Identifying and Obtaining Instructional Materials
| This article originally appeared in Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records, edited by Kory L. Meyerink. |
Identifying and locating instructional materials is not always easy. Evaluating these materials is even more difficult, especially for newcomers to the field. Which guide was written for a quick sell and which will withstand the test of time, aging as gracefully as a well-researched and properly prepared family history? Annotated bibliographies can help researchers assess the value of instructional works.
Identifying and Obtaining Instructional Materials
Annotated bibliographies for genealogy are in short supply. Of these, a handful of contemporary works can help identify instructional materials. One modestly sized, slightly outdated, but authoritative and annotated work is Genealogy: A Selected Bibliography by Milton Rubincam, editor emeritus of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly.
A more comprehensive listing appears in American and British Genealogy and Heraldry, by P. William Filby, in the section titled United States, General Reference, Records, Guides, Indexes. This section contains annotated titles of works known through its date of publication (1983).
Marian Hoffman has compiled and edited Genealogical and Local History Books in Print: General References and World Resources Volume. This volume is perhaps the most current source of instructional materials because new editions or supplements are to be issued on a regular basis. Many titles are submitted by authors or publishers; editors' comments, if any, should be noted. Two important features of this work are its complete list of vendors and special ordering information. There is an index of authors, titles, and advertisers.
Book reviews and advertisements in genealogical journals and magazines provide an excellent means of learning about new instructional publications. Most publishers advertise in Everton's Genealogical Helper (published by The Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah) and submit their books for review to several journals. Some journals critique each book; others merely describe the content of each book without evaluating its substance.
People can obtain how-to books easily through publishers or bookstores that specialize in genealogical publications and supplies. In addition, national, state, and local conferences have created opportunities for book vendors to display their merchandise, making customer examination and purchase very convenient.
