  |
|
|
|
Last week, I focused on public libraries of the kind you find in the towns and cities across the United States. This week, I am concentrating on the largest library available- The Library of Congress.
If you are fortunate to live near Washington D.C. or are planning a trip in the area, it has incredible resources for the genealogist. Just to mention a few of the resources available, they have one of the largest collections of genealogies and family histories, a genealogy reading room, one of the best collections of period maps of the United States, land-ownership maps, and city directories. Due to the vastness of this resource, it is a wise idea to acquaint yourself with the library before you visit. Know ahead of time what you will be looking for. For those planning to visit the Library of Congress, these are some of the pages you will want to view to plan your research: Visiting the Library: Travel, Lodging, and Dining Information Maps of Library of Congress Public Spaces Local History and Genealogy Reading Room Geography and Map Division Homepage City Directories at the Library of Congress Land Ownership Maps in the Library of Congress Search Library of Congress Catalog (page also includes searches at other academic libraries) Frequently Asked Questions (Library of Congress) If you are unable to visit the Library of Congress in person, they have a growing list of available resources online that will be helpful. Here is a sampling: Country Studies: Area Handbook Series American Memory from the Library of Congress Library of Congress Information Bulletin Home Page Finally, the Library of Congress uses its own classification system, which is also used by most academic libraries. You can find a quick listing of this system at Library of Congress Classification System - Geography. Genealogy is under Auxiliary Sciences of History. TIP ON LIBRARIES: Out of town libraries will often respond to a written request, but only if the question is narrow enough. DearMYRTLE has posted a a letter from a librarian that gives excellent tips on this type of research. GREAT SITE OF THE WEEK: Vital Records For US Research--The Records Room is an excellent site for finding the records you need. I have added it to my link list under TOOLS Go To Page: 1 2 |
|
|
|
