Talk:Herb Peterson

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[edit] Nationality of Herb Peterson, and birthdate

User:Pd THOR has replaced the US-bio-stub by Bio-stub twice i think, and has removed the 1919 birthyear, for reason that there is not exact specific reference documenting that Herb Peterson is American or that he was born in 1919. I admire the focus on detail shown by this editor. However, as I tried to suggest in an edit summary or two, I think it is abundantly clear that Herb Peterson was an American, whether or not he was born in the US, so contesting use of US-bio-stub is not reasonable in my view. Further, I would bet he was in fact born in the US, because a US obituary would usually report the fact of being born outside the US, although I could be wrong of course. Anyhow, he was an American, he worked in advertising the quintessential American industry in Chicago the quintessential American city and in McDonald's the quintessential American company. If he is not American, i don't know who is. ( Perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger? ).

As for the birthyear being 1919, it is correct to question that slightly, because I do confess 1919 was originally arrived at by taking 2008 and subtracting his age 89. He could have age 89 on March 25 2008 if he was born between March 26 and December 31 in 1918, or if he was born between January 1 and March 24 of 1919. I think that putting in year 1918 or year 1919 with a citation needed tag on it is acceptable, and is sufficient, and that the article reads better (and is not misleading) if it has that rather than a blank for year of birth. I'm going to change it back one more time, with reference to this Talk page. If you disagree with my assessment here, and feel that strongly about it, go ahead and change it again, it doesn't matter all that much. doncram (talk) 17:51, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

According to the entries for Herb Peterson in the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses, he was born in Illinois in 1919 or 1920, his parents were both born in the United States. The 1920 U.S. Census states that he was 11-months-old when he was enumerated with his mother, two aunts, and maternal grandmother on 02 Jan 1920, which would give a date of birth in January or February of 1919. According to the findings of a genealogist on Genealogue blog, he was born on 05 Jan 1919 in Chicago. (Source was not identified.) Aewold (talk) 10:36, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
Thanks very much Aewold for your detailed response. I was unaware of geneology challenge races going on out there.... Your link to the Genealogue blog didnt work for me, but it was plenty enough for me to find it at Genealogue Challenge #123. Oh, you used a | mark not a space in your external link, that was the only problem in the link. I think that while the source is not a conventional, it is reliable enough support for fact that should be relatively non-controversial, and i am adding it to the article. Thanks again. doncram (talk) 19:12, 5 April 2008 (UTC)