Sunday, April 22, 2012

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 17

Week 17: How-To Book: For which genealogy how-to book are you most thankful? Who wrote the book and why does it stand out in your eyes? Is the book currently available? How can other genealogists benefit from its content?

My first thought was The Source; A Guidebook of American Genealogy, edited by Loretto Dennis Szucs & Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. My copy is the revised edition, 1997. Ancestry republished the book in 2006, and it is available in major book stores for about $50.00 Even though this is not a new book, there is so much content that will never be out of date. Copies can be found in most libraries with any sort of genealogical department. It was not designed for Internet sleuthing - this is more of a basic instructional tool for what and how to research and how to make use of what you find. The book is useful for both a beginner or an advanced researcher.

The Source is important to me for two reasons. I like having the book at my fingertips for reference. But then is also has sentimental value. Sandra Luebking taught the first genealogical instructional class I attended and in many ways was my mentor.