REFERENCE WORKS TO AID GENEALOGISTS

by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G.

Here are some reference works that can help you in your research:

-- American Genealogical Research at the DAR, Washington, D.C., by Eric G. Grundset and Steven B. Rhodes

Have you ever wondered what treasures can be found at the DAR Library or how to prepare for a trip to research there? Now you can learn all this and more, including details about the library's research service available to members and non-members.

The DAR Library was founded in 1890 and has gathered 140,000 books, 250,000 files, manuscript collections and many other sources of important to all American genealogists -- not just those with Revolutionary War ancestors. Part of Chapter 13 ( "Guide to Subject Research in DAR Collections'' deals with military records and research, from early Colonial wars through the Korean and Vietnam Wars. You will probably learn some new things about these records and events. I certainly did.

Editor's note: American Genealogical Research at the DAR is currently available at the Ancestry.com Online Store.

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-- Twelve Virginia Counties: Where the Western Migration Began, by John H. Gwathmey

This is considered a classic study. It is an account of the origin and settlement of the Virginia counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, Goochland, Hanover, King William, King and Queen, Louisa, New Kent and Orange, and of the people and events associated with their history. It was originally published in 1937. Each chapter provides a history of the county's formation and sketches of pioneer families and early settlers. There are also some tidbits of lore and legends. Available ($33.50 postpaid) from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202-3897; (800) 296-6687.

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-- Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, (Volume I, 1681-1730) by Carol Bryant

Chester County, established in 1681, was one of the original three counties of Pennsylvania. From it, Lancaster County was created in 1729 and Delaware County was formed in 1789. This volume covers this three-county area. Included are deeds, mortgages, bonds, leases/releases, and land patented in 1681 (recorded as deeds in 1688). Numerous entries give clues to relationships and British origins. Abstracts of Chester County is available ($23.50 postpaid) from Family Line Publications, Rear 63 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157; (800) 876-6103.

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-- Census Records for Latin America and the Hispanic United States, by Lyman D. Platt

This is survey of census records available for Latin America and the Hispanic United States. It contains a listing of about 4,000 separate censuses -- each listed by county and thereunder alphabetically by locality, province, year, and reference locator. Many of these records have been microfilmed by the Family History Library, and these film numbers are provided. While the majority of census listings are for Mexico, all countries of Spanish North America, Central and South America are covered. The modern states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are listed under Mexico because they belonged to Mexico during the period in which most of the censuses were taken. Florida and Louisiana are separate. Reading of the introduction is a must to understand these records and the arrangement. Census Records is available ($23.45 postpaid) from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202-3897 (800) 296-6687.

(c) 1998, Los Angeles Times Syndicate