[Genealib] genealogy ready reference books

[Paul Follett]

May I suggest a good old gazetteer such as Fanning's Illustrated
Gazetteer of the United States, 1855 and Origin of Certain Place Names
in the United States, by Henry Gannett.   An old, probably out of print,
Everton title I find useful for city research (especially the old city
maps) is A Handy Guide to Record-Searching in the Larger Cities of the
United States, by Kay Kirkham.  One last item is Directory of Historical
Organizations in the United States and Canada, by the American
Association for State and Local History.  We have the 15th ed. dated
2002.  I don't know if a new one is out or not.

 

Paul Follett

Genealogy Librarian

Lawton Public Library

110 SW Fourth St.,

Lawton, OK 73501

pfollett at cityof.lawton.ok.us

 

"Let us, before we die, gather up our heritage, and offer it to our
children."

                                             Will Durant

                                              The Story of Civilization

 

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Shawna
Woodard
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:35 AM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: [Genealib] genealogy ready reference books

 

I am re-assessing what we hold at the genealogy reference desk as "ready
reference".  

 

I know that some librarians swear by "The Source" and "RedBook/ Red
Book".

 

There are three books that I would LIKE to have as ready reference, but
we hold older editions, so I might be giving patrons wrong information.
For now, I will not put these as ready reference because they are not
current.

 

Does anyone have other similar titles to recommend as ready reference
until new editions of these come out?

1.  Genealogist's Address Book.  Our library owns the 4th edition, 1998.
The 5th edition is listed as out of print, so it looks like we will have
to wait for the 6th edition to get a new copy.

2.  International Vital Records Handbook.  We have the 4th edition,
2000.

3.  County Courthouse Book.  We have 1995 edition.

 

If I use these, I would generally try to find a website that confirms
what is listed since the newest of these is 8 years old.

 

Another idea is to forget about books as ready reference all together
and just look at Cyndislist whenever I need websites, addresses, phone
numbers, forms, etc.

 

Any ideas?  Suggestions?

 

Shawna Woodard

Genealogy Librarian

Dayton Metro Library

215 E. Third St.

Dayton, OH  45402

937-496-8653

Donations of compiled family histories, Montgomery County yearbooks, or
money to purchase genealogical materials gladly accepted.

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