A New Scottish Research Guide

[DavidWW]

Hi All

If anyone had asked me if it was ever going to be possible to better the guides on Scottish research written by Sherry Irvine and Kathleen Cory (3rd Edition completed by Leslie Hodgson and published posthumously) I'd have most probably have demurred, along with comments along the lines of, "aye weel, there's some aspects in which one or both of these could still be improved, but these two books have to be regarded as the 'gold standard' of this type of guide", i.e. there are other guides to Scottish research that take a completely different approach in terms, for example, of hand-holding and walking researchers step-by-detailed-step through how to research Scottish ancestors, particularly in terms of using the records available via the LDS, but without giving any real understanding of the records.

Many, - wha kens?, - perchance most researchers prefer the alternative approach of a guide that describes the what and the where, with more than a wee bit, where required, of the how, - but leaves the details beyond that to the researcher, i.e. encourages the researcher to understand fully the records involved, and then, much more effectively, given a proper understanding of the "why" in terms of the various reasons leading to the creation of the records concerned, much better allow the researcher to understand what it is likely in terms of extant records that exist, where they can be located, how to access them, what it costs, optimum search strategies for such extant records, etc., etc !!

Above, I referred to the guides written by Sherry Irvine and Kathleen Cory as being the "gold standard".

But now, I'd suggest, there is a platinum standard, this being the recently published "The Scottish Family Tree Detective: Tracing Your Ancestors in Scotland" , by Rosemary Bigwood, - in the UK, for the paltry price of £9.99 !!

The best way that I can demonstrate my opinion is to quote here my review of this research guide that will be appearing shortly in various genmags in the UK and N America ........

QUOTE
Title: The Scottish Family Tree Detective
Sub-Title: Tracing Your Ancestors in Scotland
Author: Rosemary Bigwood
Price: £9.99
Format: paperback
No. Pages: 292 including 5 appendices (52 pp), a bibliography (6 pp), an index (6 pp)
and 8 B&W illustrations
ISBN: 0 7190 7185 2
Publisher: Manchester University Press.


Normally a reviewer doesn’t express their conclusion until the end of a review, but, in this case, I have to comment up front, that if you are a serious researcher in the Scottish records, this new book is a very definite buy recommendation.

I’ve used Rosemary’s previous book, the Collins Pocket Reference, “Tracing Scottish Ancestors” ever since 1999, - it’s been an essential part of my research kit; but, in the nature of a pocket guide, maybe not always that useful for others than experts, and not always reader friendly for those new to Scottish research.

Research guides, in my experience, fall into two general categories, - those which lead the reader by the hand in terms of the detailed step-by-step approach required for successful research without necessarily providing any detailed background on the records, and those which describe the background in considerable detail, but leave the researcher to carry out the required research, in the knowledge that they understand fully what they are doing.

This new research guide from Rosemary Bigwood more than fulfills the requirements of the latter type, with the emphasis laid on locating, selecting, evaluating and using sources.

I have to confess that the title misled me somewhat, in that I initially took the book to be a “how do I solve my brickwalls?” guide, but I was delighted to find that it is a “gold standard” guide to genealogical research in the Scottish records, that at very least matches the existing guides in this category, - by Sherry Irvine, and Kathleen Cory, - if not, in this humble reviewer’s opinion, surpassing those two guides, to become the new “platinum standard”!

The reason for the title is that it is part of the Manchester University Press “Family Tree Detective” series of guides.

The book is superbly well divided into 11 very logical chapters, -

Introduction
Starting Research
From Birth to Death
Birth
Marriage
Death
Profiling the Ancestors
Where Did They Live?
When Did They Live?
What Did They Do?
Understanding Legal Documents

All this on top of the 5 appendices..

Parishes, with related sheriff courts, commissary courts and burghs
Scottish archives
Scottish family history societies
Sources for Scottish family history
Scottish money, numbers and dates

And there’s also a 6 page bibliography. The index is not quite as detailed as I’d have wished, but this is offset to some extent at least by an excellent 8 pages long Contents section.

The book is light on illustrations, but none the worse for that. Of the 8 that there are, 6 are very useful “where next?” type charts.

My only major criticism would be that the typesetting could have been better in terms of picking out and highlighting in other types and boxes a lot of the key summary information.

But that’s a council of perfection. Not just a book to consider for your library if you have Scottish links, but a necessity!

David W Webster FSA Scot
ENDQUOTE

David

[LesleyB]

Hi David

I’ve used Rosemary’s previous book, the Collins Pocket Reference, “Tracing Scottish Ancestors” ever since 1999, - it’s been an essential part of my research kit

I'd certainly agree with that statement - it is a great wee book! And as far as I'm aware, having recommended it to others, I think it has been out of print for a while.

Best wishes
Lesley

[wini]

AVAILABLE WHERE?

wini

[AndrewP]

Hi Wini,

It is available at www.amazon.co.uk as a pre-order (release date 31-Dec-2006). Paperback at £9.99. On the www.amazon.com (USA) it is available as a hardback book from 30-Mar-2007, no price given yet.

Her previous book is there at www.amazon.co.uk too at prices (are you sitting down) from £46.71 to £84.93 (ouch) from places in the USA. On www.amazon.com it is there; 1st edition from $39.95 and 2nd edition from $19.00.

Do a search for Rosemary Bigwood to find these.

Merry Christmas and all the best,



AndrewP

[LesleyB]

Her previous book is there at www.amazon.co.uk too at prices (are you sitting down) from £46.71 to £84.93 (ouch) from places in the USA.

Those are completely daft prices!! It's a wee pocket sized paperback which cost me £7.99 several years back!! Obviously very sought after.... The newer one looks like much the better buy now!! :

Best wishes
Lesley

[wini]

I'm afraid I'll be sticking with the new one.
The price for the old one seems extortionate.
Ye canny expect a Glaswegian tae part wi money like that

wini

[AndrewP]

Absolutely right Wini. Much as it is a good wee book, that sort of money is over the top. You have only a short wait for the new book at a sensible price.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Thrall]

Hi All, after hearing these recommendations I took the plunge and have ordered myself a "pre order" Tree Detective from Amazon, so life should be so much easier in future, with brick walls taken in a single saltatorial step assisted by Rosemary Bigwood and of course TS when necessary.

Considerable thread drift here, but I hope excusable; may I proffer season´s greetings to all, without hiding them in amongst the many others on the dedicated posts.

Best wishes,

Thrall

[DavidWW]

Hi All, after hearing these recommendations I took the plunge and have ordered myself a "pre order" Tree Detective from Amazon, so life should be so much easier in future, with brick walls taken in a single saltatorial step assisted by Rosemary Bigwood and of course TS when necessary.

Considerable thread drift here, but I hope excusable; may I proffer season´s greetings to all, without hiding them in amongst the many others on the dedicated posts.

Best wishes,

Thrall

Thrall

"Saltatorial" ......

"1. Biology. Specialized for or characterised by jumping: the saltatorial legs of a grasshopper. 2. of or relating to saltation"

Ehhhhh

David

[emanday]

That would be a giant leap then