Part encyclopedia, part dictionary, part almanac - Jonathan Scott's
Dictionary of Family History doesn't claim to be exhaustive, but it is
practical, easy to use, entertaining and genuinely informative. It is
the kind of book you can dip into or use as a starting point for deeper
study, and it is the essential companion for experienced family
historians and for anyone who is approaching this fascinating subject
for the first time.
Thousands of A to Z entries are full of intriguing facts. There are
definitions, timelines and terminologies, details of archives and
websites as well as advice on research methods and explanations of
genealogical peculiarities and puzzles that would test the knowledge of
even veteran researchers. Longer entries explaining the mechanics of the
first census and other major sources and records rub shoulders with
simple one-line definitions of obscure terms, useful addresses and
signposts to little-known but rewarding corners of family, local and
social history.
This concise, clear and wide-ranging compendium of helpful, sometimes
surprising information is a valuable reference tool for everyone in the
field.