Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records [Hardcover]

Kory Meyerink (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1998

Printed Sources addresses the large and growing body of printed material - the background information, finding aids, published original records, and compiled records - that can assure success in your family history research. This guide will make your research easier by identifying, defining, and explaining how to use the myriad of printed genealogical sources. You'll learn about vital records, county histories, published indexed, and many other types of printed sources that can lead you to your ancestors.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For those just beginning their family history research, the number and variety of printed sources can be overwhelming and confusing. Keeping abreast of the ever-increasing amount of new materials often proves difficult for even the seasoned researcher. This work serves as a guide through the maze of published records for beginner and expert alike. A fine line can be drawn between this publisher's classic work, The Source (1996. rev. ed.), and Printed Sources. While the first book defines and explains "original" records (e.g., censuses, vital records, etc.), this new work addresses materials that have arisen from authors' compilations and synthesis of the original data. The book opens with an essential introductory chapter that highlights categories of research, the evaluation of records, interlibrary loan, and even the Dewey Decimal system. Editor Meyerink then divides the book into four sections encompassing background information (how-to books, atlases), finding aids, printed original records, and compiled records (family histories, periodicals). Chapters, many contributed by well-known genealogists, begin with outlines of key concepts and sources to be discussed and end with helpful bibliographies. The text explains the nature and origin of a printed source?such as a church history?as well as its usefulness, what types of information it contains, and where and how one can locate sources like it. Three appendixes provide information on CD-ROMs, major U.S. genealogical libraries, and genealogical publishers and booksellers. Librarians and researchers will appreciate the depth and detail of information provided, even if their own collections do not contain so many sources. With a wealth of knowledge packed into 840 pages, this is a required purchase for all libraries.?Elaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Fort Wayne
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 839 pages
• Publisher: Ancestry Publishing (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916489701
• ISBN-13: 978-0916489700
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #550,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is on my nearest bookshelf!!!, September 9, 1998

By 

DearMYRTLE (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Hardcover)

In their usual fine tradition, Ancestry Publishing has come up with yet another definitive book to assist serious genealogy researchers with the task at hand! Hot off the press and first distributed at the May 1998 NGS National Genealogical Society Conference, critics are hailing this as a "must have" reference book extraordinaire.

"Most guidebooks do not discuss published records in detail, but most researchers begin with published records." (p2)

This massive collaborative effort includes the following participants: General Reference - Martha L. Henderson

Instructional Materials - Sandra Hargreaves Luebking

Geographic Tools: Maps, Atlases and Gazetteers - Carol Mehr Schiffman

Ethnic Sources - Loretto Dennis Szucs

Bibliographies and Catalogs - David T. Thackery

Published Indexes - Kip Sperry

Vital & Cemetery Records - Karen Clifford

Church Sources - Richard W. Dougherty

Censuses and Tax Lists - G. David Dilts

Published Probate Records - Wendy Elliott

Printed Land Records - Wendy B. Elliott and Karen Clifford

Court and Legal Records - Benjamin Barnett Spratling, 3rd

Military Sources - David T. Thackery

Immigration Sources - Kory L. Meyerink

Documentary Sources - Kory L. Meyerink

Family Histories and Genealogies - Kory L. Meyerink

County & Local Histories - Kory L. Meyerink

Biographies - Kory L. Meyerink

Genealogical Periodicals - Kory L. Meyerink

Medieval Genealogy - Glade I. Nelson & John M. Kitzmiller, 2nd

Appendixes include: CD-ROMs for family historians, ajor US genealogical libraries, genealogical publishers and booksellers.

One uses this 840 page reference work in a variety of ways. I do recommend reading the entire introduction. Mr. Meyerink points out that printed "records must be evaluated in at least seven respects: relevance, origin of information, nature of the record, format of the record, directness of the evidence, consistency and clarity of facts and likelihood of events." See also his discussion of copyright laws, the importance of sound documentation, and the effective use of library services and catalogs.

I wouldn't tackle more than one chapter at a time, as the reading is heavy, due to the thorough presentation of each topic. Take notes, photocopy and underline the important pages. Then put what you've learned into practice by visiting your local library to solidify your understanding of the concepts presented. We know there are no quick fixes. It takes time to educate oneself in the area of responsible genealogical research techniques.

Even experienced genealogists find great merit in studying the pages of Printed Sources. I've placed this on my nearest bookshelf right next to the equally essential The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy and Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County and Town Resources.

DearMYRTLE

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for all genealogists, July 22, 2002

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Hardcover)

This may be the most important general genealogical resource to appear since the revised edition of _The Source,_ to which it is the companion volume. Meyerink is an Accredited Genealogist and teacher of wide experience as well as a reference librarian and bibliographer at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. As in _The Source,_ each of the 20 chapters is written by a recognized expert in a subject (the editor provides six chapters himself), ranging from published catalogs and indexes to printed land records, county histories, and family histories. The Introduction and the four chapters that make up the "Background Information" section should be read by all genealogists, preferably early in their development. Coverage in all chapters ranges from the very general (and essential) to the surprisingly detailed, such as a two-page table of the most useful published and unpublished statewide indexes to county and local histories. Practical examples abound, including the causes of incorrect record transcriptions in published collections, the shortcomings of census indexes (and how to work around them), the differences among the major genealogical journals, where to find key documentary collections, and scores of others. Subject bibliographies, lists of addresses (and Web sites), and assorted checklists are scattered thickly throughout. Of special interest is Appendix A: "CD-ROMs for Family Historians," which lists all the major titles available through early 1998 -- more than 200 of them -- and also the names and address of 45 CD-ROM publishers. Put this one in your letter to Santa Claus this year!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Source, December 12, 2008

By 

Daisychain - See all my reviews

This review is from: Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Hardcover)

This is a must have book for any geneology / family history researcher. It covers every kind of printed source you can find important family history information in. Easy to understand and well worth it to have on hand for reference. I have used mine several times and I only work on geneology sporadically.