At the simplest level, you can click on the “+” button to create a new source, this will add a source and you can start entering information in the fields below:
Some of the fields lower down the sources panel aren’t shown by default, but can be made visible by clicking on the “>” buttons to show the extra fields:
The amount of detail you record for each source will vary depending on your tastes. At a minimum, you would probably want to give a source a title, record the “archive” in which it was found and some kind of reference number, which will depend on the convention for the source.
Below is an example of how we might enter the information about Charles Darwin’s death certificate:
As the death certificate is registered as Charles Robert Darwin, that is the title used. The “Archive” is the General Register Office, and the “Call No:” is the reference. In this case, this is how the General Register Office reference particular certificates via their indexing system.
The “Archive” is set by clicking on the “monument” button, which will pop-up a dialog allowing you to select an archive from a list.
When you start your project, only a small number of archives are pre-populated. You can add new ones via the “< Add New” button in the lower-right hand corner of the “Select Archive” dialog:
Archives can also be added and edited separately on their own editing panel. More information can be found in the archives section.
Sources are most useful when they are linked to from facts and events. This creates a citation, i.e. so we know the source of the information in that fact or event.