Periodicals

What Periodicals Are

A genealogical periodical is a regularly published magazine, newsletter, or journal. 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

Almanacs

• See Almanacs for more information.

Almanacs (also spelled almanack/almanach) are annual publications that list information about a variety of subjects. Almanacs can be helpful in learning more about a country, the culture, and the local weather or geographic areas. Click here for more information about almanacs and how to find them.

Information Periodicals Contain

Information might include:

• Birth registers
• Marriage registers
• Death registers
• Cemetery Burial records
• Church records (baptisms, memberships, dismissals, marriages, lists of pastors, etc.
• Town directories
• Family histories

Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers new to their area may not encounter. Periodicals at various levels (county, region, state, country, ethnic group) may carry articles useful to research in this area.
Information frequently includes small details about some places or some individuals not found in usual county history books or cemetery survey books.

Strategy

PERSI

One source to consider when searching the periodicals is "PERSI" (PErsonal Source Index)

Periodicals by Location

United Kingdom (UK)

• The Genealogist

United States (USA)

• NEHGR (New England Historical and Genealogical Register)
• NGS Quarterly (National Genealogy Society)
• TAG (The American Genealogist)
• NYGBR (New York Genealogical and Biographical Record}

General

• Everton's Genealogical Helper (historic)