This is the most comprehensive compilation of West Virginia soldiers in the Revolution and other wars, containing rosters and, in many cases, service records of thousands of soldiers, with narratives on the various wars. The rosters and rolls, here collected for the first time, are drawn from both published and unpublished sources, the original records being in many cases in the Department of Archives and History of the State of West Virginia.

Genealogists and other historical researchers have valued the first two editions of this work, often referred to as the genealogist's bible."" The new edition continues that tradition. Intended as a handbook and a guide to selecting, locating, and using appropriate primary and secondary resources, The Source also functions as an instructional tool for novice genealogists and a refresher course for experienced researchers. More than 30 experts in this field--genealogists, historians, librarians, and archivists--prepared the 20 signed chapters, which are well written, easy to read, and include many helpful hints for getting the most out of whatever information is acquired. Each chapter ends with an extensive bibliography and is further enriched by tables, black-and-white illustrations, and examples of documents. Eight appendixes include the expected contact information for groups and institutions that persons studying genealogy and history need to find. ""

This bibliography of the Mexican War holdings of the libraries at the University of Texas at Arlington is the product of more than forty years' collecting and research. As a result of his recognition that Texana collections would be incomplete without items from the period up to the ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo by Mexico in May, 1848, Jenkins Garrett began this bibliography in earnest in the 1950s, at a time when Mexican War items were not even listed as a separate category by collectors. Arranged by chapters according to topics or type of holding, the bibliography is designed to give extensive and accurate descriptive information of approximately 2,500 items of interest to scholars and collectors. Each entry thus includes full title page wording, edition information, collation, other library locations, and notes, though the bibliography is not annotated per se. Extensive appendixes present alternate methods of referencing documents and compilations of data that may prove helpful in studying the Mexican War.