Evening star., 1937-10-09
Washington Is Genealogical
Center Of United States

OF places, lists number OF genealOg-
ical experts who reside in the Capital
City.
PROFESSIONAL genealoeists in
crease in numbers each year The
1897 edition of The Handbook Of
American Genealogy" says there are
1892 professional and svocational
genealogists and local record search-
ers" in SGT cities in 1,165 counties
throughout the Nation. This figure
Is undoubtedly too conservative as it
includes only such individuals who
are certified and takes no account Of
the thrOng Of amateurs who delye into
family history as hobby or on .
semi professional basis.
Many professional genealogists spe-
cialiZe in certain families or geo.
graphical areas. Fees for research
are usually predetermined An expert
who knows his field readily may work
on basis bf 81 or 81 an hour, or a
minimum fee of S25 as a common
practice. -;
One Of the largest genealogical
research bureaus in the United States
maintains its Offices in Washington
and handles considerable volume
OF business, especially during the hol-
iday peak season, when the services
Of scores Of employees are necessary.
Genealogical societies are to be
found in most large centers. The Ma
f{opoI Gapaolooics1 Sn,iatx ~ VIZ eh
ington Is we'll known AS a scholarly
! and distinguished body and contributes
no small share TO the prominence of
Washington as genealogical cap
! ital.
The Family Association Is dis
tinctly American institution, resem-
bling In aspect the Scottish clan. The
Federation OF American Family Asso-
Citations, recently organized, lists more
than 500 family associations in its
last directory. Several family asso-
Citations are listed as having head
! quarters in the District Of Columbia
the Boone, Dennis, jerks and Nc
Dougle Family Associations, the Lake
Clan Of England and America and
the Lake Clan Of Maryland, Dis
trict OF Columbia and Virginia.
The publications OF genealogy are
| myriad. Almost every week appears a
new family history or Lineage book"
At least seven magazines of Ma
tionwide circulation are devoted to
genealogical interests. The we'll
known "Burke's Landed Gentry" Of
London Is bringing out a special
Coronation Edition de Luxe" and for
the first time distinguished collateral
families overseas" which include spe-
cifically American cousins Of British
lines will be incorporated.
There Is now going forward the
publication Of = work entitled THE
Compendium of American Genealogy"
under the auspices Of the Institute Of
American Genealoey Of Chicago, and
1t Is estimated that 1t will require two
generations to complete the project
The first volume Of 1,148 pages was
published in 1924 and took seven
years to complete. Since 1924 five
other ponderous and bulky tones have
appeared, which grace the shelves Of
every reputable library. Only an an
cestor-conscious land could make such
an undertaking possible.
One enterprising firm has issued a
sumptuously bound album for gene
illogical lore, especially designed to
appeal to children, wherein one may
enter family tradition and history for
10 generations back.
AS the national interest in gene
alogy mounts yearly, Washington will
increase correspondingly as the focal
point around which this science
flourishes.