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The CenterThe Center. A Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Capital Area. Christina K. Schaefer . (1996), 1997, paper, Index, 160 pp.
It is not generally recognized, but Washington, D.C. is home to the largest body of accessible research materials in the world, larger even than the vast body of materials at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It is the central repository of the nation's primary source records and the very center of genealogical activity. The aim of this book is
to identify those resources in the Washington, D.C.
area that will aid family historians in tracing
their ancestors (the National Archives, Library of
Congress, the DAR Library, the National Genealogical
Society, and many more). While it is based on the
original idea of the popular guidebook, Lest We
Forget (originally published in 1965), The
Center is actually an all-new work which
completely revises and updates its predecessor.
Under each facility listed there is a survey of key
record holdings, with a description of the records,
a summary of their contents, an explanation of their
organization, and directions for their use. There is
also a list of published indexes and finding aids,
key addresses for mail requests, publications, phone
numbers and hours of business, and an itemization of
those materials available through the Family History
Library system. |