Chinese genealogical research: coordination and resource-sharing with a global perspective

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Chinese genealogical research in the United States with major emphasis on coordination and resource sharing with a global perspective, especially between the United States and China. It starts with an overview of Chinese genealogical and immigration history and provides an introduction to current trends in Chinese American genealogical research. The paper proceeds with discussions on various research barriers while doing research on the Chinese genealogical collections. The major section of this paper contains strategies for resource sharing and cooperative collection development in Chinese genealogies and offers recommendations for the cooperation and resource sharing of Chinese genealogical materials in the United States and China. The paper concludes with concerns on administrative responsibilities and recommendations for the future on implementation issues. A bibliography of suggested readings from books, articles, and Web resources is offered at the end of this paper for further consultation and research. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.