The best source depends on the question. A contemporary newspaper can show that a rumor circulated; a land patent can document a federal conveyance; a map can show what a surveyor recorded at a particular date. None alone proves every part of a treasure story.
Match question to record
For a person, start with names, dates, census and probate records, and local newspapers. For land, consult deeds, plats, claims, and the BLM General Land Office records where relevant. For a route or town, compare dated maps in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection and the Library of Congress collections. For federal activities, identify the record group through the National Archives research guide.
Evaluate what a source can establish
Record its creator, date, purpose, and how you accessed it. A later transcript may introduce errors; consult the image when available. Two websites copying the same pamphlet are one evidentiary chain. The Library of Congress guide to primary sources offers questions for assessing point of view and context.
Keep a citation with every note. If the record is not digitized, record the repository and call number so another researcher can request it.
For oral history, record the speaker, interviewer, date, and conditions of the interview. Treat memory as a perspective to compare with other records.
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