Citing Correspondence through 23andMe

eevander, thanks for reposting. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

We're going to answer your question with three questions of our own:

1. If you were using Outlook or G-mail would you feel a need to identify the server or message system through which the e-mail was conveyed?
2. If not, why would 23andMe's messaging system differ?
3. Using 3.42 as models, do you see elements that you think don't fit?

eevande, given that the issue of genetic privacy is the source of your quandary, let’s begin with a look at the relevant provisions of the Genetic Genealogy Standards (http://www.geneticgenealogystandards.com/).

6. Privacy. Genealogists only test with companies that respect and protect the privacy of testers. However, genealogists understand that complete anonymity of DNA tests results can never be guaranteed.

7. Access by Third Parties. Genealogists understand that once DNA test results are made publicly available, they can be freely accessed, copied, and analyzed by a third party without permission. For example, DNA test results published on a DNA project website are publicly available.

8. Sharing Results. Genealogists respect all limitations on reviewing and sharing DNA test results imposed at the request of the tester. For example, genealogists do not share or otherwise reveal DNA test results (beyond the tools offered by the testing company) or other personal information (name, address, or email) without the written or oral consent of the tester.

9. Scholarship. When lecturing or writing about genetic genealogy, genealogists respect the privacy of others. Genealogists privatize or redact the names of living genetic matches from presentations unless the genetic matches have given prior permission or made their results publicly available. Genealogists share DNA test results of living individuals in a work of scholarship only if the tester has given permission or has previously made those results publicly available. Genealogists may confidentially share an individual’s DNA test results with an editor and/or peer-reviewer of a work of scholarship. …

These, essentially, are the same standards that apply to all our research. If someone publishes a statement, we’re free to quote from it. If someone makes statements in private correspondence that we want to use as evidence, we cannot ethically publish the private statements or publish details that would connect them personally to those assertions or opinions.  We may (and should)  create citations in our private research notes, but we may not publish them. If someone’s correspondence provides evidence we want to use and they do not give permission, then we have to find an alternate form of evidence.

Genetic evidence works the same way for those who do historical research. So let’s look at your issues:

• The other 23AndMe tester has publicly identified her/himself under a pseudonym.
• That leaves you free to identify the writer by the pseudonym, but not the name (if you know it)
• Presumably, from your No. 1 above, you have asked the person for permission to use his/her real identity and email address in your research notes and the person has said no.

Therefore, we are left with two issues:

1. Constructing a citation for private use, with details you can never publish;
2. Finding usable evidence elsewhere—which might be found by (a) using known facts to documentary research that would lead to the evidence; or (b) finding a related tester who is willing to be a part of your study.

To construct that citation, let's look at the first citation sample provided under 3.42:

       1.  Kay Haviland Freilich, Wayne, Pennsylvania [(E-ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE),] to Ann Carter Fleming, e-mail, 14 November 2003, “Elusive 1870 census entry,” Personal Correspondence Folder, Fleming Research Files; privately held by Fleming, [(E-ADDRESS), & STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Chesterfield, Missouri, 2015.

Logical substitutions would be these:

"ShyUser" (Genetic tester who wishes to remain anonymous) to E. Evande, message communicated via 23AndMe e-mail, 14 July 2016, “My Answer to Your Inquiry,” Personal Correspondence Folder, Evande Genetic Research Files; privately held by E. Evande (MyEmail@serviceprovider.com, [STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Wherever, MyState, 2016.

You might also, more precisesly for your own records, cite it this way:

"ShyUser" (Genetic tester who wishes to remain anonymous) to E. Evande, message communicated via 23AndMe e-mail (https://www.23andme.com/user/messages/131e672e5e2236e03be), 14 July 2016, “My Answer to Your Inquiry,” Personal Correspondence Folder, Evande Genetic Research Files; privately held by E. Evande (MyEmail@serviceprovider.com, [STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Wherever, MyState, 2016.

eevande, EE would cite the original messages as suggested above, with one alteration. Immediately after the pseudonym, we would put the known name in square editorial brackets. You'll find examples and discussions in EE at 12.11, 14.16 and elsewhere. 

Incidentally, square brackets (as opposed to parentheses) are a punctuation mark that says: "I'm adding in here what the original doesn't say."

Good thinking, Dan!

Good thinking, Dan!