Using Academic Journals and Theses for Genealogical Research
June 1, 2025
Intermediate/Advanced Level Article
Using Academic Journals and Theses for Genealogical Research
Academic journals and advanced degree theses can be valuable resources for genealogical research.
This is especially true when it comes to seeking clarification or verification of contextual information
and understanding the historical background of your ancestors. While they may not contain detailed
family records, they can provide insights into the lives, occupations, and social environments of
individuals and communities. Academic libraries are the primary source for these types of research
tools. Here are some brief specific examples of how these sources can be useful for research, both historical and genealogical in nature.
Help the process of uncovering detailed contextual information and historical background. a. Theses and dissertations often delve into specific historical periods, communities, or occupations, which can provide valuable context for your family history. b. The information may offer insights into the social, economic, and political factors that influenced the lives of your ancestors. c. Academic articles in journals can explore specific regional or ethnic histories, helping you understand the broader context of your family's background. d. These articles and theses will contain footnotes, citations, and specific bibliographic sources to facilitate further research.
They will often provide excellent supplemental information to assist with identifying family and community economic, educational, religious, social, and political patterns and connections. a. By examining research on related communities or occupations, you may discover patterns or connections that could help you identify additional relatives or records. b. These resources can help you understand the broader social and economic conditions that influenced your family's choices and decisions.
Locating specific information on individuals and families. a. While it will not be a common occurrence, you might find specific names or dates mentioned in theses or dissertations, but this is less common. b. The most likely scenario will be the possibility of locating valuable information about individuals or groups who resided in the same area, had the same occupation, or shared similar historical experiences as your ancestors. c. If you are researching an immigrant family, a thesis on immigration patterns to a specific region may provide valuable background information and migration patterns. d. If you are tracing a family with a specific occupation, an academic journal article about that profession could provide insights into their daily lives and social standing.
While academic researchers are seldom identified as a group that commonly engages in genealogical studies for their own interests, they frequently utilize similar methods and address topics of interest to anyone doing genealogy. One of the primary benefits common to both research scenarios is the quality of indexing required for all sources. Many of these sources can be borrowed through inter-library loan. Most genealogical materials borrowed for genealogical research projects come from academic libraries.
One of the major focal points covered in both sources involves the historical development of communities. Social historians are actively involved in projects that study patterns of relationships within a community and their presence in the larger historical context of a particular time and place. Results are compiled utilizing primary historical source materials and statistical data. This combination of data is compatible with the same goals and objectives that genealogists follow when they are seeking to understand the historical context in which our ancestors lived. Genealogists can use this data to answer many of the “why” and “what” questions we have about the lives of our ancestors.
Research topics explored include relationships between kinship and economics, inheritance patterns, and geographic mobility. While the focus is on history, the scope of investigation usually involves subject areas like demographics, sociology, anthropology, women’s studies, as well as ethnic populations and cultural studies. When these projects are completed, the findings and conclusions are published in various academic journals and books. These published materials include the methodology used, source citations, footnotes, and other related information. For graduate students, many publish their research data and conclusions as part of their Masters theses and Doctoral dissertations.
When researching genealogical holdings in academic libraries, materials are often cataloged under the subject heading of “Social History and Statistics” (the academic term for genealogy).This would apply to printed books, academic journals, and theses. In the past researchers using the search term “genealogy” may have resulted in missing many important sources of information when using academic library catalogs based on the LC subject classification system. The good news is that because of the increasing popularity of genealogy, especially thanks to the expanded emphasis of online options, more academic librarians are familiar with the context and importance of the term genealogy. When researching in a locality or region, check to see the location of an academic library in the vicinity with a social history and statistics collection related to genealogical or historical research. Most academic / university libraries have online catalogs that offer the following services:
Search for titles and subject holdings
Online study / finding guides and tutorial
Contact information for specific departments / collections within the library
In most cases, these materials will be housed in the Special Collections department. These services are usually available to the general public even if you are not a student as long as you have proper identification. Another option that many academic libraries offer are courtesy library cards to researchers who are not students. Researchers are advised to search the online catalog prior to their visit to see what materials the library has, where the materials are located within the library, whether they are restricted to in-house use only, or may be available for circulation or inter-library loan.
The viewing of Special Collection materials usually requires an advance appointment, and most material in Special Collections does not leave the room where it is located, although there may be exceptions to that general rule, in some cases. For example, you may be able to request copies of non-fragile Special Collections material, once you determine exactly what you need for your research.
Genealogical and historical societies are another source for genealogists to obtain assistance. These societies usually provide research assistance in using all types of libraries and archives within their service area. They can be especially helpful in cases of assisting patrons in academic libraries.
For more information on this topic, please utilize the sources listed below.
Books
Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo. Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your Female Ancestors:
Special Strategies for Uncovering Hard-To-Find Information about Your Female Lineage.