The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy

Genealogists and other historical researchers have valued the first two editions of this work, often referred to as the genealogist's bible. The new edition continues that tradition. Intended as a handbook and a guide to selecting, locating, and using appropriate primary and secondary resources, The Source also functions as an instructional tool for novice genealogists and a refresher course for experienced researchers. More than 30 experts in this...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593312776
• ISBN13: 9781593312770
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Ancestry.com
• Length: 965 Pages
• Weight: 5.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.5" x 8.9" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Good place to start

This is truly a GUIDEBOOK. It will guide you through your genealogical experience. When you get frustrated, "hit a brick wall," this is a good place to go for ideas. This will tell you where and how to look up all sorts of neat stuff. Essential stuff like what are the goodies of each census, who, where and what you can find info on all the soldiers from the wars. It DOESN'T have addresses to all the places you should be writing to---it is not that detailed. This just guides you. There are other books out there that can help you with courthouse recorder, deeds, phone #'s etc. Its got completely useless chapters TO ME on urban ancestry, all minorities ancestry is covered, phone directories, yearbooks, etc. How monstrous ship records and immigration records can be! This is just a book to help you with the basics. Its a good thing to have around; if you have an exceptional memory and can remember where you can find everything and what you can get from all those sources, you probably will never need this book. But its a good thing to have around.

The best book about American Genealogy Period!

I went through a lot of genealogy books looking for the right one to help me along on my search for my ancestors.When I hit the book THE SOURCE A GUIDEBOOK OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, I hit paydirt. It is my bible to my geneological research. It covers every conceiveable catagory and helps the beginner as well as the pro on where to search out answers, where to get information on vital records, tracking through lineage organizations and individual chapters on select ethnic groups.One of the best chapters is on Tracking Urban Ancestors for those of us who are tracking relations who lived in big cities. This book should be on every family historians home library shelf

What an informative book.

For anyone into Genealogy, this is a "must have" book. This book will give you a place to look for just about any record to be researched as well as other books that follow on the same line of research. A definite thumbs up.

A "MUST have" for family historians!!!

FROM THE BOOKSHELF: THE SOURCE: A Guidebook of American GenealogyDearREADERS, One of the most useful books for those of us starting (and continuing) to pursue our American pedigrees was revised and republished by Ancestry Publishing Company in 191997. THE SOURCE is just that, an invaluable source, referencing:Major record sources: family, vital, census, church, court, land, tax, military, institution and businessPublished genealogical sources: city directories, newspapers, genealogy indexes and compiled biographiesSpecial resources: tracking immigrants, urban ancestors, Native American, Spanish/Southwest, Black, Asian, Jewish-American, computers and heredity & lineage societies) Appendices include: addresses of regional Federal Archives, state historical archives, historical societies, research libraries, "Where to Write for Vital Records..", genealogy societies and genealogy book publishersLou and Sandra have written some of the chapters, and have called upon other well-respected genealogy experts to compose the other chapters. This book is so big, it can be used like an encyclopedia! However, I especially like to curl up and read it when I get stuck in a rut using just one or two types of records. This book reminds me to broaden my scope of research!Regards, Myrt