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The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. Created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library Foundation and the ACPL’s Genealogy Center, PERSI is widely recognized as a vital tool for genealogical researchers. PERSI indexes articles in 11,000 periodical titles (including 3,000 defunct titles) published by thousands of local, state, national and international societies and organizations, arranging 2.25 million entries by surname or location and 22 basic subject headings. An important tool for genealogists looking for new avenues of investigation, PERSI’s usefulness is not limited to family history researchers. Local historians and academics, archaeologists and demographers, as well as students from elementary to graduate school and beyond, will all find PERSI an important asset in their research.<ref name="ACPL">"Ask a Genealogy Librarian" Service, Historical Genealogy Department, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010.</ref> | The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. Created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library Foundation and the ACPL’s Genealogy Center, PERSI is widely recognized as a vital tool for genealogical researchers. PERSI indexes articles in 11,000 periodical titles (including 3,000 defunct titles) published by thousands of local, state, national and international societies and organizations, arranging 2.25 million entries by surname or location and 22 basic subject headings. An important tool for genealogists looking for new avenues of investigation, PERSI’s usefulness is not limited to family history researchers. Local historians and academics, archaeologists and demographers, as well as students from elementary to graduate school and beyond, will all find PERSI an important asset in their research.<ref name="ACPL">"Ask a Genealogy Librarian" Service, Historical Genealogy Department, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010.</ref> | ||
The PERSI project began in 1986 with efforts directed at indexing both “current” issues, to be published in annual volumes, and “retrospective” issues, to be published in a 16 volume set covering 1847-1985. The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] made the 16 volume set available on microfiche for its branches, but the print volumes provided the principal access for researchers until Ancestry began to briefly issue CDs containing the entire retro set, all annual volumes, plus additional pre-1986 material. In 1997, the last year for which an annual print volume was produced, PERSI was made available as an online database at [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com]. PERSI is now regularly updated and fully searchable at both [http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index HeritageQuestOnline.com] and Ancestry.com, although updates to the Ancestry version of the database are sometimes delayed. Under the auspices of the ACPL Foundation, the project currently employs a staff of eight, including a full-time supervisor and assistant supervisor, as well as part-time encoders (indexers), editors, and request fulfillment personnel. | |||
== Contents == | == Contents == | ||
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== Conducting a Search == | == Conducting a Search == | ||
PERSI is one of the featured databases at Heritage Quest Online, which is available in many public libraries. To access PERSI in any Allen County Public Library facility, click on “Genealogy” on the main webpage <www.ACPL.Info> then click on “HeritageQuestOnline.com” and select “Search PERSI.” Many public libraries offer access to HeritageQuestOnline from home. Check your local public library's web page to see if they offer that service.<br> | PERSI is one of the featured databases at Heritage Quest Online, which is available in many public libraries. To access PERSI in any Allen County Public Library facility, click on “Genealogy” on the main webpage <www.ACPL.Info> then click on “HeritageQuestOnline.com” and select “Search PERSI.” Many public libraries offer access to HeritageQuestOnline from home. Check your local public library's web page to see if they offer that service.<br> | ||
There are four options for beginning a search: People, Places, How-tos, and Periodicals. | [[Image:PERSI search screen.jpg|thumb|left]] There are four options for beginning a search: People, Places, How-tos, and Periodicals. | ||
To search for articles on People, enter the “Surname” in the appropriate box. There are more than 126,000 surnames included in the PERSI database. “Keywords,” such as a first name, spouse’s last name, or location, may be added to narrow the search, but please remember that PERSI is not an every name index. Every person mentioned in an article does not appear in the title, so searches combining a surname with a locality keyword may yield better results. Soundex searching is not possible. A specific “Periodical” title in which to search can also be indicated. Once the surname and any keywords, or a specific periodical, is entered, click the Search button. | To search for articles on People, enter the “Surname” in the appropriate box. There are more than 126,000 surnames included in the PERSI database. “Keywords,” such as a first name, spouse’s last name, or location, may be added to narrow the search, but please remember that PERSI is not an every name index. Every person mentioned in an article does not appear in the title, so searches combining a surname with a locality keyword may yield better results. Soundex searching is not possible. A specific “Periodical” title in which to search can also be indicated. Once the surname and any keywords, or a specific periodical, is entered, click the Search button. | ||
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*In the “United States,” by state, or state and county; | *In the “United States,” by state, or state and county; | ||
*In “Canada” as a whole, or by province; or | *In “Canada” as a whole, or by province; or | ||
*In “Other Countries,” by the name of the country, continent or “World” as a whole. | *In “Other Countries,” by the name of the country, continent or “World” as a whole. | ||
***After selecting the place, a search can be done immediately using the default record type “All,” or the results can be limited by selecting a specific “Record Type.” PERSI Record Types are listed below with what they include. Each record type will also include indexes to related material. | ***After selecting the place, a search can be done immediately using the default record type “All,” or the results can be limited by selecting a specific “Record Type.” PERSI Record Types are listed below with what they include. Each record type will also include indexes to related material. | ||
*Biography: more than three main people | *Biography: more than three main people | ||