A Bibliography of American County Histories

Description

Compiled for use by historians and genealogists, A Bibliography of American County Histories provides a state-by-state listing of all published county histories of any significance, giving information concerning title, author, and place and date of publication, as well as details of editions, reprints, and indexes, so the reader can learn what is available almost at a glance.

The work is based primarily on the holdings of the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library, but draws as well on published state bibliographies and lists of county histories furnished by librarians in each state. Comparatively few county histories are published any more–their now almost quaint subject matter features biographical sketches, lists of vital records, and narratives of early explorations and settlements–so this book will remain the standard bibliography for years to come.

The late P.W. Filby was a world-renowned scholar, bibliographer, and cryptologist. He was the author or compiler of twenty books, including works on calligraphy, genealogy, and immigration. His best known works in bibliography include the monumental American & British Genealogy & Heraldry
(1983) and Passenger and Immigration Lists Bibliography, 1538-1900 (1981).

Editorial Reviews
“A boon for both genealogists and historians, Filby’s work provides a detailed listing of published county histories for the entire United States with the exceptions of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. . . . With the help of librarians in each state and state bibliographies, Filby was able, in most cases, to double the number of county histories listed by the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library for that state.”–AMERICAN LIBRARIES (May 1987).

“Both professional and fledgling genealogists will find this a useful tool in research.”–THE PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. XXXV, No. 1 (1987).

“The book [Filby] has produced is a quality product which deserves a place in local history collections.”–AMERICAN REFERENCE BOOKS ANNUAL (1986).

“Any public, academic, or special library with local history interests will find this book an essential purchase. Libraries serving genealogists no longer can provide adequate reference service without it.”–RQ (Winter 1985), p. 253.

“We therefore hail the publication of this newest Filby venture, based on the holdings of libraries throughout the country. By judicious omission of words and phrases from the awesomely detailed titles of most of the county histories, Mr. Filby has been able to include over 5,000 titles, with full bibliographical data for each.”–THE NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, Vol. 116, No. 4 (October 1985).

“The indefatigable Mr. Filby has produced another monumental work.”–NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, Vol. 73, No. 3 (September 1985).

Note: This book will not ship until the week of January 9, 2005.