Genealogy periodicals are often overlooked as a source of information. Researchers who don't take the time to look through magazines pertaining to their research areas can miss data of incredible value. Many genealogists contribute source records that they find while doing their research to journals; this material may never appear in any other publication.

    There are several types of genealogical magazines. National publications such as the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and Heritage Quest publish articles on a variety of topics and occasional source records. State journals such as The Florida Genealogist and the Georgia Genealogical Magazine publish information exclusively from their state.

     Most genealogical societies publish information pertaining only to their specific area, but there are others such as the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine that publish information submitted by their members which can be from anywhere. There are also surname publications such as the Gowen Research Foundation Newsletter that publish material on all variations of a particular surname. Almost all genealogical publications include queries which can help locate others researching the same families.

Most publications include either a yearly index or one in every issue. There are also published indexes to material in periodicals such as the Genealogical Periodical Annual Index done by Heritage Books and PERSI done by the Allen County Public Library. The Bay County Public Library has a few volumes of GPAI, and the LDS Family History Center has some volumes of PERSI on microfiche. Libraries with larger genealogy collections usually own all volumes of both indexes.

PERSI (PERiodical Source Index):

    PERSI is a comprehensive subject index to genealogy and local history periodicals written in English and French (Canada) since 1800. The collection also includes literature dating from the 1700s, although the material before 1800 is less complete. In printed form, PERSI spans over two dozen volumes and takes up several feet of shelf space.

    Use PERSI to find articles written about people and places in your ancestry. PERSI includes approximately 1.1 million entries that have been produced and indexed by the Allen County Public Library. The Allen County Public Library has copies of every article listed in PERSI and is your best source for obtaining them.

    PERSI is available as an online, subscription database from Ancestry.com at Ancestry.com. It is also available for purchase as a CD-ROM from the same source. Last, but not least, there is a website for CD Lookups which occasionally features lookup offers for the PERSI CD-ROM. This site can be reached at:

Genealogy CD Lookup List

    Once you have found information on articles that interest you, follow the following steps to obtain copies:

1. Identify 6 (or fewer) articles which interest you.

2. Print the form found at the Allen County Public Library Foundation website. Allen County Public Library Foundation Order Form

3. Complete the form and mail it with a check for $7.50 to the Allen County Public Library Foundation, P.O.Box 2270, Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270.

3A. Provide the full entry from PERSI and the name of the journal.

3B. Request only six (6) articles at a time. (They're very particular about this. Requesting more than six articles at a time makes them very snippy.) The charge is $7.50 for each letter, pre-paid, plus $0.20 per page copied to be billed to you.

Note: Requests are not acceptable by phone, fax, or e-mail. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

    Every year, Allen County Public Library releases two new PERSI volumes (one retrospective and one current). The cost of the two new volumes in hard copy form is $150.

For more information see this page:

PERSI

Ancestry's PERSI Index:

PERSI Advanced Search

Allen County Public Library Foundation Order Form:

Allen County Public Library Foundation Order Form

More Information about PERSI may be found at:

About PERSI

GPAI (Genealogical Periodical Annual Index):

Genealogical Periodical Annual Index:
Key to the Genealogical Literature, 1962-1991.
Heritage Books, Inc., 1962- . 19v.

    This series indexes English language periodicals and provides citations by surname, locality, and topical categories. This index is relatively new, dating only from 1962 onward so it doesn't have the depth and breadth of PERSI, which has been existence for far longer. That said, however, you may still find articles listed in the GPAI that are not listed under PERSI. PERSI is not infallible.

     Family names are indexed only when entire articles relate to one family. Although the project has expanded through the years to the point where a recent edition indexed over 300 titles providing almost 16,000 citations, coverage of individual titles is somewhat inconsistent from year to year.

    Finding a copy of the Genealogical Periodical Annual Index is much more difficult than finding copies of PERSI. At the present time, the only place I of know of where you can access the GPAI is at large Genealogy or Public Libraries. The books are published by Heritage Books, Inc. and a listing of available volumes may be found at Heritage Books Research Aids

    Articles listed in GPAI can probably be ordered through Inter-Library Loan at your local public library.

AGBI (American Genealogical Biographical Index):

    The American Genealogical-Biographical Index, or AGBI, is called one of the most important genealogical collections and the equivalent of over 200 printed volumes in one database. The AGBI database contains millions of records for persons whose names have appeared in printed genealogical records and family histories. At the present time, aside from large Genealogy or Public Libraries which might have copies, the only convenient place to find the AGBI is online as a subscription database at Ancestry's American Genealogical-Biographical Index.

    Best of luck with your research.

    Chris