Midwest Genealogy Center Periodical Collection
Genealogy Periodicals, published at regular intervals whether annually, quarterly, monthly or any other regular (or irregular) time frame have always been an important resource in genealogical research. Much of the information published in genealogical periodicals cannot be found elsewhere. County or state census records, cemetery readings, deeds, probate records, and even birth and marriage records are staple components of periodicals. Some are published by state or county genealogical or historical societies. Lineage societies, special interest groups (including ethnic), family/surname associations, and even for-profit corporations also are included in the list of genealogical periodical publishers.
WHERE TO START:
With over 500 current subscriptions and a total of well over 2,500 titles, the Midwest Genealogy Center has an ever-expanding periodical collection. There are numerous finding guides to help in your periodical search. Download a complete listing of the periodical collection: Midwest Genealogy Center Periodical Holdings (PDF, 1.9MB). A finding aid, available at the periodicals reference desk, is in a notebook entitled Alphabetical Periodical Titles by Section (PDF, 820K) which note the sections in which these periodicals are shelved.
On each service desk is a notebook entitled Midwest Genealogy Center Periodical Subject Index (PDF, 651K). This is an every title index of the holdings, divided by subject. So if you were looking for an individual state, you would turn to that state section to get a list of titles we have pertaining to that state. Each title has been categorized: African-American, Sweden, Military, and, of course, titles for each state. Also on each service desk is an ongoing project: Periodicals by County. This index lists periodical titles by state, then by county pertaining to that periodical is listed.
WHERE TO LOOK:
Topical, subject, and surname indexes have been published for many genealogical periodicals.
- Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is a multi-volume set (available here at MGC) published by the Allen County Public Library. HeritageQuest Online also includes PERSI on their database. HeritageQuest Online is available by remote access using your MCPL library card number. Index to Genealogical Periodicals by Donald Lines Jacobus is a partial index to 85 major genealogical periodicals. Articles are indexed by their main subject.
- Genealogical Periodical Annual Index has been published yearly from 1962 to 2001.
Please note that none of the above indexes are "every name" indexes.
Most long-running genealogical periodicals publish their own annual indexes. Several have compiled comprehensive, cumulative indexes. These are shelved with the title they index. There are a few statewide indexes providing subject/name coverage for many periodicals within their state. They are shelved by Dewey Decimal number in the Reference Collection.
- Kentucky Genealogical Index
- Minnesota Genealogical Periodical Index (through 1979)
- Missouri Genealogical Periodical Index (1960-1982)
- Ohio Genealogical Periodical Index
- Virginia Historical Index (shelved on top of the microfiche cabinet)
- The Genealogist’s Address Book lists historical and genealogical associations for states, counties, and other organizations. If the organization publishes a periodical, you will find that listed also.
PERIODICALS ONLINE:
A listing of Online Periodicals (PDF, 401K), compiled by Twila Rider of the Midwest Genealogy Center, is continually added to and updated. While this is by no means a complete list of periodicals online, it is a start. Periodicals are a genealogical source that is overlooked and underused, but the computer age may help change this with the continued availability of periodicals online.
ACCESS TO OTHER TITLES NOT HELD BY MGC:
Should you discover an article reference that is unavailable in our library, you can ask a staff member to complete an interlibrary Serial Request (the first 30 pages are usually free.) If this fails to produce your article, you can get information from the periodical staff about how to order it from the Allen County Library Genealogy Center for a fee.
