We are always delighted to hear from anyone interested in submitting an original article for publication in The American Genealogist.

Manuscripts may address any period, region, and demographic group within the United States or the (North) American colonies. Manuscripts may consist of compiled genealogies, problem analyses, corrections to printed genealogies, annotated transcriptions of (short) genealogically significant sources, or other related types. Whatever the format and focus, submissions should consist of original genealogical research that is carefully presented and properly documented with citations to primary (and appropriate secondary) sources. Citation format is not as important (in the submission stage) as clarity and consistency—though TAG generally adheres to the citation styles of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Manuscripts should ordinarily not exceed 8,000 words, including footnotes.

Each manuscript should be an editable word-processing document (.doc, .docx or .rtf format). Simple formatting is best for all submissions: a single system font and size; no embedded paragraph and character styles; no custom tab stops; etc. Elaborate technical formatting (even for, say, the child-paragraphs in a genealogical summary) is discouraged since TAG manually flows every accepted manuscript into our most current template in preparation for editing, proofreading, and pre-press. Footnotes should be created using Word’s (or equivalent) standard footnote feature. Use of “Ibid.” is discouraged in favor of a repeated short-form citation.

Handling of citations to source material found online has shifted away from inclusion of deeplink URLs toward hierarchical descriptive identification within a particular website that aggregates the source material, with only the root-level URL (e.g., ancestry.com, findagrave.com, fold3.com, familysearch.org, americanancestors.org) in Roman type. Citations to online pedigree database entries should generally not be used at all. The exception is for original scholarly analytical work appearing in such a database, citation of which must include the author responsible for compilation of the work, title or descriptive title of work, and date of its publication online if ascertainable.

Manuscripts should be submitted via e-mail to the editors at editors@americangenealogist.com.

All submissions are reviewed by the TAG editorial board and outside (peer) reviewers when appropriate. While all submissions are usually acknowledged within one week, a formal editorial response may take three to four months or more. At that time, a manuscript may be declined (perhaps with suggestions for improvement and an invitation to resubmit), returned with conditional acceptance pending resubmission with specific revisions, or accepted outright. While a manuscript is under editorial review it is understood that it is not being considered for publication elsewhere at the same time. Accepted manuscripts go through an editing process involving collaboration between the author and the journal’s editors.

For all clarifications and queries regarding submitted manuscripts or potential submissions, please contact the editors at editors@americangenealogist.com.