The Importance of Identifying the Informant in Genealogical Research
July 1, 2025
Beginners Level Article
The Importance of Identifying the Informant in Genealogical Research
When it comes to the reliability of facts, the information is only as good as the informant that supplied it.
In genealogy research, identifying the informant is crucial for assessing the reliability and accuracy of
the information found in historical records. Sometimes, the informant is not explicitly identified on a record. This can make it difficult to evaluate the reliability of the information. I have three study guides
that might help in a situation of this nature. All three are free and can be sent electronically upon
request.
How to Evaluate Genealogical Evidence 2024
Evidence: The Most Detailed and Potentially Valuable Items to Collect
Determining the Reliability of Genealogical Records and Documents
The informant is the individual who provides information about a specific event, like a birth, marriage,
or death, to the entity that creates the official record. Understanding who the informant was can be
crucial in evaluating the accuracy and reliability of genealogical information. In most cases, a spouse
or family member will have more accurate knowledge than a distant relative or neighbor.
When talking about information, here are some facts to keep in mind. Informants can be anyone who
had access to or firsthand knowledge about a particular event. Here are the most commonly accepted category examples.
Family members: Parents, spouses, children, siblings, etc.
Friends or neighbors: Individuals who lived nearby, family or personal acquaintances, business associates, classmates, etc.
Witnesses: People who were present at a major life event, like a doctor, nurse, or passerby at a a birth event, accident, arrest, etc. or hospital records that contained information about births and deaths.
Here are some primary situational examples of the importance of identifying who the informant was in terms of the accuracy of records for genealogical research purposes.
Understanding the Source: The informant is the person who provided information for a record, like a death certificate or census record. Determining the identity of the informant helps clarify their connection to the subject and whether they had direct knowledge of the events recorded.
Assessing Accuracy: Information from a primary informant as in someone who witnessed or participated in the event is generally more accurate than information gleaned from a secondary informant as in someone who received the information secondhand. Identifying the informant and their relationship to the event allows for a better evaluation of the possibility of errors or inaccuracies in the record.
Recognizing Potential Bias: Informants may have had personal reasons to intentionally provide inaccurate information, or their memory may have been affected by emotional factors. Identifying the informant can help recognize potential biases and contextualize the information.
Finding New Clues: Information about the informant can lead to further research in a variety of sources. An example of this scenario would be if the informant on a death certificate shares the same last name as the deceased, a family connection is likely, which can aid in tracing family relationships. My study guide entitled Family History Overview – 2025 will provide a convenient list of potential sources for this scenario.
This next section will cover examples that will occur when using specific record types.
Death Certificates: The informant is usually a close relative, but can also be a friend, neighbor, or hospital representative. The personal information about the deceased is provided by the informant. However, information about the deceased's birth and parents is often secondary information because the informant may not have been present at the birth.
Census Records: Prior to the 1940 census, the informant is typically not identified. In 1940, enumerators were instructed to mark the informant with a circled "X".
Marriage Certificates: The individuals getting married are the informants.
Newspaper Articles: The informant is often unknown, making it difficult to assess the information's accuracy.
From the standpoint of accuracy, identifying the informant is a vital step in genealogical research, allowing for the evaluation of information quality, recognition of potential biases, and discovery of new leads for further research.
For more information on this topic, please visit the following links.
Who Is the Informant on a Vital Record and Why Is It Important? Understanding the role of the informant on a vital record is essential for anyone dealing with death certificates. In this informative video, we will clarify who the informant is and why their role is significant in the context of vital records. We’ll explain the responsibilities of the informant and the type of information they must provide, including personal details about the deceased. Accurate information on a death certificate is not just a matter of record-keeping; it has important legal implications. We will discuss how this information can affect inheritance and property distribution. Additionally, we will highlight the consequences of providing false information and why it is crucial for the informant to be knowledgeable and truthful. We will also cover the informant's role in potential future amendments to the death record and how they may be contacted for clarification if discrepancies arise. 2025 You Tube 3.5 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5eyoXUHRM&t=30s
Cooke, Lisa Louise. Understanding Genealogy Sources: Why “Provenance” Matters 2018
Knox, Constance. Genealogy TV. Finding Proof for Your Family History and Genealogy. In a criminal court of law, you need to prove someone's guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. Similarly in genealogy, we need to have evidence that after “reasonably exhaustive research,” the evidence points to a solid conclusion. In this process we're searching for all records possible and we are weighing the evidence for its validity. 2023 You Tube 16 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNJVMOBKVo
-----------------------------------------. Witnesses and Informants in Your Genealogy Records: How and Where to Find Them. Learn all about how and why you should look to witnesses and informants when doing your genealogy research. It’s in the details, including witnesses and informants that can provide valuable clues to help you expand your family tree. 2022 You Tube 8 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT5Du_FUN2w
Powell, Kimberly. Learn Genealogy. 10 Important Clues to Follow Up in Land Deeds. 2022