Genealogy and Libraries
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ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PRODUCTION NOTE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Large-scale Digitization Project, 2007. Library Trends VOLUME 32 NUMBER 1 SUMMER 1983 ~ ~~~~ University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science This Page Intentionally Left Blank Genealogy and Libraries DIANE FOXHILL CAROTHERS Issue Editor CONTENTS Diane Foxhill Carothers 3 INTRODUCTION Russell E. Bidlack 7 GENEALOGY TODAY Bill R. Linder 25 AN OVERVIEW OF GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Roy Turnbaugh 39 THE IMPACT OF GENEALOGICAL LJSERS ON STATE ARCHIVES PROGRAMS Samuel M. Andrusko 51 GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE Judith P. Reid LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Virginia S. Wood Judith P. Austin Diane Foxhill Carothers 67 RESOURCES OF A LARGE ACADEMIC RESEARCH LIBRARY Rick J. Ashton 89 A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN GENEALOGY: HOW THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BECAME THE ONLY TOURIST ATTRACTION IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA Peggy Tuck Sinko 97 A SURVEY OF GENEALOGISTS AT Scott N. Peters THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY David M. Mayfield 111 THE GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CON TENTS-Cont inued Ralph J. Crandall 129 THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Joyce E. Jelks 139 APPROACHES TO BLACK FAMILY Janice White Sikes HISTORY Introduction DIANE FOXHILL CAROTHERS MOREAMERICANS ARE searching for their ancestors than ever before in our nation’s history. This can be attributed to a number of reasons: the recent celebration of the country’s Bicentennial; the publication of Alex Haley’s novel Roots and its subsequent television series which had one of the highest Nielson ratings in American television history; the increasing number of retirees, and others of all ages, with more leisure to enable them to engage in this pursuit; and the encouragement of pride in one’s ethnic origin. Whatever the impetus to begin the search, geneal- ogy is now outranked in popularity as a hobby in the United States only by stamp and coin collecting.’ Robert M. Warner, Archivist of the United States, stated that research use of National Archives records has been increasing dramatically-a growth of about 79 percent in only the past five years. Much of this increase has resulted from interest in family studies: approximately 75 percent of the 50,000 researcher cards issued and 90 percent of the 310,000 written requests the National Archives responded to in 1980 related to genealogical research. These figures reflect activity at the Washington, D.C., facilities and in the eleven Regianal Archives Branches. Significant increases in reference activity have been occurring in the interlibrary loan of microfilm copies of archival records.2 The American Library Association recognizes the general interest in the subject of genealogy and the need to educate librarians in serving genealogists and family researchers. The Reference and Adult Services Diane Foxhill Carothers is Professor of Library Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. SUMMER 1983 3 DIANE CAROTHERS Division-History Section (RASD-HS)has had an active genealogy com- mittee for years and a newly formed genealogy discussion group will be meeting at the midwinter conference in Washington in January 1984. RASD-HS offered a preconference entitled “Genealogy and Local His- tory Refercmce Services” before the San Francisco annual meeting in June 1981. A special program was offered at the Philadelphia annual meeting in July 1982 to assist librarians serving genealogists, and addi- tional training sessions or workshops are being considered by the Genealogy Committee for future conferences. To meet the growing needs of its members throughout the entire country, the National Genealogical Society has scheduled its recent annual meetings outside the District of Columbia for the first time: Atlanta in 1981, Indianapolis in 1982, arid Fort Worth in 1983. These and future meetings in San Francisco and Salt Lake City are being arranged through close coopera- tion with the state and local genealogical societies and the public libraries. This growing interest in family history is effecting a broad change in the attitude of librarians and archivists toward the genealogist and genealogical research. In the past the usual library attitude has not supported service to genealogists with the result that professional assist- ance to them has for the most part been minimal. Now many libraries that had not bought genealogical material are taking closer looks at their acquisitions policies and are beginning to select publications of genealogical societies, associations and governmental bodies, although still generally excluding individual family histories except when ade- qua tely indexed. While reference librarians are becoming more willing to help this type of patron, many of them are unaware of the research tools currently available. New editions of “how-to” books are continually being