Availability -

<10 – including Allen County, WI Hist Soc, FHL (not microfilmed)

– not found

– not available

Summary -

Volume 1 – Sections A & B: 3 Feb 1864-29 Jan 1910 [A covers to 28 Sep 1906; B from then to 1910]

Volume 2 – Section C: 1 Feb 1910-27 May 1915

Volume 3 – Section D: 28 May 1915-30 Dec 1920

Section A -
Data recorded includes the Surname, Given name, Date, Country of Origin, Notes & Witnesses, Volume, Page, and Index number [the latter is what is listed in the index volume]

Notes can include information such as whether the document was signed with an ‘X,’ whether it was final papers, length of time in the U.S., date and place of intention papers.

Sections B – D
Includes the information in Section A plus last foreign residence, port of entry, name of ship, birth place, occupation, date of arrival in U.S., and birth date.

Index volume – organized by surname. First names not given. Lists section and page number where surname found.

Records were transcribed (volume 1-3) and then indexed from the originals on file at the Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois.

The introduction to volume 1 describes the process used and the organization/condition of the original records (terrible). 1916 had no extant records.

Review -

Like many society-produced records, this series provides a valuable tool for accessing the original records. It is easy to use, but it would have been nice if the index included given names.

Other Reviews – None known

Evaluation – Check It Out

E. Kay Kirkham.
Logan, UT: Everton Publishers. 1971. 

Availability -  

>250

not found

 used

 Summary –

Written for genealogists, the stated purpose of this book is to provide a survey of religious records. The author also acknowledges that the book is incomplete since only 28 states are included and not all counties in those states are covered.

 After a brief introduction and general statement, the book provides short summary histories of the ten “major” denominations including bibliographies and mentions of any doctrinal positions that affected record keeping. The ten denominations include: Baptist, Catholic, Church of England (Anglican Church), Congregational, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, and Society of Friends (Quaker). Some descriptions include related or derivative denominations. Then follows a state-by-state listing of holdings organized by county and major city. Each state’s entry begins with a brief overview and bibliography. The end of the book includes a glossary and list of abbreviations.

 A second volume covers “minor” denominations, but is not available for review at this time.

Review –

Considering that this edition of the book was compiled at the very beginning of the mainframe library computer catalog era, it represents a remarkable accomplishment. Most of the material for the book was apparently gathered via letter surveys. Still, as with most genealogy references, it continues to provide a valuable clue to where records might be held if you are lucky enough to find your state, county, and denomination of interest included in its entries. One of the most valuable series of resources frequently referenced is the series of church record surveys of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Other frequent references are to major genealogical publications, local/regional historical societies, and denominational archives.

Other Reviews – none known 

Evaluation - Consider Buying It