{"id":51973,"date":"2019-08-07T10:10:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-07T14:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=51973"},"modified":"2023-08-03T14:57:54","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T18:57:54","slug":"genealogy-101-your-genealogy-reference-bookshelf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-101-your-genealogy-reference-bookshelf.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy 101: Your Genealogy Reference Bookshelf"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article \u2013 part of an ongoing \u201cIntroduction to Genealogy\u201d series \u2013 Gena Philibert-Ortega describes several good genealogy research books she uses with her own family history research. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you have a genealogy library at home? Whether they\u2019re on your e-reader or on bookshelves in your home, genealogy reference books are an important investment. As you research, it\u2019s normal to have questions about what you\u2019re finding or where you should look next. I have some books that I refer to again and again \u2013 but depending on where your ancestor\u2019s homeland was or your genealogical research question, your reference bookshelf might look different. Here are a few categories of books I refer to as I research.<\/p>\n

Atlases<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I know maps are available online. I love historical map websites, but I also find it convenient to have some maps and atlases in my personal collection. I actually have a few different types of atlases on my bookshelf. For example, one is of current U.S. highways. I find that looking at it helps me figure out what\u2019s near a location or how far apart two places are.<\/p>\n

I also have a few books similarly titled Atlas of American History<\/em>, which include historical maps of the United States, railroad lines, canals, Civil War history, and religious groups. One edition is from 1943, which is fine because these are historical maps from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. I love this atlas because if I have a question about what the U.S. looked like during a specific time in history, I can consult it. Because it lacks detail for every territory or state, I do consult online map websites as well.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Adams, James T., and R. V. Coleman. Atlas of American History. New York: Charles Scribner\u2019s Sons, 1943. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to atlases I also have some map reference books that I refer to as I learn more about a family\u2019s history. My favorite is Melinda Kashuba\u2019s Walking with Your Ancestors: A Genealogist\u2019s Guide to Using Maps and Geography<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Slang Dictionary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just as there are different atlases, there are different types of dictionaries. One type of dictionary, a slang dictionary, might be new to you \u2013 but it\u2019s one of my favorites. (Yes, I really do love dictionaries). A slang dictionary provides definitions to everyday language throughout time, some of which started off as \u201cslang\u201d but after time became standard usage.<\/p>\n

So, why do I have these dictionaries? They help me to understand the meaning behind words that we either don\u2019t use anymore or don\u2019t use in the way an ancestor used it in a letter or diary entry. Don\u2019t think of slang just as vulgar words or phrases; think of it as nicknames and phrases that are used during a particular time period. (However, be forewarned that slang dictionaries do also contain vulgar language.) All types of slang dictionaries exist online and in print for everything from old occupations and historical time periods to words used today.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Wentworth, Harold, and Stuart B. Flexner. Dictionary of American Slang. New York: Crowell, 1967, p. 401. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Genealogy How-To<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I started genealogy, it was pretty common to acquire certain books to use for reference. Those were the pre-Internet days, so unless you owned the book, you would seek out a copy at a nearby (or not-so-nearby) library. There were some books that most genealogists owned \u2013 and a few of them continue to be important.<\/p>\n

What you need in relation to genealogy how-to books might differ according to what country you\u2019re researching, but one of my favorites for U.S. research is Val Greenwood\u2019s The Researcher\u2019s Guide to American Genealogy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Another good source for U.S. research is The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy<\/em>. It\u2019s available from the RootsWeb Family History Wiki. This is a great book to learn more about various record sets, including those you may not use a lot like court or institutional records.<\/p>\n

Source Citation<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the important steps in research is to cite your sources. Many genealogists will admit they were not consistent with this when they started, and years later they regret it. Why? Because without a complete source citation you have no idea where you found that important piece of information.<\/p>\n

I cringe when I think about how many times I cited something as \u201c1880 U.S. Census\u201d in the past without listing any other details. You may feel like it doesn\u2019t matter since you are researching just for yourself \u2013 but it\u2019s important to have enough source information so that you can go back and find that record again in case you need to further analyze it, or if there\u2019s a question as to whether it\u2019s really your ancestor in the first place.<\/p>\n

The source citation guide I have on my bookshelf is Evidence Explained<\/em> by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Throughout college I used the APA (American Psychological Association) format to cite sources, but I switched to Evidence Explained<\/em> for my family history work because it takes into consideration the diverse types of sources that we use for genealogical research, everything from heirlooms and oral interviews to vital records.<\/p>\n

I also recommend the Evidence Explained<\/a><\/em> website for helpful tutorials and answers to source citation questions.<\/p>\n

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

You might be thinking \u201cthere\u2019s such a thing as genealogical encyclopedias?\u201d Yes! And I have a few that I refer to when I\u2019m looking for a quick answer to better understand everything from a genealogical word to a record.<\/p>\n

The genealogy encyclopedias on my bookshelf include Genealogical Encyclopedia of the Colonial Americas<\/em> by Christina K. Schaefer, and The Genealogist\u2019s Encyclopedia<\/em> by L. G. Pine. Schaefer\u2019s encyclopedia\u2019s subtitle is A Complete Digest of the Records of All the Countries of the Western Hemisphere<\/em>. For example, I can turn to the Connecticut section and read a history of the state, information about statewide records, and information about what records are available for various counties, complete with the film number to help me find the record easier in the FamilySearch Catalog. Contents of this encyclopedia include: Chronology of Colonial History; Latin America, The Caribbean; The Thirteen Colonies. Maine, and Vermont; Other U.S. States and Settlements Prior to the Revolution; and Canada. It\u2019s a great resource for learning more about some of the earliest records available.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on Your Bookshelf?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I could go on and on about what genealogy books I own, but what\u2019s more important is that you find books that help you become a better researcher and that serve as references to the family history research you are conducting. Your bookshelf should be customized for your research.<\/p>\n

The printed word is not obsolete. Books are important tools for the genealogist, and whether you have a collection sitting on some bookshelves or virtually in your e-reader, books can help you find answers to your family history problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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