Provenance & Proof: Advanced Strategies for Finding and Using Manuscripts In Your Research

Manuscripts are more than historical artifacts; they are silent witnesses that can transform your genealogical research. This session will explore how to locate and analyze valuable manuscripts, including minister journals, lawyer notebooks, personal papers, and unpublished family histories, found in both major repositories and local collections. We will dive into the complexities of working with manuscripts, including evaluating provenance, identifying authors and transcribers, comparing manuscript versions, and extracting reliable data from uncited or edited materials. Attendees will learn how to incorporate scripted evidence into genealogical proof arguments, how to overcome challenges with unsourced content, and discover underutilized resources that can break through research barriers. This session is designed for professional genealogists looking to expand their research toolkit and tackle the complexities of manuscript-based evidence. Attendees would benefit from having a strong foundation in genealogical research methods, understanding how to work with primary sources, and a basic knowledge of archival research. This advanced-level session is sponsored by BCG and ICAPGen.