Elizabeth Shown Mills is considered one of the most knowledgeable, if not the top expert, on research citation and verification. Her books, Evidence!: Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian and Evidence Explained and Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, provide a detailed exploration into proper research techniques, with a focus on the management of sources through quality analysis and citation.
Mills has also provided genealogists with the ability to quickly reference key elements of citation and analysis through a series of Quicksheets. These four page, laminated, quick-reference guides are small enough to easily carry on trips to the library and other research destinations. Each provides a review of key skills taught in her books (though reading the books are not necessary to make use of these guides), and easy reference to citing all types of sources. Following is a list of guide previously reviewed on this site:
- QuickSheet: Citing Ancestry.com Databases & Images
- The Historical Biographer’s Guide to Finding People in Databases & Indexes
- The Historical Biographer’s Gide to Cluster Research (the FAN Principle)
- QuickSheet: Citing Online Historical Resources
- QuickSheet: Citing Ancestry.com Databases & Images
- QuickSheet to Evidence Appraisal
In addition to these guides, Mills has also produced the Quicksheet: Citing Online African-American Historical Resources. This guide starts with a review of a few basic principles of citation. The remainder of the guide provides citation “Models for Common Resources.” For each entry type there are three models: a source lists entry, a full reference note, and a short reference note. Each category has at least one entry type, but some have two or three variations. For example, the Blog category supports three types: blog entry (basic format), blog entry (by Guest Writer), and blog entry (by Anonymous Writer). Here are all the categories covered in this guide:
- Afrigeneas
- Articles
- Blogs
- Books
- Census Databases
- Census Images
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records
- Gravestones
- Military Records
- Slave Manifests
- Slave Narratives
- SCC (Southern Claims Commission) Files
Together, all of Mills’ works provide the base knowledge and quick references every genealogists should follow for the successful evaluation and citation of any genealogical or historically pertinent resource.
Order Quicksheet: Citing Online African-American Historical Resources from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $8.77.
See all of Elizabeth Shown Mills’ works at Family Roots Publishing:
- QuickSheet: Citing Online Historical Resources
- QuickSheet: Citing Ancestry.com Databases & Images
- Quicksheet: The Historical Biographer’s Gide to Cluster Research (the FAN Principle)
- QuickSheet: The Historical Biographer’s Guide to the Research Process
- QuickSheet: Genealogical Problem Analysis, A Strategic Plan