500 MB Nyheder Direkte fra Internet 10/500 MB nyheder direkte fra internet CD 10.iso/start/progs/text/guide0.txt

Text File | 1996-01-30 | 16KB | 390 lines

   GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

       Local History and Genealogy Reading Room
        Humanities and Social Sciences Division
                   Washington, 1996

HOW TO BEGIN

     Welcome to the Library of Congress and to the Local
History and Genealogy Reading Room. The reading room is
open to adult researchers from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday, and from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday
and Saturday.  It is closed on all major holidays.
For a general description of Library policies and practices,
see Information For Readers.

     Careful and systematic use of the genealogy
collections of the Library of Congress, one of the
world's largest and most complex libraries, should help
you retrieve the information which may be available about
the history of your family. Reference librarians are
available to assist you in your search.

     To compile your family history is to establish a
paper trail from yourself backward in time as far as you
can go. This trail will consist of documents that tell of
events and activities in your ancestors' lives. Ideally,
your first step is to obtain information on doing
genealogical research. Most public libraries and large
bookstores usually have good introductory books on
research methods. These will tell in detail what records
to look for, where to search for them, and what kind of
information you can expect to find in a given record
and/or repository.

     Your next step may be to interview all the older
relatives you can find and write down what they say,
bearing in mind that family traditions become distorted
with time, and you will need to verify what you hear.
Documents such as land records, wills, baptismal records,
and certificates of birth, death, and marriage pinpoint
an ancestor in place and time, and often give information
that will tell you where to look for similar
documentation on the preceding generation.

     For example, your parent's birth certificate may
indicate where and when the parent was born and the names
of his/her parents (your grandparents). This in turn may
suggest where, and for what approximate time period, you
can begin your search for your grandparents' marriage
records. These records in turn may provide information on
the previous generation, and so on, as far back as the
records have been kept.

     When these records are lacking you may be able to
fill in the gaps with other sources, such as family
Bibles, obituaries, interviews with relatives, or
published information in compiled family histories or
genealogical periodicals. Most vital records and other
primary sources are available only at the state or local
level, in town records and county clerks' offices, and
for this reason a library may not be the best place to
begin your research.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

     Some individuals and societies have published vital
records in book form, and whenever you are in a library
it is a good idea to determine if it has any published
records for the areas in which your ancestors lived. Once
you have traced your family back several generations you
will have many family names that are relevant to your
research, and it is usually at this point that a
library's genealogical collection becomes most useful.
Following are types of materials at the Library of
Congress and at other libraries that may prove useful at
the beginning of your research as well as when the search
is further advanced.

1. Guides and Manuals:

     BOOKS which explain how to do genealogical
     research. These can save you much time and expense.

     MANUALS on research for a particular ethnic group

     GUIDES to vital records for United States states
     and counties, and for many foreign countries

     DIRECTORIES of addresses of historical and
     genealogical societies

     INDEXES to genealogical periodicals.

2. United States City Directories:

     If you know that an ancestor lived in a particular
city, you may find his or her address and sometimes
profession and name of spouse in these directories. Check
with a reference librarian to identify and locate
directories in the Library of Congress.

3. Published Census Records and Indexes

     Federal population census schedules are at the
National Archives and Records Administration, located on
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 7th and 9th Streets. The
Library has only published census materials--the 1790
census, indexes, and selected published abstracts for
individual counties. Check with a reference librarian to
identify and locate published census records in the
Library of Congress.

4. Published Genealogies and Town and County Histories

     Published genealogies reflect the work on a given
family which has been researched and compiled; published
local histories provide useful background information,
and in some cases clues to new directions for research.

5. The FamilySearch on CD-ROM

     FamilySearch is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints' automated system of family history
information. Consult with a reference librarian for
information on its use.



RESOURCES IN THE LOCAL HISTORY & GENEALOGY READING ROOM

                     CARD CATALOGS

     FAMILY NAME INDEX (White labels)

How to search: Family Name of interest

     This catalog is a card index to the published
genealogies in the Library of Congress. Entries generally
are determined by family names found on the title page
(usually no more than three), although many cards for
other family names have been added. Some additional
access for works published or cataloged between 1968 and
1980 may be provided through the Library's Computer
Catalog. For works cataloged by the Library since 1980
the Computer Catalog must be searched. All genealogies in
the Family Name Index are shelved in the stacks and
should be ordered by filling out call slips and
submitting them at the Book Service Desk located near the
catalogs.