pub- lished, and although they provide some guidance, they do not present an overall view of the subject. It is hoped, therefore, that this issue of Library Trends will offer librarians a valuahle, up-to-date portrayal of the subject so that the competence of librarians to meet the research needs of their genealogist patrons will be developed. These articles are meant to inform librarians of what is happening today in genealogy, how genealogical collections are built, the specialized collections in some public libraries and the Library of Congress, the resources of the genealogical society, and the services available to the public through national and state archives and historical society libraries. The Library of the LDS (Latter-day Saints) Church houses the world’s foremost collection of genealogical materials, and its facilities and policies are 4 LIBRARY TRENDS Introduction described so that a librarian can become familiar with what is offered in order to make worthwhile referrals. Some overlooked materials forming part of a large academic research collection are noted as examples of what can be found in other such libraries. Blacks have special require- ments in tracing their family histories, andan overview of such research is provided in another article. It is anticipated that this issue will help librarians understand the fervor of genealogistsand might generate an attitude of real assistance to them instead of the more common feeling of such researchers being second-class citizens. Perhaps, through the reading of these articles, the reference librarians will view genealogists as “unique” patrons rather than “problem” patrons. References 1. Bidlack, Russell E. “Genealogy as It Relates to Library Service.” In The ALA Yearbook:A Review of Library Events 1977, edited by Robert Wedgeworth, pp. xxiii-xxx. Chicago: ALA, 1978. 2. Robert M. Warner, Archivist of the IJnited States, personal communication, 26 March 1981. SUMMER 1983 5 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Genealogy Today RUSSELL E. BIDLACK THEGENEALOGIST PURSUES an endless quest in search of ancestors, usually one’s own, sometimes those of a friend or client. The quest never ends because ancestors multiply exponentially-four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, sixteen great-great-grandparents, thus dou- bling with each past generation. Furthermore, the quest soon becomes more than that of mere ancestral identity-there follows a curiosity regarding personal characteristics and the events in the lives of our forebears that shaped their character and tested their mettle. If one believes that genes make a difference, it follows that research into the lives of one’s ancestors can bring a better understanding of oneself. The current debate on the rights of adoptees to learn the identity of their natural parents (“I have the right to find myself.”) is part of a growing belief in the importance of one’s roots. There is an ancient saying: “To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.” Not only did Alex Haley inspire thousands of Americans to seek their roots, he also provided dramatic proof of the importance of those roots to the individual psyche. For most searchers after roots, the quest is in the nature of hobby, but like any hobby, it can become all-consuming. For a few, genealogy becomes a profession-experts who assist others for hire. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as Mormons and in this article occasionally as the LDS Church), a knowledge of one’s forebears has religious significance. Not only do the Russell E.Bidlack is Dean, School of Library Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. SUMMER 1983 7 RUSSELL BIDLACK Mormons stress the importance of the family structure in this life, but in the hereafter as well, which accounts for the LDS Church’s vast expendi- tures on microfilming and reducing to computer tapes historical records throughout the world. For some, genealogical research is but a steppingstone to membership in a patriotic society or for social status among one’s neighbors, but even these individuals are often bitten by the “genealogical bug.” The rumor of unclaimed inheritance has led a surprising number of Americans to attempt, through genealogical research, to prove themselves heirs to fortunes. While the financial success rate of such ventures has been close to zero, the family informa- tion gathered has often proved rewarding, nevertheless. Some who begin the genealogical quest abandon it after awhile because it proves too difficult, or the results become too disturbing. The old American cliche about the danger of finding a horse thief if one probes too far remains a genuine deterrent to some, although for a growing number, such discoveries add to the excitement, especially if the scandal occurred a few decades ago. Illegitimacy, if it ties one to royalty, is romantic, but if it involved one’s grandmother and the hired man it may be disgraceful. Although genealogical research usually begins in a vertical fashion in the quest for ancestors, it often takes a lateral turn along the way; the search for cousins in varying degree and removal can be as rewarding as that for forebears.