“Skillet” does not appear in the index for Evidence Explained and yet, like any genealogical item that provides information, the mess pan needs some sort of citation, if for not other reason than citation creation can cause us to notice things that might otherwise have passed us by. The closest item to parallel a citation from is a personal artifact. That’s the guideline I used in creating this citation for the World War I era item we have been discussing.

Raymond L. Short, World War I mess pan, ca. 1917-1918; privately held by Mrs. Michael’s Coworker, [address for private use,] Monmouth, Illinois, 2016. [Mess pan contains inscriptions of locations in Europe where Short served. Mrs. Michael’s Coworker is currently in possession of this mess pan which was obtained in the effects of Raymond L. Short’s wife after her death. Mrs. Coworker is a granddaughter of Raymond L. Short.]

Normally one would put the actual name of the person in possession of the item where “Mrs. Michael’s Coworker” has been used in this post.

Everything needs a citation and the provenance is important as well. It’s reasonably obvious to whom the item originally belonged, but how it came halfway across the country is an important part of the citation.

We’re still working on a transcription of the item as well as a few other issues the pan raises.

And for those who are interested, the only thing close to “skillet” in the index for Evidence Explained is “skill.”

And while it took some skill to inscribe this item that’s not quite what I’m talking about.