This week we are reviewing four great books designed to help the family historian overcome a common research stumbling block. Reading vital records, court documents, certificates, court records, and so on are a common part of genealogical research. But, how often does the researcher find words, abbreviations, or acronyms for which they are unsure of the means. These four great books can help with the genealogical research language barrier.
To read parts two and three follow these links:
What Do They Mean? Understanding Abbreviations, Words, and Acronyms in Research; 2 of 4
What Do They Mean? Understanding Abbreviations, Words, and Acronyms in Research; 3 of 4
What Do They Mean? Understanding Abbreviations, Words, and Acronyms in Research; 4 of 4
In this blog, we review Abbreviations & Acronyms: A Guide for Family Historians, by Kip Sperry.
“All fields of study have their own unique abbreviations, acronyms, alphabetic symbols, contractions, and shortening of words,” says Sperry in his introduction. Genealogy and history research are no different. In the practice of genealogical research there seems to be no end to the number of acronyms created in the field. Just knowing some of the larger societies and organizations looks like an can of alphabet soup: NGS, FGS, DAR, SAR/NSSAR, DUP, SUP, OGS, FFHS, FEEFHS, and so on. There is a good chance these same acronyms are used with different meanings in other fields of study and research.
Documents and papers studied in the process of genealogical and historical research also bring forth an plethora of new abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms uncommon to modern writing and speech. Shortening of names in records gives us examples like mart for Martin and Xper/XR/Xpofer for Christopher. Acronyms for organizations one’s ancestors may have belonged to like KWM or Knights of Wise Men are less common today but will appear in research. Abbreviations like hldr for householder or hlg for hireling are common in census, occupation, and similar records.
Abbreviations and Acronyms was compiled to provide the family historian and other historical researchers with a quick reference to the partial words and acronyms they are likely to come across in their work. This book also includes an appendix with references for symbols, numbers, and measurements.
Together, the four books discussed in this blog series provides the Genealogist with a fantastic reference set to words and symbols found in genealogical research: in both the field of study as well as in documents and records studied. While there is some overlap found between these books, there is plenty more unique to each.
To order copies of each book, please visit Family Roots Publishing. Or, get all four as a set and get 20% off:
Abbreviations & Acronyms: A Guide For Family Historians (Revised 2nd Edition); Family Roots Publishing Item #: TP269.
A-Zax: A Comprehensive Dictionary For Genealogists And Historians – 3rd Edition; Family Roots Publishing Item #: GE138.
What Did They Mean By That? A Dictionary of Historical and Genealogical Terms, Old and New; Family Roots Publishing Item #: HBD7169.
Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary; Family Roots Publishing Item #: TP06X.
20% off the complete set:
Complete Genealogical Terms & Phrases Reference Set (all four of the above listed books) at 20% off. Family Roots Publishing Item #: REF001. ***Must order the set in order to receive the discount***