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"Source Box" frustration.

RoseyGlow
RoseyGlow ✭
April 9, 2021 in Family Tree

Greetings,

I created a Source Box entry for the Cleveland Public Library's "Necrology File" (transcripts of obituaries, many of which are for my family members). However, you won't let me enter it as a source into one person's page more than once. My relatives were very proud of all the other family members, so names of my relatives are entered into more than one obit. How can I use that source more than once per person? Source Box just won't allow me to do that. (It is currently attached once to 15 persons.)

Thank you for your time.

0

Best Answers

  • Anitra Whittle
    Anitra Whittle ✭✭✭
    April 11, 2021 Answer ✓

    Hello @RoseyGlow ,

    I'm not sure if I understand the question, but:

    When I have a source with a lot of date, ancestors, births, deaths, marriages, places, etc. I put all of the information into "Describe the Record (Notes)" when forming the source. I then attach it to the parent, and select "Add to Source Box.".

    That way I can use it for all of the family. For each family member I click on Sources, then Add Source, then click on Attach from Source Box. And each family member will have all of the information within the source.

    You can get answers from the Help Center: When you are signed into FamilySearch or Communities, go to the ? Question mark on the upper right near your picture. Click on Help Center, Choose to search through Family Tree. In the Family Tree search box put "Source Box". Select from the search results.

    Here is a URL for help with the Source Box. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/search?q=Source+Box&show=all

    When I have a lot of names, dates, places, marriages, etc. to enter it is time consuming and not fun.

    But then I have everyone included and can just add the source to each person from the my Source Box and I don't have to make up an new source.

    I'm not sure if this is an answer for you.

    Please let us know if this is helpful.

    Thank you,

    Anitra, Group Leader

    1
  • Gordon Collett
    Gordon Collett ✭✭✭✭✭
    April 13, 2021 edited April 13, 2021 Answer ✓

    You are correct. You can only attach a source once to an individual no matter how many times that individual might appear in that source.

    I can think of two options for you.

    1) Create a source template in your source box such as:

    Obituary of *** in "Necrology File," Cleveland Public Library, page ***.

    Then use the Copy function in the source box for each obituary to create:

    Copy of Obituary of *** in "Necrology File," Cleveland Public Library, page ***.

    then edit to produce, for example:

    Obituary of John Smith in "Necrology File," Cleveland Public Library, page 92.

    then attach that source to everyone listed in John Smith's obituary.

    2) Create a universal source:

    "Necrology File," Cleveland Public Library"

    and attach it once to every unique person listed in the file. When you attach it to a specific person, then use the "Reason this source is attached" field, which can be different every time you attach the source to provide specific details such as:

    Listed as noted in the following obituaries: As uncle of John Smith, page 92. As nephew of Abraham Jones, page 110. As father of Henry Stevens, page 140. As father of Mary Stevens Benson, page 145, As husband of Elizabeth Smith Stevens, page 200.

    The advantage with the first option, is that you can include the unique URL that jumps directly to the specific obituary. The disadvantage of the second option is that, looking at the database, there are no simple "page" numbers. Also, the second option would lead to a whole lot more typing and confusion in the long run.

    So I would suggest entering each obituary as a separate source such as this:

    Event Date: 17 August 1882

    Title: Obituary of Azariah Everett

    Web Page (Link to Record): https://cpl.org/newsindex/showrecord/?record=93270&type=necrology&searchType=both

    Where the Record is Found (Citation): "Necrology File," Cleveland Public LIbrary.

    Describe the Record (Notes): "Everett-Azariah, infant son of Frank W. and Ema Everett, of cholera infantum, on the 15th day of August. Funeral from the family residence, 469 East Madison ave., on Thursday, the 17th inst. at 10 o'clock a. m. Burial private."

    Then attach this source to Azariah and both of his parents as listed. Like all solid and worthwhile research projects, this will take a lot of time depending on how many of these obituaries you really want to attach but the end product will be extremely valuable for all of your relatives.

    2

Answers

  • RoseyGlow
    RoseyGlow ✭
    April 11, 2021

    Bumping up because I really want to know.

    1
  • Michael Stenberg
    Michael Stenberg mod
    April 11, 2021

    Not sure I understand why the need to list more than once on a persons page. Listing as you stated once to 15 persons who are listed in obit would allow the source to be viewed on any of the persons listed in the obit. restricting to list source once minimizes duplication, space in database.

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  • Paul W
    Paul W ✭✭✭✭✭
    April 11, 2021 edited April 11, 2021

    If the "source" has a single URL. you can only add it once to an ID, whether it is a FamilySearch one, or from an external website.

    To illustrate, when we attach an indexed census source to multiple individuals, a different URL is carried across for each one - so, effectively, these are attached as different sources. However, in the case of an "image only source", you will only be able to attach this once to an ID.

    If you need to highlight the fact other relatives appear in the same record (FS or external), add a clear note - including each of the relatives' names - when you attach it to the ID.

    0
  • RoseyGlow
    RoseyGlow ✭
    April 12, 2021 edited April 12, 2021

    I added the "Cleveland Necrology File" (found online at the Cleveland Public Library) as the source and then wanted to add each individual obit into the people pages. So, that is the problem? The platform looks at each obit as yet another piece of a big Necrology File source? I did it that way so that each separate obit would not have to be a whole new source, adding them ad nauseum. My plan flopped?

    (There are relationships that I want to provide proof for - especially the ones where one family adopted "Everett", several adopted "Evert", and a few who kept 'Ewert".)

    https://cpl.org/newsindex/ (Just type in "Everett" and see how many hits you get! Not all tie in to my family, but a good 15% probably do.)

    EVERETT ---

    https://cpl.org/newsindex/results/?searchFor=everett&searchType=both&search=search

    EWERT ---

    https://cpl.org/newsindex/results/?searchFor=ewert&searchType=both&search=search

    EVERT ---

    https://cpl.org/newsindex/results/?searchFor=evert&searchType=both&search=search

    ===========================================================================

    SO - should I have bit my tongue and entered each individual obit as an entirely separate source OR taken a screen shot of each obit and put each one into the memories section and apply tags to all the names?

    ===========================================================================

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