Genealogy as Pastime and Profession, Second Edition

Genealogy as Pastime and Profession, Second Edition
by Donald Lines Jacobus

List Price: ~~$8.95~~
Our Price: $7.50
You Save: $1.45 (16%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Compare Prices for Genealogy as Pastime and Profession, Second Edition

Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Donald Lines Jacobus
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999
ISBN: 0806301880
Number of pages: 120
Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company

Book Reviews of Genealogy as Pastime and Profession, Second Edition

Book Review: A classic by a classic . . .
Summary: 5 Stars

Jacobus is often regarded as the father of modern, "scientific" genealogy and this relatively slender volume (the first edition of which was published in 1930) is still one of the very best explanations of research principles and guides to types of resource materials published in English. Other major figures among his contemporaries, like Milton Rubincam, regarded it as THE classic, largely because the author was an undisputed master of every aspect of his subject. His many published articles and books were and still are models of critical research and analysis, and The American Genealogist, which he founded in 1922 (as The New Haven Genealogical Magazine) is still one of the best periodicals in the field. The chapters in this volume range far afield, from a discussion of the nature of family pride to the sometimes touchy relationship between genealogy and academic history, from naming patterns in colonial New England to the impulse to prove royal ancestry. He considers genealogy as a profession (conditions in which, he says, are "unsatisfactory) and how (and whether) to become a professional. Other chapters focus on "The Client" and commercial firms generally (quoting Benjamin Franklin that "Half the Truth is often a great Lie"), and on the practical aspects of putting together a publishable family history, as well as such utilitarian subjects as dating systems and analysis of original sources. This is one of those books that every serious genealogist should reread every few years, just to stay centered.

Write your own review

Summary of Genealogy as Pastime and Profession, Second Edition

Clearly written, this describes the principles of genealogical research, the evaluation of evidence, and the relationship of genealogy to chronology, eugenics, and the law. It covers early nomenclature, Royal ancestry, the use of source material, and the methods of compiling and publishing a family history, and it also deals with characteristic blunders and misconceptions. It is the very foundation of scientific American genealogy.

General Books

Book Subjects

Most talked about in General Books

The 100: A Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons In History
by Michael H. Hart
Citadel; Published: 2000-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.76
Price in other shops: ~~$22.50~~

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy, 2nd Edition
by Christine Rose, Kay Germain Ingalls
Alpha; Published: 2006-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.59
Price in other shops: ~~$18.95~~

Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Pub Co; Published: 2007-06-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $39.27
Price in other shops: ~~$49.95~~

The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names, Their Meanings, Origins, and Spritual Significance
by Dorothy Astoria
Bethany House; Published: 1997-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops: ~~$12.99~~

To Our Children's Children: Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come
by Bob Greene, D. G. Fulford
Doubleday; Published: 1993-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops: ~~$18.95~~

On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family
by Lisa See
Vintage; Published: 1996-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.55
Price in other shops: ~~$15.95~~

The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall
by Marsha Hoffman Rising
Family Tree Books; Published: 2005-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops: ~~$19.99~~

Quicksheet Citing Online Historical Resources
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company; Published: 2007-01-01; Pamphlet; Book
Best price: $5.09
Price in other shops: ~~$5.95~~

The Story of a Lifetime: A Keepsake of Personal Memoirs
by Stephen Pavuk, Pamela Pavuk
Triangel; Published: 2000-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $33.17
Price in other shops: ~~$41.95~~

The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker 2009 Image

The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker 2009
by Tana L Pedersen
Ancestry.com; Published: 2008-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.50
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Similar Books and other products

Pitfalls in Genealogical Research
by Milton Rubincam
Ancestry Publishing; Published: 1987-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $93.31

The Source: A Guidebook Of American Genealogy (Third Edition)
Ancestry Publishing; Published: 2006-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $51.11
Price in other shops: ~~$79.95~~

Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures
by Christine Rose
CR Publications; Published: 2004-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.78
Price in other shops: ~~$21.98~~

Courthouse Indexes Illustrated
by Christine Rose
CR Publications; Published: 2006-03-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95

The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual
by Board for Certification Of Genealogists
Ancestry.com; Published: 2000-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.23
Price in other shops: ~~$19.95~~

Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company; Published: 1997-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.56
Price in other shops: ~~$16.95~~

Genealogical Evidence: A Guide to the Standard of Proof Relating to Pedigrees, Ancestry, Heirship and Family History
by Noel C. Stevenson
Aegean Park Press; Published: 1989-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.90
Price in other shops: ~~$18.80~~

Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case
by Christine Rose
CR Publications; Published: 2005-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.95