{"id":102861,"date":"2025-05-19T09:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=102861"},"modified":"2025-05-19T09:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:58:38","slug":"genealogy-tip-do-you-know-these-journals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-tip-do-you-know-these-journals.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy Tip: Do You Know These Journals?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega explains how helpful genealogy journals can be and provides links to several journals she herself uses. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I waited eagerly this week to receive a box of periodicals from the American Quilt Study Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: box of \u201cUncoverings\u201d journals. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Their annual journal Uncoverings<\/em> focuses on research articles on historical quilts. I read these to learn more about research, sources, and quilt history. A recent sale made it possible to almost complete my collection of the journal.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: shelf of \u201cUncoverings\u201d journals in the author\u2019s collection. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Uncoverings<\/em> is not the only journal I read. My bookshelf includes Markers<\/em>, the annual journal of the Association for Gravestone Studies<\/a>, and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you read journal articles? Why should genealogists take the time to read journals?<\/p>\n

A Journal Versus a Magazine<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s define what a journal is versus a magazine. Jenny L Presnell\u2019s book The Information-Literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students<\/em> states that:<\/p>\n

\u201cJournals are the medium that scholars use most often to communicate new research findings, ideas, and conclusions. By contrast, magazine articles are written by journalists trained in research and reporting techniques, and who are not typically specialists in any one specific discipline.\u201d (p. 75)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While her definition of magazine authors is limited, overall, her explanation of the difference in the two publications is helpful. She also writes that:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe audience for journals includes academics, specialists, and researchers in the field on which the journal focuses\u2026 The frequency of publication is usually quarterly or less. Articles generally contain many footnotes and a bibliography of sources.\u201d (p. 74)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A magazine\u2019s articles might be an easier read than a journal\u2019s, which is going to be more academic and scholarly. While a magazine article might educate you about resources and websites, a journal\u2019s articles are going to help you understand proper methodology using case studies. A journal article can take longer to read, but in the end it\u2019s worth it for what you will learn that will improve your research abilities.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Journals<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, what genealogy journals might you be interested in?<\/p>\n