Publication of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies book

In April 2012 the Guild of One-Name Studies published "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies" as a guide to the running of a one-name study. The book is a collection of helpful advice and information gathered from the Guild Wiki, and was published immediately before the Guild’s 2012 Conference in order to complement its "Seven Pillars" theme. Copies of this book are now available via the Guild website www.one-name.org/sales.html, with payment via PayPal or credit card online, or by cheque through the post.

This book aims to give its readers help, advice, and encouragement on the various aspects of a one-name study:

• Data collection
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Publicising the study
• Responding to enquiries
• Publication of results
• Preserving the study

The Guild feels that it is impossible to prescribe the "right" way to carry out a one-name study. Much depends on the size of the study, the researcher's objectives in performing such a study, and also of course their resources in terms of time, skills, and equipment.

However, those members of the Guild of One-Name Studies who are indeed carrying out one-name studies themselves represent a fount of knowledge and experience. Many of them regularly and freely share their expertise with other members of the Guild, at Seminars, Conferences, on the Guild’s mailing list, and - especially - via the Wiki. The Wiki was set up to provide a repository for this combined wisdom, and with currently well over 150 pages contributed it is clear that it is meeting its objectives admirably.

This book attempts to bring together in a printed format the advice, information, and expertise contributed by these members to the Guild Wiki. In accordance with its printed format, it aims to present primarily the general advice given in the Wiki, rather than the very many Wiki pages giving links to sources, etc., which are not only more suited to an online format but also much more liable to frequent change.

Details of the Guild’s facilities can be found at: www.one-name.org/guildsvces.html - where you can find:

• more about undertaking a one-name study
• the benefits of joining the Guild of One-Name Studies, and the assistance members of the Guild can provide to anyone researching their family history on any of the 8,000 plus names currently being researched

Anne Shankland, the Editor of the Guild Wiki book, said today
"For some time Guild members have been asking for a book on how to do a one-name study. And what better than a book on one-name studies that knowledgeable Guild members have written themselves! My thanks to all the contributors to the Wiki, and I trust the book will be useful to those either running, or thinking of starting, a one-name study."