     ANALYZED SURNAME INDEX (Green labels)

How to search: Family name of interest

     This catalog began as a detailed index to selected
genealogies published until about 1910. It was expanded
later to include the biographical sketches found in
approximately 350 county histories. At present very few
books are being analyzed and represented in this catalog.
The Analyzed Surname Index was always selective rather
than comprehensive, and was never intended to cover every
genealogy and/or county history. The last drawer of this
index, labeled "Local Histories Indexed," identifies the
county histories which are covered. Note: Call numbers
found in this index should be verified in the Family Name
Index (CS call numbers), or the Local History Shelflist
(F call numbers), or the "Local Histories Indexed"
drawer.

     COATS OF ARMS INDEX (White labels)

How to search: Family name of interest

     The Coats of Arms Index provides a guide to
illustrations of coats of arms found in books and
periodicals in the Library's collections. It covers
primarily English and American sources. This catalog
should be used in conjunction with two book indexes,
Hanns Jager-Sunstenau's General-Index zu den
Siebmacherschen Wappenbuchern, 1605-1961 (CR1179.S5J3
LH&G DESK) and the St.Louis Public Library's Heraldry
Index, 4 v. (Z5312.S25 1980LH&G).

     This latter work is found on the shelves opposite
the reference desk. Siebmacher's Wappenbuch covers both
noble and non-noble families in all German-speaking areas
of central and eastern Europe; the Heraldry Index lists
over 100,000 coats of arms found in approximately 800
works.

     U.S. BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX (Pink labels)

How to search: Family name of interest

     This card catalog, which has no recent entries,
provides an index to at least one history for each state
and to a few regional histories. It differs from the
other card catalogs in that an individual's name (Smith,
John) rather than a broad heading (Smith family) appears.
The first drawer, labeled "Books Indexed," identifies the
histories which are indexed. Note: Call numbers found in
this index should be verified in the Local History
Shelflist (F call numbers) or in the "Books Indexed"
drawer.

     U.S. LOCAL HISTORY SHELFLIST (White labels)

     The cards in this catalog are arranged numerically,
just as the books are found on the shelves, from F1 to
F1000. This approach is by subject and includes all those
books in the Library of Congress collection which deal
with local history of the states (of the United States)
and their subdivisions (the towns, cities, counties, and
regions). A large white chart, Guide to Materials in
United States Local History, is located to the right of
the card catalog. This chart gives the range of call
numbers assigned to each state as well as the number
within that range for each of eleven specific subject
areas. If you encounter difficulty in finding a
particular state or region, ask a reference librarian for
assistance. Note: This catalog covers only those books
classified as U.S. local history (class F); many books of
a legal, religious, or social nature, which may be of
value to genealogical or local history researchers, are
classified elsewhere and can be found by using the Main
Card Catalog and/or the Computer Catalog.

                   COMPUTER CATALOG

     Researchers attempting to locate material cataloged
by the Library since 1980 must use the Computer Catalog.
Instructions for its use are found at the reading room
terminals. For additional information or help, or to sign
up for classes in the use of the Library's Computer
Catalog, consult a reference librarian.

           GENEALOGICAL INDEXES IN BOOK FORM

     Several important published indexes to genealogical
materials are located on bookshelves and consulting
tables in the catalog area of the Local History and
Genealogy Reading Room. The following titles are
included:

     Barrow's The Genealogist's Guide
     Crowther's Surname Index to Sixty-five Volumes of
          Colonial and Revolutionary Pedigrees
     Genealogical Periodical Index
     Jacobus'Index to Genealogical Periodicals
     Marshall's Genealogist's Guide
     Munsell's The American Genealogist
     Munsell's Index to American Genealogies
     New York Public Library's Book Catalog
     Newberry Library's Genealogical Index
     (PERSI) Periodical Source Index
     Rider's American Genealogical-Biographical Index*
     Whitmore's Genealogical Guide

          *Consult a reference librarian if the
          description of the use of this index is not
          clear.

