FLHIG

Family and Local History
Indexing Group

Selected articles from the Newsletter

This article first appeared in SIGGNL 8   (February 1995)

Barrow plus
by Dr Joseph L. Druse
 

Introduction

In response to the article on “Aid in indexing” in The Genealogists’ Magazine, a letter was received from Dr Druse about his bibliographical project on published British family histories.  He has now sent further details as below.  While this is not entirely a work of indexing, that is clearly a major genealogical project in which the indexes will be a key to efficacy.  I shall myself be on the lookout for items to contribute to it in the FH publications which I receive, and hope that other members of SIGG will do likewise.  Dr Druse’s address is: 667 Virginia Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan 48823 U.S.A. - Ed.
[Address valid at the time of original publication]

Background

The basic bibliographical tools for published British family histories, whether in books or periodicals, are the three sequential books which purport to include most of such family histories.  They are, in chronological order, The genealogist’s guide, by George W. Marshall (1903) covering publications up to 1903; A genealogical guide, by John B. Whitmore (1953) covering from 1903 to 1953; and The genealogist’s guide, by Geofrey B. Barrow (1977) covering the period 1953 to 1975.

Periodicals

Barrow plus (convenience title) will try to cover the period 1975 to 1995.  Of the tasks involved the more complex is ascertaining those family histories which appear in periodicals.  I have made a card index of the titles covered by Barrow in his work, and have assumed that both Whitmore and Barrow checked the then-current periodicals.  My current work is to check these same periodicals which continued in 1975-1995.  In addition, the flourishing of new genealogical and local history associations in this period has produced many new periodicals.  I am compiling a list of these, some of which I have already checked.

Books

A less complex task, (but one with less assurance of full coverage) is that of identifying printed books dealing, at least in part, with specific family histories published since 1975.  At the moment I am relying on book reviews in genealogical and local history works, and on such features as the “Additions to the Library” lists in the Genealogists’ magazine.  I have also taken opportunity to browse through the Michigan State University library here, finding many family lineages, often in small local books.  The National Library in Dublin has been searched for Irish genealogical books and periodicals.

Current status

I have on hand a card index for 1975-1995 containing cards for about 3,500 different family names, averaging (at a guess) about two references per family name.  For comparison, Barrow has approximately 6,000 family names with about two references per family.

Help wanted

I need hardly add that I welcome as much help as I can obtain in the project.  Many British periodicals are not available to me here in Michigan.  Checking book reviews and book lists is a slow process.  To be given details of newly published genealogies as described above will be a great help.

Conclusion

I hope that some readers of the newsletter may be inspired to follow up on this article.  Meantime I shall be more or less prompt in responding to queries concerning what I have now on file about a given family name.

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