In short, think of a source and citation as a journey and destination. The destination is the source, whereas the citation is how you got there and how you and others might get there again.

There are lots of types of sources and we talk in more detail about them in the next instalment, but here are a few to get you thinking:

• Census
• Directories
• Diaries
• Parish Records
• Vital Records
• Naturalisation Records
• Taxation Records
• Occupational Records
• Land Grants
• Newspapers

It is worth remembering that not all source material is mirrored across different locations.  Some might be country specific, an example of this is the Hearth Tax which will be found in the UK only. As will the 1939 Register, with only the records relating to those in England and Wales available online. Those in Scotland are held at the archives, but not freely available.

Census documents, whilst being mirrored across numerous Countries will provide different details, across the years and across the Countries.

Another point worth remembering is that whilst some of these sources are Primary Sources, (we discuss those tomorrow), not all Primary sources are in fact accurate.

Which of those Source documents have you used and have you used one that is Country specific?