Enrollment options
Optional Print Course Material: Genealogy Ethical Guidelines and Standards
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Whether you are a hobby genealogist, society member, serious researcher, or a professional genealogist, ethics affect your work. Adherence to ethical standards as they apply to your research and your interactions with others should be of concern to all researchers. Genealogists are faced with diverse ethical decisions in their research including black sheep ancestors, adoption, non-paternal events, and revealing family secrets. This course begins by looking at what is ethics in genealogy and the history of genealogical ethics and continues by exploring ethical considerations when sharing your genealogy online and in print, DNA testing, and while visiting libraries and archives. Ethical standards for professionals will also be explored including interacting with clients and the public.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
ETHICS & GENEALOGY: AN INTRODUCTION
What is Ethics?
Ethics in Genealogy
Consequences of Non-ethical Behavior
Glossary
MODULE 2
ETHICS & THE PROFESSIONAL
Ethical Standards
Clients
Working with Societies
Contract Work
Professional Writing
Suggested Content: Copyright and Disclosures
Copyright Notice
Creative Commons License
Disclaimers
Presentations and Handouts
Social Media
MODULE 3
ETHICS & THE FAMILY HISTORIAN
Online Trees and Other Postings
Volunteer Websites
Terms of Use: Subscription Website Look-Ups
Using Photographs from the Internet
Find A Grave
Plagiarism
Brick and Mortar Research
Social Media
Recommended Reading
MODULE 4
ETHICS & GENEALOGY SOCIETIES
Publications
Now, what about the newsletter?
Presentations and Presenters
Contract
Recordings
Payment
Handouts
Members
Benefits
Privacy
Board
Social Media
Recommended Reading
MODULE 5
ETHICS & PUBLISHING
It’s Online
Fraudulent Pedigrees
But I Pay for that Subscription!
Living People
Black Sheep
Publishing Permissions
Plagiarism
Recommended Resources
MODULE 6
ETHICS & GENETIC GENEALOGY
Administering
Answer my Email??!!
Published Ethical Standards and Guidelines