Customer Reviews

The Genealogist's Address Book. 6th Edition

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If you are a genealogy fanatic or are simply thinking of delving into your family heritage, this is one fantastic resource that you need to have on your shelves. Perhaps you have been searching for a particular relative in, say Lowell, Massachusetts, a quick look in the pages of this book will give you three quick resources to phone, fax, write to, or email.

According to the author, she "is sorry to note that some organizations continue to request that their addresses be withheld," and that "others seem to be discouraging inquiries, either by posting exorbitant search fees or by simply referring queries directly to professional researchers who must charge by the hour, plus travel time and expenses." From browsing the expansive material included in this book, such discouraging responses appear to be in the minority. Back to Lowell . . . this is what an entry looks like:

City of Lowell
organized 1826 from Chelmsford

City of Lowell
City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Room 31, First Floor
Lowell, MA 01852
Telephone/Fax numbers
Web page address
Richard Johnson, City Clerk
(vital records)

Lowell Historical Society
Boott Cotton Mill Museum
(400 Foot of John Street, Lowell, MA 01852)
PO Box 1826 (mailing address)
Lowell, MA 01853
Telehone numbers of the president and librarian
Louise Hunt, President; Martha Mayo, Librarian

Samuel S. Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Telephone/Fax numbers
Email address
Web page address
Peter Alexis, Local History

Naturally some entries are either shorter, or in many cases, much longer offering many more resources for the genealogist to explore. In addition to the state by state entries the reader can find standard resources such as the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, DC, the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), and several others. I have written to the D.A.R., sent off a check for my requested information and did receive what I was searching for. Patience, and sometimes a few dollars, is the key to accessing some of these resources. Such a dearth of material is seldom found at ones fingertips all in one book. In fact, Amazon is listed as a resource. Perhaps a book about a family lineage can be found on this site.

In addition to the standard entries you'd expect to find the book includes a listing of ethnic archives, libraries and societies, immigration research centers, religious archives and organizations, lineage, hereditary, and patriotic societies, fraternal and social organizations, surname registries, available software, professional bodies, publisher, antiquarian book dealers, and much more.

This is a book that may prove invaluable in your research. In addition to this book I would also recommend the 3rd edition of the "County Courthouse Book: A Concise Guide to County Courthouse and Courthouse Records" (also by this author) and the 5th edition of the "International Vital Records Handbook: Birth, Marriages, Deaths" by Thomas Jay Kemp. These three excellent guides may prove to be invaluable in your research.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book arrived on time and as advertised ! I am not disappointed in the least- and would recommend it to anyone interested in this field.