Talk:Legacy NFS Source:

Legacy NFS Source
This page is about the sources that appear on a person page in familysearch family tree that are labeled "Legacy NFS Source:"

I do not know what they are? I do not know where they came from? I do not know how they got to be in familysearch family tree on the person page and in the sources area of that page?

I have searched the wiki many times looking for answers to my questions with no results. But the search results page kept suggesting that I create the page for that subject so here I am.

Here is what I believe:

1. These sources are migrated from the New Family Search database after it stopped being whatever it was. I believe that the sources are created and migrated automatically.

2. The date given in the source is the date it was automatically generated and migrated not the date it was contributed.

3. The person identified as the contributor may have contributed the information many years ago. Perhaps as much as 25 years ago when they were contributing to Ancestral File. I do not believe that they contributed the information on the date shown. If what I believe is true this is very misleading and trying to contact the contributor may result in more questions than answers.

This is what I know:

The information shown gives a number as a reference and of course refers to NFS as the source. But there is no information given which allows current and future researchers the ability to confirm the source. The reference number is not a link. So if it is indeed, contributed information migrated from NFS, then it is not referring us to any original documentation, and it is not verifiable. If what I believe to be true is true then this source documentation is of the very least order when evaluated.

This is how I feel.

From my point of view as a researcher interested in creating a record which is reasonably accurate and verifiable, a source citation should refer to direct sources or indirect sources clearly stated, and sufficient information about the source that current and future researchers can go to the source and verify the information. If it doesn't accomplish this purpose why have sources?

Ray L Nelson raylnelson438@yahoo.com 8019717354 438 Center Street #207 SLC, UT 84103