Research Sources - Handbooks

HANDBOOKS
26. Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence! : Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian Baltimore Genealogical Pub. Co, 1997.

(4 stars in Book Index With Reviews) - Gives the fundamentals of providing citations for genealogy research. Also provides different formats, samples of documented family group sheets and ancestor charts. For genealogy research to be valid, it is extremely important that sources be cited so that others doing research can follow the footsteps of the researcher. This is a good book for amateur and professional genealogists to help them correctly cite their work.


27. Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States Edited by Robert B Matchette, Jan Shelton Danis and United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration,, 1995.

This source breaks down each record type, gives a brief history and then a list of the textual records for that type. An Example: Records of the U.S. Military Academy, Records of Veterans Administration, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Indian Affairs, etc. It is a very comprehensive listing which includes a tremendous amount of information.


28. Handbook on Irish Genealogy; How to Trace Your Ancestors and Relatives in Ireland. Dublin: Heraldic Artists, 1973.

This book provides helpful information on how and where to search for records regarding Irish ancestors. Irish ancestors can be difficult to research as many vital records have been destroyed by several fires, wars and carelessness. There are still some helpful records but they are not easy to find.


29. Kemp, Thomas Jay. International Vital Records Handbook 4th ed. Baltimore, MD Genealogical Pub. Co, 2000.

Application forms and instructions on how to obtain copies of birth, death & marriage certificates. Also contains contact information for each agency that handles these records and requests. Includes international agencies as well.



30. Iscrupe, William L., and Shirley G.M. Iscrupe. Pennsylvania Line: A Research Guide to Pennsylvania Genealogy and Local History. Laughlintown: Southwestern Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990.

This book is not published anymore and attempts to find the author to see if he would consider reprinting have been unsuccessful. Carnegie library keeps this book under lock and key and they told me that when copies become available on Ebay, they sell for big $$. (I just found a used copy at Barnes and Noble.com for $12.00 and bought it) It contains lists of books, genealogical quarterlies, microfilm, maps and ordering information for Pennsylvania sources.


31. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy. Edited by Loretto Dennis and Szucs & Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry Incorporation, 1997.

(4 stars in Book Index With Reviews) - Covers record types: The foundations of family history research; databases, indexes and other finding aids; Research in birth, death and cemetery records; in marriage and divorce records; in census records; in church records; in court records; in land and tax records; in military records; in business; employment and institutional records; in directories; in newspapers; ethnic origins; time and place. Very good comprehensive guide to conducting genealogy research.