Customer Reviews

Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records

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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

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!

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.

This book is very instructional in my finding my ancestors. It goes hand in hand with The Source, which I also have and they both are worth having in your personal library. Thank you.

Karen Kay Ullom