The Complete Guide to Lineage Societies by Kimberly Nagy, MD AG

Most of us know about the usual genealogical societies that many of us aspire to, such as Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). But did you know there are societies like the National Society Descendants of American Farmers or Prairie Pioneers? Me neither. Heck, I could be a member of either of those several times over. Then again, I could also be a DAR several times over as well. Speaking of DAR, I will officially be sworn in on Saturday as a DAR with the Wild Horse Trail Chapter in Sandpoint, ID. One of my many achievements that I finally checked off my list this year.

So why join a society? What is the benefit? Well, Kimberly says it in her own words, "It is my hope that this book helps the reader learn about the variety of societies in existence as well as all the varied purposes of these societies." She does a very good job not only explaining the different types of societies out there but also the more difficult "how."

I can tell you from my own experience joining the DAR that it's a difficult process, especially if you have no genealogical experience. Even as an experienced genealogist who follows Elizabeth Shown Mills' citation standards, I faced challenges because the DAR has its own specific documentation requirements. My carefully crafted citations had to be reformatted to meet the DAR's particular standards. The registrar had to help me adjust my sources to fit their specific format—something I wish I'd known about beforehand.

This is where Nagy's book proves invaluable. She walks you through the basics that apply to most societies and provides specific guidance on the documentation requirements unique to different organizations. Having a resource like this would have saved me considerable time in reformatting my sources for DAR's requirements.

Clearly, this is a passion of hers, and she demonstrates in this book that she has been a registrar and helped many people join various societies. She explains too that she can't list them all, so if you're curious if your great-grandpa's profession as a butcher would qualify you for a society, well, Google it. I bet there is one out there.

What sets this book apart is its practical approach to the application process. Nagy doesn't just list societies – she helps you understand their specific documentation requirements and application procedures. The book serves as a valuable guide for navigating the varying standards and expectations of different lineage societies, something that can trip up even experienced genealogists.

The book is well-organized, logically guiding you through what societies are, the benefits or purposes of joining, how to determine eligibility, and how to actually start and complete the application process for most. Nagy includes helpful appendices featuring resource lists, document templates, and checklists that readers will find invaluable during their application journey.

One aspect I found particularly valuable was her discussion of the different documentation standards among various societies. Understanding these differences upfront can save countless hours of reformatting and adjusting your documentation to meet specific requirements.

While the book is thorough, it remains accessible to beginners while offering enough depth to satisfy experienced genealogists. Nagy's writing style is engaging and clear, making even the more technical aspects of documentation requirements and proof standards easy to understand.

Whether you're just beginning to explore your family history or you're a seasoned genealogist looking to expand your society memberships, "The Complete Guide to Lineage Societies" is an essential resource. It's the kind of book I wish I'd had when I started my DAR application and one that would benefit anyone interested in joining a lineage society.