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Source Citation Format

Summary: How to cite each document type in the Reference sections of an SAR application, with examples for each common source.

Sources: # Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).md (APG, Citing Sources on the Application; Source Citation sections)

Last updated: 2026-04-15

General Principles

Citations in the Reference sections must provide sufficient information to identify and locate each document. Incomplete citations such as "death certificate," "census record," or "family history" are of little help for future research. (source: # Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).md, APG Citing Sources on the Application)

For images downloaded from the internet: - For records with a conventional citation (e.g., federal census): use the conventional citation - For other internet downloads: identify the website name and a sufficient description of the document so a future search would likely locate it - The URL should be placed on the documentation, not on the application form (URLs are often very long and change over time) (source: National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.md, GCP 3.1000)

If citing an SAR, DAR, or CAR application, state the organization, number, and ancestor: e.g., SAR #000000 on John Doe.

By Document Type

Birth, marriage, and death certificates or licenses

Use the appropriate abbreviation and cite the subject's name. Indicate year or place only if there is a special reason (the date and place are already on the document and application).

Abbreviation Meaning
b/c birth certificate
b/r birth record
m/c marriage certificate
m/l marriage license
m/r marriage record
d/c death certificate
d/r death record

Examples: - b/c – John Smith - m/c – John Smith to Jane Doe - delayed b/c – Mary Walser, Sacramento Co. CA, 1952 (born 1889, certificate issued 1952)

Census records

Provide: census year, county, state, page, name of head of household, and "hh."

Example: - 1860 cen. Clayton Co., GA, p. 193, John Smith, hh.

Published records (books)

Provide: title, year published, and page number(s). Distinguish it from other works with similar titles or dates.

Example: - "History of Clayton County, Iowa," 1882, p. 691.

Court records (probate, land, etc.)

Provide: place, year, volume/book, page, and names of persons of interest.

Examples: - Loudoun Co., VA Deed Bk R (1789), p. 440, Ashley to Mann. - Lancaster Co., SC Minutes Court of Equity, Bk B (1834-1841), pp. 222-223, Terrill heirs.

Bible records

Provide: original owner and publication date of the Bible.

Example: - Meshak Vanlandingham Family Bible, 1837

Newspaper articles

Provide: type of article, person of interest, newspaper name, date, and page.

Example: - Obit John Smith, San Francisco Call, 21 Feb 1885, p. 4.

SAR, DAR, or CAR record copies

Provide: organization abbreviation, "RC," member number, and patriot's name.

Examples: - SAR RC #156802 – Samuel Hoard - DAR RC #809020 – Richard Terrill - C.A.R. RC #231066 – John Smith

Note: The Genealogy Staff already has access to SAR record copies, but State and Chapter Registrars need a copy for verification.

Record copies used for proof of service

Also quote the service sources cited on the record copy:

  • SAR RC #184244 – Zephaniah Holcomb cites Roberts, NY in the Rev, pp. 111, 113; O'Callaghan, Docs Rel to the Col History of State of NY, "NY in the Rev," Vol 15, p. 396.
  • DAR RC #965138 – Andreas Gerberich cites PA Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 17, p. 620.

Do not cite: DAR ancestor numbers or SAR "P" numbers — neither conveys usable data.

Tombstones

Provide: "Gravestone" or "Tombstone," name of deceased, cemetery name, and cemetery location. For Find a Grave entries, include the memorial number.

Examples: - Gravestone – Josiah Smith, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA. - Tombstone – Josiah Smith, memorial #78888, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.

Only include information actually on the tombstone. User-entered Find a Grave information is not acceptable. Index pages from Ancestry or FamilySearch Find a Grave are not acceptable — use the actual Find a Grave page.

Proof arguments

List in the "Reference" or "Proof of Service" section with all supporting document citations:

Name of the proof argument: citation of first document; citation of second document; etc.

If the application contains more than one proof argument, they must have different designations.

DNA proof arguments

In the Reference sections of both generations involved:

"DNA proof argument: DNA evidence," (followed by each piece of traditional evidence, unless the applicant requests certain documents not be listed)

Document Citations on the Documentation Itself

For documents that are not self-identifying (e.g., handwritten town records, marriage consents), place a source citation at the top of the document in red, along with the generation numbers to which it applies. Self-identifying documents (birth/death/marriage certificates, census records) do not require added citations. (source: # Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).md, APG Source Citations on Documentation)

  • [[acceptable-sources]]
  • [[inadmissible-sources]]
  • [[record-copies]]
  • [[application-requirements]]
  • [[proof-argument]]