We’re sorry. This course is no longer available. A new course on Documentation and Source Citation is coming in 2026.

Guide to Documentation and Source Citation (revised 2018) is self-paced, online, and in the cloud. Keeping accurate notes or citations is the backbone of reliable genealogy. When we are fast in pursuit of the next exciting record for our family, we may forget to take adequate notes. We deeply regret it later when we can’t identify the source or failed to cite it fully.

Many genealogical researchers are confused by the best way to cite and notate the sources where they located family records and information. Guide to Documentation and Source Citation helps genealogists understand the correct principles for citing sources. The principles taught in this course are based on Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace.

Guide to Documentation and Source Citation is a course for those who want to understand the principles of citation for common sources such as books, periodicals, and a variety of filmed and digitized records. This course teaches why citations are necessary; why a consistent citation style is used by genealogists; and which citation style is most appropriate for genealogical research. You will learn the difference between the formats of reference notes and source lists; understand the common elements of all source citations; and understand the methods for documenting various records.

The course is divided into three modules with multiple sections, which include reading and reference lists, web links, self-correcting quizzes, and a glossary. A full syllabus is provided to course registrants. The course modules are as follows.