PDF version of slides handout with hot links to resources.

1. The Researcher's Guide to American 11/30/2011
Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Types of Compiled Sources
• Family histories and genealogies
• Local histories
• Compiled lists (dictionaries, directories,
etc.)
etc )
• Biographical works
• Genealogical and historical periodicals
• Compendium genealogies
• Special manuscript collections
The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Presented by Serena Snowfield
Family Histories & Genealogies Family Histories & Genealogies
• Bring together valuable data from many Kaminkow, Marion J., Genealogies in the
different sources. Library of Congress: A Bibliography With
Supplements and the Complement to
• Need to verify stated “facts” with primary Genealogies in the Library of Congress
sources.
sources (Genealogical Publishing Co 2001)
Co., 2001).
• Even inferior works might have helpful Also available as a Google eBook
clues.
Library of Congress Local History &
Genealogy Reading Room: The
Collections
http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/lhgcoll.html
Local Histories Local Histories
• Include town, county, and regional
histories. “No genealogist knows all he should
• Important feature: the biographical about research in any given area
section (also called “mug books”). until he knows something of that
g
• Can’t find your ancestor? You might find area’s history.”
an in-law or descendant instead.
• Contain useful information about an
area’s history.
Greenwood, p. 187
Chapter 11: Compiled Sources and
Newspapers 1

2. The Researcher's Guide to American 11/30/2011
Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Local Histories Compiled Lists
Filby, P. William, A Bibliography of • Types include dictionaries, directories,
American County Histories (Genealogical lists, registers, etc.
Publishing Co., 1985)
Also available as a Google eBook. • Compiled from several (usually original)
sources.
Library of Congress: Resources for Local • Considered reliable, though not always
History and Genealogy by State complete.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/states/states_intro
.html
Online County Histories, Biographies &
Indexes
http://www.genealogybranches.com/countyhistories.html
Biographical Works Biographical Works
• Found in almost every library. Slocum, Robert B., Biographical
• Usually deal with people who achieved dictionaries and related works: an
some degree of prominence. international bibliography of collective
biographies, bio-bibliographies, collections
• Don’t pass up because your ancestors
Don t of epitaphs (Detroit : Gale Research CoCo.,
were “common folks.” 1967, with supplements, and vol. 2, 1986).
• Most of the data are provided by the
subjects themselves and are reliable.
Genealogical & Historical Genealogical & Historical
Periodicals Periodicals
• Range from scholarly journals to low-
budget family publications. PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
Available online at Ancestry.com ($) and Heritage Quest;
• Many are published on a restricted basis. hard copies in some libraries.
• Don’t overlook “general circulation”
Don t general circulation Library of C
Lib f Congress – G
Genealogical
l i l
magazines that are not genealogical in
nature. Periodicals: A Guide for Research :
Periodical Indexes
http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/genperioperi.html
Jacobus, Donald Lines, Index to
Genealogical Periodicals
Genealogical Publishing Co., 2010 – reprint 3 vols
Chapter 11: Compiled Sources and
Newspapers 2

3. The Researcher's Guide to American 11/30/2011
Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Genealogical & Historical
Compendium Genealogies
Periodicals
• Usually comprehensive treatises with
Genealogical Periodical Annual Index abstracts of information.
(GPAI) – published annually since 1962.
Many volumes available for purchase on CD at • Notoriously inaccurate; data usually not
HeritageBooks.com. from original sources.
“…to compress the lineages contained
in thousands of individual family
genealogies into a single volume.”
Greenwood, p. 196
Special Manuscript Collections Special Manuscript Collections
• Unpublished materials found in libraries, Library of Congress: National Union
historical societies, and archives. Catalog of Manuscript Collections
• Often difficult to locate. (NUCMC)
http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc
• Some are microfilmed
microfilmed.
• Search the NUCMC under “genealogy,” NUCMC List of Participating Repositories:
as well as surnames of interest, Fiscal Years 1959-present (replaces the
localities, lawyer’s papers (esp. in geographical guide)
“burned” counties), military commanding http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/repositorieslist.html
officers’ papers.
DAR Library: Special Collections
http://www.dar.org/library/speccol.cfm
Newspapers Newspapers
• Useful source from the geographical Types of information to look for:
area where your ancestor lived. – Obituaries
• Did not always report “the facts,” – Birth announcements
especially older newspapers. – Marriage/engagement announcements
• Details are sometimes sketchy. – Legal/probate notices
• Current newspapers are helpful for – Notes of thanks
finding living relatives in locations where – “Who is visiting” notices
your ancestors lived.
– Other news items
Chapter 11: Compiled Sources and
Newspapers 3

4. The Researcher's Guide to American 11/30/2011
Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Newspapers Newspapers
Brigham, Clarence Saunders, History and Chronicling America (26 states)
bibliography of American newspapers, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
1690-1820 : including additions and Online Historical Newspapers (by Miriam J. Robbins)
corrections, 1961 (Archon Books, 1962) https://sites.google.com/site/onlinenewspapersite
Rowell's & Ayer's American Newspaper ProQuest (connect through some libraries)
Directory PDF's http://www.proquest.com/en-US
http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/news_research_tools/ayersdirect
ory.html GenealogyBank
http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk
Google
http://www.google.com NewspaperArchive (free for SCGS members)
http://www.newspaperarchive.com
Limitations of Compiled Sources Additional Resources
• Accessibility and availability – limited FamilySearch Wiki: A Checklist of
publication and lack of indexes make Compiled Sources & Where to Find Them
items difficult to find. https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/A_Checklist_of_
Compiled_Sources_%26_Where_to_Find_Them
• Reliability – scientific research methods
seldom used; clerical errors i copied
ld d l i l in i d Library of Congress: Local History &
materials. Genealogy Reading Room
• Completeness – Compiled without http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/
thorough research.
WorldCat: The world’s largest network of
• Documentation – Sources missing or library content and services
from other compiled sources. http://www.worldcat.org
Additional Resources Additional Resources
FamilySearch: Family History Archives Meyerink, Kory L., Printed Sources: A
http://lib.byu.edu/fhc/index.php Guide to Published Genealogical Records
(Ancestry Publishing, 1998).
Allen County Public Library Genealogy
Center Catalog Pfeiffer, L
Pf iff Laura S Szucs, Hidd S
Hidden Sources:
http://smartcat.acpl.lib.in.us/?skin=genealogy
Family History in Unlikely Places (Ancestry
Publishing, 2000).
NGS Book Loan Collection at the St. Louis
County Library
http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/library_book_loan_collectio Google Books
n http://books.google.com/books
Chapter 11: Compiled Sources and
Newspapers 4