The Third Edition of “The Source” has Gone to Press!

The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, third edition, was sent to press on 7 April. Originally published in 1984 (as Ancestry’s first product), The Source won the prestigious ALA Best Reference Award and was revised last in 1997. It is the foundation that all other MyFamily.com, Inc. properties have built upon. This new edition comes in at a whopping 992 pages, will sell for $79.95, and will debut at the National Genealogical Conference in June.

The Source, it is the ultimate guidebook for family historians, offering detailed instruction and tips on topics like census research, court records, military records, immigration records and much, much more. Loretto “Lou” Szucs (MyFamily.com, Inc VP, Community Relations) and Sandra Luebking once again co-edited the massive project, and thirty-one genealogical experts contributed text in 20 chapters and 6 appendices.  Following is a list of the chapters and contributors to the publication.

Congratulations to all the authors and the editorial staff at Ancestry.com who labored to produce this world-class publication!

 The Basics
1. The Foundations of Family History Research
Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, FUGA and Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA
2. Computers and Technology
Juliana Smith
3. General References and Guides
Kory L. Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA

The Records
4. Business, Institution, and Organization Records
Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, and Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL
5. Census Records 
Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, and Matthew Wright
6. Church Records 
Elizabeth Crabtree Wells, MA, MLS
7. Court Records 
Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, FUGA, Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, and Arlene Eakle, Ph.D.
8. Directories 
Gordon L. Remington, FASG, FUGA
9. Immigration Records
Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, Kory L. Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA, and Marian L. Smith
10. Land Records 
Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, FUGA
11. Military Records 
Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck, MA, MS, and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, FUGA
12. Newspapers
Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, and James L. Hansen, FASG
13. Vital Records .
Johni Cerny, BS, FUGA

People and Place
14. African American Research 
Tony Burroughs, FUGA
15. Colonial English Research 
Robert Charles Anderson, MA, FASG
16. Colonial Spanish Borderland Research 
George R. Ryskamp, JD, AG
17. Hispanic Research
George R. Ryskamp, JD, AG
18. Jewish American Research 
Gary Mokotoff
19. Native American Research 
Curt B. Witcher MLS, FUGA, and George J. Nixon
20. Urban Research 
Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, and John M. Scroggins, MA

Appendixes
A. Abbreviations and Acronyms
B. Family Associations (Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG)
C. Genealogical Societies
D. Hereditary and Lineage Organizations (Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck, MA, MS)
E. Historical Societies
F. The LDS Family History Library (Stephen C. Young, MA)
G. The National Archives and its Regions
H. State Archives (Linda S. McCleary, MLS)

4 thoughts on “The Third Edition of “The Source” has Gone to Press!

  1. Is this “book” going to be offered in CD/DVD format? If not, they’ve missed an opportunity to reach a much wider sales and reader audience. And to boot, a CD could probably sell for $15-$20 rather than the exhorbitant $80 they’re asking for the piece of luggage in hardback format.

  2. I agree with Charley’s comment about The Source. I’d love to buy a copy on CD that I could take with me on research trips. At 992 pages, this is definitely one reference I would leave at home.

  3. I would buy the CD for sure, I am disabled and could never afford the book but would love to have it on CD.
    Jean Linhart

  4. Pingback: bodybuilding nutrition anabolics anabolic-source.net

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