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From:
Subject: Original vs Derivative, etc.
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 10:35:17 EST


Hi All...an interesting discussion on this subject. I'd like to add a few
words. The original is the original (!), and anything from it is a derivative,
even if it is a microfilm, photocopy, etc. Thus, is has less weight than the
original. How much less depends upon the readability, whether it is accurate,
etc. (We probably all know of cases where, for instance, a photocopy has been
purposely altered.)

If information is primary, it would stay primary, but its weight would be
judged depending upon the derivative. If it is a high quality microfilm, or an
excellent photocopy, the derivative would have a great deal of weight. If it is
a poor microfilm, or a photocopy so close to the right side that it appears
some words could have been cut off, the derivative will have considerably less
weight. If the derivative is a full transcription by the court clerk (such as
the deed in the deed book) it will have a great deal of weight, but still
subject to careful scrutiny for the clerks made errors, too. If it an abstract by
an inexperienced researcher, it will have much less weight. And so it goes.

An additional note. The original does not have to be made at the time of the
event. I could for instance create an original painting of San Francisco's
1906 earthquake and fire, without having been there. Anyone copying my original
painting (if I were so skilled as to create one!) would be creating a
derivative.
Christine
[Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG, author of Genealogical Proof Standard:
Building a Solid Case, San Jose, Calif.: CR Publications, 2001.]

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