Journals, Magazines, & Newsletters? Oh My!

Did you miss the last issue of Family Tree Magazine? Perhaps you found a citation for something in the July-September 2024 NGS Magazine issue? Maybe you heard about a family that was mentioned in a previous issue of American Ancestors?

Good news! The Library keeps back issues of various genealogy journals, magazines, and newsletters, and you can access them anytime at the library. Some of them even check out! Now, you can rest soundly knowing that those missed articles are still available for you to read. To see the full list of what is available, check out our online catalog. You are also welcome to come down to the Lower Level of Cook Park Library and browse the shelf. The back issues are stored in the last section of the genealogy collection, across from the genealogy computer and close to the CDs.

Some of the most popular magazines are worth mentioning and exploring further. They contain a lot of helpful information and tips for genealogists at any stage and experience level.

American Ancestors

This is the magazine of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. (The same folks who provide the American Ancestors database.) According to NEHGS, “American Ancestors is a unique, full-color magazine that comes out four times a year, and offers compelling information for family historians of all levels. Features cover useful genealogical sources, helpful research strategies, compelling historical accounts, and interesting case studies.” The Summer 2025 issue has articles that give tips for “Finding Family History in Home Sources” and “Hunting for Genealogical Treasure at Home.” These are excellent additions to our September program. We currently have issues dating back to 2010, and the database has the full run available. If you are in the library, you can search the magazine using their database as well.

Family Tree Magazine

This super popular magazine is sure to have something interesting to read in each issue, and six are published each year. FTM “is a publication about genealogy and family history published by Yankee Publishing, Inc…The first issue was published in 2000…Topics covered…include resource guides for specific ethnicities, annual website reviews, information on DNA tests and results, advice on genealogy records, research strategies, and how to share family history through projects and stories.” The latest issue includes 101 genealogy websites to try and tips for publishing family history research. Each issue usually features at U.S. state and gives tips for finding genealogical records within that state. This is a supplement to what is available on their website. We currently have issues dating back to 2019, and you can check out any of these to take home.

NGS Magazine

This is the quarterly publication of the National Genealogical Society. According to NGS, “Each issue is chock-full of informative articles that show and tell readers how to do effective genealogical research using the most current information, sources, and techniques. Regular columns discuss technology, genetic genealogy, and reference topics. Articles appeal to a variety of interests and skill levels while delivering content useful to all.” For example, the current issue discusses creating maps for genealogical research and using first-person voice in family history narratives. In other issues, they have discussed “genealogical records, collections, and repositories, research techniques and methodologies, databases, case studies, and genealogical problem-solving techniques.” We currently have issues dating back to 2000, and you can download the index for 2005-2024 online.

These are just a few of the magazines that have back issues available. Not to brag, but we currently have back issues of American Genealogist from the 1960s and over 50 volumes of The Quarterly Journal from the Illinois State Genealogical Society! We also keep some issues of local society newsletters, like the Quarterly from Lake County Genealogical Society. In addition, the blue folders on display at the beginning of the genealogy collection have some recent back issues of local newsletters.

Lastly, you may want to check out PERSI and the previous blog post about it. This tool makes it really easy to find articles from past issues of genealogy journals, magazines, and newsletters, and we may have a copy of them on the shelf, too!

Happy digging into past issues about your ancestral past!