Where our facts come from

We rely first on original records: federal and state censuses, placing agency reports, county court and probate files, church registers, city directories and local newspapers. We also draw on published histories by careful scholars and on museums and historical societies that hold rider files and local collections.

Memory and the record

Family memory is a source too, and often the only one. When a story rests on what someone remembers rather than on a document, we say so in the text. When memory and the record disagree, we report both rather than quietly choosing one.

How we check

• Dates, names and places are checked against at least one record where one exists.
• Figures such as the number of children placed are given as estimates when historians disagree.
• Quotes from riders and relatives are reproduced as they were told to us or as they appear in print.
• Advice in our research guides is tested by our writers before it is published.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we correct it as soon as we can and add a short note at the end of the story saying what changed and when. We do not quietly rewrite history, including our own.

Report an error

Spotted a mistake? Write to the editor through the contact page or at hello@ridersontheorphantrain.org. Tell us which story, what is wrong and, if you can, the source that shows it. We read every report.