Family trees? Ancestry ThruLines? A family genealogy?
Lineage societies have rules about records you can and cannot submit as supporting documentation. Knowing what those rules are can save you significant time and frustration.
Check with your specific society before proceeding, but here are a few general rules.
- If a vital record (birth, death or marriage certificate or record) exists, do your best to acquire a copy. Some societies will allow the substitution of abstracts, such as the Barbour Collection; some will require the originals. Photocopies are fine. Do not submit originals, as they will likely be destroyed.
- If a vital record does not exist, acceptable substitutes can include:
- Obituaries
- Deeds
- Military records, including draft records and pension files.
- Church records
- Family Bibles (Be sure to include the cover page. Entries must be made by someone who would have experienced the event. A birth 200 years before the publication date will not be accepted.)
- Gravestone images.
- DNA under certain limited circumstances.
- And more.
- Some documents and sources should be avoided except in limited cases. Such as:
- Family histories and genealogies without citations to sources.
- Ancestry ThruLines
- Family trees.
- Local histories that do not provide citations to sources.
- Lineage applications from other societies
- DNA (Unless it meets the society’s requirements.)
Wondering if a source will or will not be allowed? Your first resource is the society itself. Have questions? We’ll be glad to help. Contact Us