Guide to "Der Schlüßel" Index to German Genealogical Periodicals

Der Schlüßel: Gesamtinhaltsverzichnisse mit Quellennachweisen für genealogische, heraldische und historishe Zeitschriften, Vols. 4-9. Göttingen, Germany: Genealogisch-Heraldische Gesellschaft, 1959-1986. R 943 S346

We have vols. 4-9 of Der Schlüßel (The Key). The set, provides name, subject and place indexes to selected German genealogical and historical periodicals. Citations cover articles published from as early as 1866 to as late as 1980. Volumes vary in scope:

  • Vol. 4: Journals published in Germany, 1872-1959
  • Vol. 5: Journals published in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1945-1960
  • Vol. 6: Journals published in Austria and German-speaking Czechoslovakia, 1871-1944
  • Vol. 7: Journals published in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1961-1975
  • Vol. 8: Journals published in the Federal Republic of Germany and neighboring German-speaking areas, 1976-1980.
  • Vol. 9: Journals covering portions of Prussia, Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt) and northern Bohemia, and two pan-German publications, Heraldische und Genealogische Blätter für adelige und bürgerliche Geschlechter [Heraldic and Genealogical Newsletter for Noble and Middle-Class Lineages] and ADLER Zeitschrift für Genealogie und Heraldik [ADLER Journal for Genealogy and Heraldry], 1866-1975.

Each volume includes introductory material describing the periodicals referred to in the index. A list of individual articles arranged by journal title and date follows along with a unique numerical identifier for the article. The article lists are followed by place name, subject, and surname indexes. Index entries include the numerical identifier keyed to individual articles.

Searching for names in the indexes can be tricky. The following tips come from an article by Laraine K. Ferguson in the German Genealogical Digest (the article is included in this binder).

  • Umlauted vowels are alphabetized as ae (= ä), oe (=ö) and ue (=ü).
  • St. is alphabetized as Sankt (meaning "Saint")
  • Names in Vol. 6 are treated phonetically rather than strictly alphabetically:

B & P are indexed under B
D& T are indexed under D
F & V are indexed under F
I & J are indexed under I
K, C, & G are indexed under K
W & V are indexed W
Z & C are indexed under Z

  • In vols. 7-9, names beginning Sch and St are alphabetized separately following Sz.

Helpful guides to Der Schlüßel are Laraine K. Ferguson's articles, "Locating a Surname, Locality or Topic in German Genealogical Periodicals: Der Schlüßel--The Key" and "German Genealogical Periodicals, Part 2: A List of Foreign Language Titles Keyed to Areas of Interest" in German Genealogical Digest, v. 9, no. 2 (Summer 1993): 38-62. The articles are available in the History and Genealogy Department.

The library holds some periodicals indexed in the set, and the staff can assist patrons in obtaining a copy of an article from another library if possible.