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I'm not understanding the difference between these two categories. For example: p. 270-72 provides examples for databases for HeritageQuest and Ancestry and the example for Digital images for Ancestry. To add to my confusion I have seen both HeritageQuest and Ancestry cited as "database and image" in the same citation. Add FamilySearch and Fold3 to the group providing census information and my brain acts like a GPS - always "recalculating." While the examples differ for the database and images, I'm not understanding why.
Here is my method of finding the source. Since I prefer HeritageQuest I access through a library which brings up their homepage. There are links to the various census years. I click on which year I want and it brings up a page labeled "1860 United States Federal Census" which I use as the name of the database. I enter information in the fields and search and it brings up the page of the census for the individual subject.
I finally resorted to using QuickCheck Model, Digital Images, Online Commercial Site, p. 240 but I also have a question about the organization of the reference note for that. I accessed the example census and Lake Prairie is listed as a township of Marion County. Why would it not be listed as "1850 U.S. census, Lake Prairie Township, Marion County, Iowa..." keeping the format as smaller to larger?
Sorry for the length but your comments would be very much appreciated.
Wayne,
Wayne,
Database entry vs. database image:
As background, check EE's index for "Citation issues > databases vs. images." You'll find page references to 6 discussions, each dealing with different types of records or situations.
In brief: when we access census records at major providers, we have one or two options:
Our citation identifies which item we have used, because it matters whether we are relying upon the reading and extraction made by the provider's workers—for many of whom, the language of the record is not their native language—or whether we are viewing the actual census page and applying our own familiarity with the family or the region.
Arrangement of place elements in a census citation:
I assume you have read EE 6.2 "Arrangement of [Census] Elements in Reference Notes" and 6.3 "Arrangement of Elements in Source List."
The smallest-to-largest and largest-to-smallest examples include only the state and county because
When we go to a database—or a database that also offers images—we locate the film by entering the state and county. Not until those are accessed do we (in some years and places, but not in other years and places) have the option of choosing a more-localized place name.
It is for all these reasons that "1850 U.S. census, Marion County, Iowa" has been the standard usage in reference notes many decades—using for that location the conventional order for identifying an American state and county.