Periodical Indexes
Three important indexes are available that will help you locate a surname, topic, or place name in previously published German periodicals. They include:
Der Schlüssel
This valuable 9-volume reference work provides researchers with a surname, place, and subject index to titles of articles published in selected German genealogical periodicals. (Surnames and places listed within the articles are not indexed). Der Schlüssel contains writings from as far back as 1860 and as recently as 1981. An article that describes how to utilize this reference tool can be found in the Summer 1993 issue of the German Genealogical Digest. The volumes are available in the FamilySearch Library.
Quellenschau für Familienforscher
This 3-volume set, like Der Schlüssel, indexes places, topics, or surnames if they appear in the title of an article. In addition, articles are fully indexed by locality, subject, and surname. This publication also provides an additional locality index [Gebiets Register] to nobility, governmental, ecclesiastical, and cultural districts. See Jensen, Larry O. "Die Quellenschau für Familienforscher" in German Genealogical Digest Spring 1993. These volumes are available in the FamilySearch Library.
Familiengeschichtliche Quellen
This 19-volume series is strictly a “surname only” index. Sources in which the surname will be found are also identified. For example, if an article includes the names of residents living in a particular town, the surname of every resident would be indexed. This index provides an encyclopedia of German surnames. For more information see Jensen, Larry O. "Familiengeschichtliche Quellen" German Genealogical Digest Winter 1990. These volumes are available in the FamilySearch Library.