Genealogy for Librarians

Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1983, interest in genealogy, and the consequent pressures on libraries, have continued at a high level. This guide is written by a librarian at Guildhall Library, London with long experience in dealing with genealogical enquires. It gives comprehensive coverage to the sources which can provide the information required by professional or amateur genealogists or by other professionals such as solicitors or medical researchers needing occasional recourse to population records.The guide contains chapters on preliminary and ancillary material; published secondary sources; inhabitants lists; records of births, marriages and deaths; career records; poverty, crime and litigation; heraldry; and migration. While concentrating mainly on English sources, guidance is also given for Welsh, Scottish and Irish sources and brief mention of other European sources is made. A detailed index and full bibliography are provided.The introductory chapter examines the role of the librarian in assisting the genealogist to identify and trace sources, and examines the problems of how much help can be given and at what cost. Genealogists themselves will find much of use to them in this book, both in the UK and in those countries with populations of English ancestry, e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA.After ten years this new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated and now includes a bibliography, plus new sections on divorce and adoption.