Genealogies of Noble Families as a Database for Social Science? Possibilities and Limits.

This paper examines the possibility of using genealogies of noble families as a source for social sciences, to analyse the social reality of noble families, during the transition from a class structured to a civil based society. Genealogies of noble families have been published since the 19th century, but they were stopped during the second world war. These publications were resumed in 1951. In these genealogies the following information of each person are published: Name and family name, date of birth and date of death. The same data, concerning the spouse, education, profession, information concerning an estate and membership in voluntary organisations was collated. The analysis of this mass data enables statements concerning the change of professions, to the number of marriages and to the mobility of marriage, to the number of children, to length of marriage and, to a certain extent, social participation. But there is a lack of data concerning the education, the professional career and the professions of the noble daughters. As an alternative source, there may be family histories, which were published for a number of families, which could be used. In this paper the differences, between family history and genealogies, will be presented in detail. Finally, with the help of a limited database, an exemplary inquiry can be made concerning the adaptation of the Saxon nobility to the norms of the civil society. In particular, the changes that have taken place in general and vocational education as well as the effects of the modified ways of vocational training on the occupation of the Saxon nobility during the 19th and 20th century will be analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]