                     FINDING AIDS

     The reference staff of the Local History and
Genealogy Reading Room has prepared a number of
bibliographies and guides that are useful for
researchers. The following items are available in the
reading room:

Guides for Genealogical Research
Surnames
Heraldry: A Selected List of References
Immigrant Arrivals: A Guide to Published Sources
Afro-American Genealogical Research
Sources for Research in English Genealogy
Telephone and City Directories in the Library of Congress
Sources for Research in Welsh Genealogy
Sources for Research in Scottish Genealogy
Handbooks for Foreign Genealogical Research
A Select Bibliography of Works at the Library of Congress on
   Norwegian-American Immigration and Local History

     Finding aids for Danish, French, and Irish genealogical
research and a guide to genealogical periodicals in the Library
of Congress are in preparation.
     In addition, a bibliography entitled Generations
Past: A Selected List of Sources for Afro-American
Genealogical Research may be consulted in the reading
room.

PROCEDURES FOR RETRIEVING MATERIAL

     CALL SLIPS

Fill out one slip for each book, bound serial, or
directory to be requested from the stacks.
Note: Any catalog card marked LH&G indicates material
that is in the reading room and a call slip is not
necessary for retrieval.

     WHAT TO DO NEXT

After you have filled out the call slip with information
from the catalog card or computer, select a vacant desk,
fill in the desk number and your name and address, and
submit the slip at the Book Service Desk. Be prepared to
show a photo identification or LC user card to the
attendant.

Either the volume will be delivered to your desk or the
call slip will be returned with a report in the lower
right corner. If you are not using a desk, mark the slip
"Hold" and the book will be held under your name
throughout the day at the Book Service Desk. Books may
NOT be removed from the reading room.

     WHAT IF YOUR BOOK IS "NOT ON SHELF"?

Your call slip may be returned with a report that the
book is "not on shelf." There are many possible reasons
for this. First, double-check the call number and
bibliographic information for accuracy, completeness, and
legibility. You may want to consult a reference librarian
for assistance. To inquire further:

     1. Re-submit your slip, requesting a check of the
     Central Charge File (CCF). This will determine if
     the book is on loan (books having CS and F call
     numbers do not go out on loan), is in a reference
     collection, or is on microfilm. The staff will help
     you interpret the message you receive.

     2. Should the response from the CCF read "NC,"
     meaning no charge, you may take the slip to the
     Special Search Section in Alcove 1, Main Reading
     Room, where a search will be initiated.

     MAY BOOKS BE RESERVED?

You may reserve five books for three days by obtaining
yellow slips from the Book Service Desk, filling out and
inserting them in the books to be reserved, and shelving
them on the reading room's Three-day Reserve shelves.

          Reference books may not be reserved.

     PHOTOCOPYING

Photocopying machines are located in the rear of the
Local History and Genealogy Reading Room. They can be
operated with coins or with a copy card which may be
purchased in the copy center, Alcove 8 of the Main
Reading Room, 1st floor, Jefferson Building.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

MANUSCRIPTS. Various manuscript collections which have
genealogical research value may be examined in the
Manuscript Reading Room, 1st floor, Madison Building.
Consult a reference librarian in the Local History and
Genealogy Reading Room for assistance in identifying
potentially useful manuscript materials.

MAPS. The Geography and Map Reading Room, Basement,
Madison Building, has a collection of maps from all time
periods covering all geographic areas. Reference
assistance in determining geographic boundary changes is
also available.

MICROFORMS. Most microforms are viewed in the Microform
Reading Room, 1st floor, Thomas Jefferson Building.

NEWSPAPERS AND CURRENT PERIODICALS. The Library's
collection of newspapers in English and western European
languages, in hard copy and microform, is serviced in the
Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room, 1st floor,
(Room 133) Madison Building. Many periodicals published
within the past year are also available there.

RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. The word "Office" or
"Toner" appearing on some catalog cards refers to the
Rare Book and Special Collections Reading Room, 2nd
floor, Thomas Jefferson Building.

***input 01/96 (lk)***
.