USING A LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER #6 PERiodical Source Index revised Aug 1997 Once a genealogy student asked her great aunt for family history information. The elderly woman brushed aside the request by saying, "Oh, that was all published somewhere in the northeast over 30 years ago, so there is no need to ask me! Just don't worry about it sweetie!" Bless the heart of this poor beginning student who had tried so diligently to follow the first lesson's assignment to collect data from family members! Her great aunt was not about to say more, and this nearly brought the student to tears! Well, we crossed our fingers, and looked in the FAMILY section of the PERSI index, and sure enough, there WAS an article published in the mid-60's in a tiny publication by a Vermont genealogy society. Sending away for a copy proved very suspenseful but quite enlightening! The article listed the known parents and siblings of my previously discouraged beginning student. Now she was off and running. What was that wonderful index source? PERSI (PERiodical Source Index). This is an index to the extensive collection of genealogy periodicals housed at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The microfiche version at each FHC indexes over 2,000 of the most popular titles, with years of volumes under each title. It includes nearly all English language and French-Canadian genealogy periodicals. Articles are indexed in the following formats: 1. 1847-1895 (publication dates) LOCALITY (US, Canada or foreign countries) FAMILY (major family names, not every name index) RESEARCH METHODS (how-to type articles) 2. annual updates (divided as above) Column headings in the US PLACES are as follows: Heading Sample State/County PA Adams County Record Type Biography Title Scotch-Irish of York & Adams County Journal PACC (code for magazine title) Volume 3 Number 3 Month Nov Year 1985 If an indexed article interests you as it did my student, you have several options: 1. Search for the article at your local public library genealogy department's periodical collection. 2. Find a copy of the publication at the LDS Family History Library next time you visit. 3. Submit a request listing the article's index entry, complete with the code for the magazine title, etc. in a letter addressed to: Allen County Public Library PO Box 2270 Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46801 You may submit a "reasonable" number (perhaps 4-5) of requests in one letter. You will be charged $4 handling fee for each letter, and 20 cents per page copied. Since the length of articles are not indexed, the actual photocopy fee will be charged after the work is completed. Without PERSI, we never would have found that tiny little genealogical publication in remotest New England. The photocopy provided by Allen County public Library amounted to detailed 24 page document! Definitely do NOT overlook the PERSI. Its very tiny, and can fit in less than half of a typical 4X6 inch recipe box. Be sure to look in each of the update sections. Further Reading: LDS Family History Library, RESOURCE OUTLINE: PERSI - Periodical Source Index. (Available at your local LDS Family History Center.) Addendum: In August 1997, Ancestry Publishing in partnership with the Allen County Public Library made available a searchable electronic version of PERSI through the the Ancestry HomeTown Library located at: http://www.ancestry.com/home/library/abtpersi.htm Although this full PERSI database and hundreds of other databases require a modest membership fee, this might be easier and quicker to use than the microfiche version available at LDS FHCs. There are plans to release the CD-ROM for individual sale by the end of the summer.