Story
The soldier's name was the reason they opened the file. The neighbor's testimony was the reason they stayed.
One witness knew the road. Another knew the church. A third remembered the winter the family moved. None of them told the whole story, but together they showed the shape of a community.
The researcher copied every witness into a table before writing one sentence. Sometimes the strongest clue in a record is the person who was asked to speak.
Reflection questions
- Why can witnesses be as important as the main person in a record?
- What should a witness table include?
Reminder: Tales are not evidence and should not be used as proof. Use the Wiki and Library for source-led research.