Massachusetts Periodicals

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Periodicals

Overview

A periodical is a regularly published magazine, newsletter, or journal. Several valuable periodicals concerning Massachusetts genealogical research exist. Many genealogical and historical societies publish magazines and newsletters. The articles in these periodicals often include the following:

• Family genealogies and pedigrees
• Helpful articles on research methodology
• Transcripts or indexes of biographical sketches, censuses, church records, migration lists, military records, obituaries, wills, vital records, and more
• Historical background
• Current and historical maps
• Information about local and national records, archives, and services
• Interesting articles about social life and customs
• Book advertisements and book reviews
• Advertisements of professional researchers
• Queries or requests for information about specific ancestors that can help you contact other interested researchers

Periodicals

• 1911-1940 Boston Evening Transcript: Genealogy Pages, 1911-1940 at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
• Genealogical Advertiser, The at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• The American Genealogist 1923-. Formerly: Families of Ancient New Haven. Online at: FS Library films (20), Ancestry ($), AmericanAncestors by NEHGS ($).
• Essex Antiquarian Published by the Essex Antiquarian, Salem, Massachusetts. This source has information on families of Essex County, mostly Salem and some Lynn. FS Catalog book 974.45 B2a. Volumes 1-4 are also on film FS Library films 599729-3. Random volumes of this periodical are accessible via GoogleBooks or Internet Archive. The full series of 13 volumes is accessible online via some subscription sites and is also available at Hathi Trust, see catalog entry, "The Essex Antiquarian."
• The Mayflower Descendant 1899-1937, 1985-. Published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. 376 Boylston St. Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Issues are devoted to information on Mayflower descendants, with genealogical history, places, and dates. FS Catalog book 974.4 D25md. Volumes 1–34 are on FS Library film 01250 (first of 11 films).; Online database available at American Ancestors ($)
• The Mayflower Quarterly 1935-. Published by The General Society of Mayflower Descendants. P.O. Box 3297 Plymouth, Massachusetts 02361. FS Catalog book 973 D25mq.; Online database available at American Ancestors ($)
• The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1847-. Published by The New England Historic Genealogical Society. This has a cumulative index to 1995. Includes genealogies, vital record extracts, church records, local genealogical histories, and New England source material. FS Catalog book 974 B2ne; also FS Library compact disc 33 pt. 1–9. Some volumes on film. Online at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
• American Ancestors Journal at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995).
• Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-25. (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) - Each issue contains a section with detailed coverage of one of the towns settled during the Great Migration, or of a specific critical record, or group of records.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume I, A-B. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.
  • Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.

Obtaining Periodicals

Copies of periodicals are available from the local societies that publish them. Major archives with genealogical collections will have copies of many periodicals, particularly those representing the area they serve. The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. PERSI is available online and is especially useful because it refers to countless items published in thousands of family history periodicals worldwide. Search PERSI:

• PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) at Allen County Public Library; index; More information: Periodical Source Index (PERSI)
  

Once you locate an article in a periodical, check the FamilySearch Catalog and regional or local libraries for available copies. The FamilySearch Library has collected many periodicals, with some available in digital format and accessible online. Massachusetts periodicals may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog with a Place and Subject search, as found here: Massachusetts-Periodicals. They can also be found by using:

• Place Search of the country, state/province, and county
• Title Search of the periodical
• Keyword Search for the publishing society name.
  

Also find Periodical resources available at other libraries via WorldCat. As with the FamilySearch Catalog search, search WorldCat using society names, locality names, and periodical title names. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog on our Wiki pages.

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