Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey

The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey has been published since 1925 by the Genealogical Society of New Jersey. Three numbers of the GMNJ (together comprising one volume), plus an annual full name index are issued each year and are distributed free to members of GSNJ. Subscriptions are $40.00 per volume in advance. There is a $2.00 remailing charge unless timely change of address is received. Previous numbers are available; current prices and availability may be obtained from the Corresponding Secretary. Some volumes are available for sale through https://squareup.com/market/njgenealogy, the Society's online bookstore.

Editorial Policy

January 2004

The current transition in editorship provides an excellent opportunity to review and publicize GMNJ's editorial policy. Two overriding goals have prevailed throughout the history of the Magazine, both relating directly to the Society's mission. First is the emphasis placed on publishing primary-source material. This has traditionally included gravestone inscriptions, Bible and family records, and abstracts of records of governmental bodies, religious institutions and local businesses. The need for an ongoing effort to make such vital resources available to the researching public is evident. GMNJ is, in fact, currently the only journal to regularly publish New Jersey primary-source material-genealogical or historical. The current editors therefore wholeheartedly reaffirm this long-standing policy. We will continue to focus on presenting such information as accurately and completely as possible. Records that are little known, relatively inaccessible or in jeopardy of being lost are of especial interest.

The second goal has been to strive for a geographically balanced journal. Editorial planning and article development will continue with this in mind. However, we note that other considerations apply. For one, early material with general coverage of an original county may also relate to descendant counties. Pre-1830s records with countywide coverage for "old" Gloucester, for example, will pertain to inhabitants of present-day Atlantic and Camden counties as well. We also observe that more developed areas may have produced greater genealogical documentation. While the editors strongly encourage abstracting for localities that might not be attended to otherwise, we nonetheless will consider all submissions of genealogically valuable New Jersey source material.

The new editors also welcome submissions of compiled genealogical accounts for publication. Such articles must rely predominantly on original research into primary sources. They should: a) address a family not sufficiently represented in available literature; b) solve a genealogical mystery or correct widely propagated misinformation; and/or c) identify the origins of a New Jersey progenitor. Good candidates for publication will extend through at least three generations and adequately account for all known descendants. Submissions will be evaluated by the Editorial Committee for thoroughness of coverage, source citations, and soundness of reasoning. Conclusions must be justified and any speculation clearly and fully qualified. Discussions of genealogical problems in need of further inquiry will also be considered for publication; please contact us at the earliest possible time relative to article development.

We invite our readers to assist us in carrying forward The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey's tradition of excellence. We seek both contributions and suggestions for potential articles. Please address related correspondence to: Editors - GMNJ, P.O. Box 1476, Trenton, NJ 08607-1476. Information about preparing articles for publication, style guides, and lists of potential abstracting projects are available upon request.

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!

The Editorial Committee

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