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If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to craft a proper genealogy citation, you’re not alone. Accurate citations are critical to credible family history research, but they can be frustratingly complex. With records coming in every form imaginable—from digital census records to handwritten letters—it’s easy to make mistakes. Worse, inconsistent or incomplete citations can make your research difficult to trust.
RootsMagic’s source citation templates can help you overcome this challenge, saving you time and ensuring your sources are recorded with precision.
Why Accurate Genealogy Source Citations Matter
Genealogical research often involves primary and secondary information within the same source. For example, a World War II draft card may accurately document a residence (primary information) but include a birth date based on the registrant’s memory (secondary information). Proper citations preserve these nuances, giving future researchers the tools they need to evaluate your work.
Manually formatting citations from scratch can be daunting and time-consuming, even with guides like Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills. That’s where RootsMagic’s built-in citation templates come in—they automate much of the work while following genealogical standards.
Simplify Genealogy Source Management with RootsMagic Templates
RootsMagic includes over 500 citation templates based on trusted genealogical standards like Evidence Explained (EE), Evidence! (E!), and Cite Your Sources (CYS). These templates break down citations into fill-in-the-blank fields, so you don’t have to worry about formatting.
How to Create a Citation Step by Step:
Choose a Template: In RootsMagic, search for a template that matches your source type. For a World War II draft card, use a template for draft registration records. Each template includes:
EE Templates: Based on Evidence Explained
E! Templates: Based on Evidence!
CYS Templates: Based on Cite Your Sources
Enter Master Source Details: Fill in consistent information such as the title and publisher of the record. For example:
Title: U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
Publisher: Ancestry.com, Lehi, Utah
If using an online database, copy the record’s title and source URL directly from the website. This reduces errors and ensures consistency.
Add Citation-Specific Details: Include details unique to the individual record, such as:
Robert Geisler’s residence in Columbus, Ohio
The date you accessed the record
His birth date and registration number
RootsMagic will format these details into footnotes, short notes, and bibliographies automatically.
Link the Citation to Multiple Facts: A single source may provide evidence for several facts—such as residence, next of kin, and occupation. Attach the same citation to all relevant facts by using RootsMagic’s copy-and-paste citation feature.
Assess Source Quality: Use RootsMagic’s tools to evaluate the reliability of your source. For example, classify Robert’s residence as primary information (reported directly by him) and his birth date as secondary information (likely reported by his parents).
Tips to Maximize RootsMagic Citation Templates
Mark Your Favorites: Save frequently used templates for easy access.
Customize When Needed: If a template doesn’t meet your needs, you can modify it or switch to a Free Form citation.
Leverage the Master Source’s Flexibility: RootsMagic separates the master source from citation details, allowing you to reuse and adapt sources for different records.
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Why RootsMagic Citation Templates Work
RootsMagic’s citation templates save you time and ensure consistency, eliminating the need to memorize complex citation rules. By using these templates, you’ll create professional-grade citations that enhance your research’s credibility.
Ready to see these tips in action? Watch our step-by-step video for a hands-on demonstration of how to create and customize citations in RootsMagic. You’ll gain the confidence to master source citations and take your genealogy research to the next level!
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