Many families have artifacts or family treasures that are passed down through generations. These may include family Bibles, baby books, land deeds, naturalization certificates, school and church certificates, samplers, quilts, family letters, diaries, or even family manuscripts. Where the court may have a stub for the naturalization, the family may have the actual naturalization certificate that was attached to the stub. The church may have provided a certificate of baptism to the family at the time of the event. These sources should be documented as personal artifacts. It is important to try to learn as much about the provenance of the item as possible to document its authenticity.

Elements of the citation could include: the type of record, the name and address of the person currently holding the record and how it was passed to them from the original owner, the condition of the record, the creator of the record, date of creation, any identifying information about the item, and comments about the source.

First Footnote or Endnote Subsequent Footnote or Endnote Bibliography
Baby Book [Item ID], [artifact ID or Title], [creation date]; [current or last known owner], [address for private use,] [City], [State], [year owned]. [Add description and provenance of artifact]. [Item ID, shortened], [artifact ID or Title]. [Compiler]. [Artifact ID or Title]. [Creation date]. [Current or last known owner, [address for private use,] [City], [State]. [Year owned].
Example Four Generation Chart, in Eugenia L. Mason baby book, ca. 1918; Fagyal Family Collection; privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] 1980. [Babyhood Days, decorated by Jessie Alma Pierson, (New York: Barse & Hopkins, 1915). The baby book was presented to Eugenia L. Mason in May 1918 by her aunt, Marguerite Wilson. It includes a four-generation chart which was completed for parents, grandparents and maternal great-grandparents in Frances E. (Wilson) Mason’s handwriting.] Four Generation Chart, in Eugenia L. Mason baby book. Mason, Frances E. (Wilson), compiler. Eugenia L. Mason baby book, ca. 1918. Fagyal Family Collection, privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] St. Louis, Missouri. 1980.
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Church certificate [Item of interest] ([year] [type of certificate]); issued [year], [Name of Church], [City], State; privately held by [current or most recent owner]. [Add description and provenance of certificate]. [Item of interest] [type of certificate] ([year]), issued [year]. [Item of interest] ([year] [type of certificate]). Issued [year]. [Church Name]. [City]. [State]. [Current or most recent owner].
Example Elmer Fagyal (1911 baptism certificate); issued 12 August 1911, Hungarian Kalven Church, East St. Louis, Illinois; Fagyal Family Collection, privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] St. Louis, Missouri. [This certificate was passed from Elmer Fagyal to his daughter, Emilie. The certificate is signed by Reverend Kardos.] Elmer Fagyal (1911 baptism certificate); issued 12 August 1911. Elmer Fagyal (1911 baptismal certificate). Issued 12 August 1911. Hungarian Kalven Church, East St. Louis. Illinois. Fagyal Family Collection, privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] St. Louis, Missouri.
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Certificate of Naturalization [Artifact Title], [item type], [City], [State], citing [description of the article]; [Repository], privately held by [Name], [address for private use,] [City], [State]. [Statement of provenance]. [Artifact title], [item type], [Repository]. [Repository], privately held by [Name], [address for private use,] [City], [State]. [Year owned].
Example John Fagyal, original certificate of naturalization, St. Louis, Missouri, citing naturalization file no. 723413 (1917); Missouri, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri; Fagyal Family Collection, copy privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] St. Louis, Missouri. [The original copy of the Certificate of Naturalization for John Fagyal was found in the safe deposit box of Eugene Fagyal and is now in the possession of Eugene William Fagyal, Jr., his son. Eugene provided a copy of the certificate to Emilie V. Fagyal in 1981.] John Fagyal, original certificate of naturalization, Fagyal Family Collection. Fagyal Family Collection, privately held by Emilie V. Fagyal, [address for private use,] St. Louis, Missouri. 1981.

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Last modified: 30-Jun-2016 08:30