograph came from an album, scrapbook, envelope, or collection of photographs, consider preserving that context rather than immediately separating everything.

The way a photograph was kept can sometimes tell us something about its history. A group of photographs found together may have a connection that isn't obvious from the individual pictures.

Always check the back before putting the photograph away. If there is writing, a studio imprint, date, address, or other information, make sure you've preserved it—either by scanning the back or photographing it.

Remember, don't wait until you know everything about the photo. A note that says "Clay Ford is on the far right; the others are unidentified" is far more useful than no information at all. Those little details may be the clues that allow someone in the next generation to finally put names to the faces.

Small Steps, Big Progress: Genealogy Tasks You Can Do in 15 Minutes

AI Image

There are never enough hours in a day to do everything you need—and want—to do. Genealogy has always been a passion of mine, and when life got hectic, the only way I could stay sane was to carve out a little time here and there to "dabble" in my research.

Sometimes I had an hour. Sometimes I only had 15 minutes, but even that short time could make me feel better on a rough day. Just carving time out for myself—to do what I love—made all the difference.

I didn't necessarily solve a family mystery or find a long-lost ancestor. Sometimes I simply organized a few files, studied a photograph, or jotted down what I wanted to research next. But I had done something—and sometimes that's all you need to keep your genealogy moving forward.

Life pulls you in a dozen directions, and you miss sitting down to do your family history. I understand that feeling. Busy days, long to-do lists, and only a sliver of time to spare. You could wait for a free afternoon, but how often does that actually happen?

And let's be honest. Sometimes it isn't just a lack of time that keeps us from getting started. If you haven't looked at your research in weeks—or even months—it can feel overwhelming to figure out where to begin.

The best way to handle a big job is to break it into smaller, manageable pieces.

So, let's put those 15 minutes to work!

Rename 10 Files

Take a look at your digital files wherever they are stored. Do you see files named image123.jpg or document(4).pdf?

Those little enigmas aren't helping you.

Set a timer for 15 minutes and rename ten files with clear, meaningful titles. You can read more about naming your digital files in my earlier post. 

Organize One Digital Folder

Pick one ancestor and tidy up their folder. Move loose documents where they belong, delete duplicates, and group related records together. Don't attempt your whole collection. One folder is enough.

Scan a Few Family Photographs

Digitizing your entire photo collection can feel overwhelming. So don't. Scan three photos. Or five. Even one counts! You can read more about scanning and preserving old photos in my earlier post.

Work on a Mystery Photo We all have them—those unidentified photographs with no names or dates.

Pick one and become a detective for 15 minutes. Study the clothing, hairstyles, automobiles, buildings, furniture—anything that offers clues. Write down your observations. Narrowing down a time frame using these observations can tell you more than you think. You may not identify the people today—and that's okay. You've still learned something.

Here are a couple of resources to help you date your photos:

PhotoTree.com—excellent examples and case studies.

Maureen Taylor’s Family Photo Detective—a wonderful reference for tricky images and a tremendous aid for my mystery photos.

Clean Up Your Research Notes

Scraps of information accumulate quietly—half-formed thoughts in Word documents, sticky notes, scribbles in notebooks (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this!). I once found notes about the same search in three different places. That's three rounds of research I didn't need to repeat.

Choose one small batch and clean it up. Record what you searched, what you found, what you didn’t find, and what records you may still need to look for. Your future self will be grateful for the clarity.

Write Down Your Next Step This one takes almost no time but makes your next research session far more productive. Before you close your genealogy program, write down your next action. Be precise.

Not: “Work on Grandma’s family.” That’s too vague.

Instead: “Check Hunt County deed indexes for William Smith, 1900–1920.”

A clear assignment means you won't waste time figuring out where you left off.

You Don't Need All Day

Genealogy grows through small discoveries—and small organizational tasks. So the next time you think, “I don't have enough time to do genealogy today,” reconsider.

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Pick one small task.

And move your genealogy forward. You might be surprised by how much you can accomplish.

For more 15 Minute (or less) genealogy tasks, check out this list.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Haldon and Jean Harris

Haldon and Jean Harris holding their granddaughter, Amanda Harris in Dec. 1981.

This is a Polaroid from December 1981, taken at the home of my in-laws in Dallas, Texas near DeSoto. Haldon and Jean Harris cradle our newborn daughter, Amanda, just a couple of weeks old. Their faces say everything — pure joy, pride, and that unmistakable wonder that comes when a new life enters the family. It was one of those quiet, perfect moments where generations meet and you catch a simple, honest glimpse of how a family continues on.

Forgotten Faces Friday: Mystery Photo #4

Clay and Friends

Every face in a vintage photograph has a name, a story, and a place in our history--even it has been forgotten. 

Welcome to Forgotten Faces Friday, a weekly series dedicated to solving the mysteries hiding in our family archives. Today, I am sharing a photograph of my dad and four of his friends. 

Clay Ford, far right, and friends possibly early 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas

This photo was found in a collection of family photos. Clay Ford, my dad, sits on the far right. The back of the photo simply says "Clay and friends." 

I suspect this photo may have been taken in Corpus Christi, Texas where Clay Ford was living before he enlisted in the Air Force in 1956. It is also possible this is at Pick's Drive-In which was on Ayers St. in Corpus.

Who are the other four young men? 

The Clues:

• The hairstyles are consistent with the late 1940s to early 1950s. The short, combed-back styles had carried over from the 1940s, so hair alone doesn't distinguish 1948 from 1953 very well.
• The clothing—especially the casual button-down shirts and high-waisted trousers—fits the time frame well. 
• The men look like young adults rather than teenagers, which would fit Clay's pre-Air-Force years if he was around enlistment age.
• The diner/restaurant setting feels very plausible for early-1950s Corpus Christi.
• Nothing in the photograph completely distinguishes late 1940s to early 1950s. I don't believe it is any later than 1955.

Can You Help Solve the Mystery?

Look closely at the features of the young men in the original portrait:

• Do you recognize a striking family resemblance? Your father, brother, uncle, friend?
• Do you have records of family members living in Corpus Christi, Texas in the early 1950s?

If you have a theory, or can recognize a face, please leave a comment below!