Donald Lines Jacobus (3 October 1887 – 7 October 1970) is an American genealogist, a Fellow of The American Society of Genealogists, and the founder of The American Genealogist (TAG).

Early life and education

Jacobus was born on 3 October 1887 in New Haven, Connecticut, the only child of John Ira Jacobus (1855-1912), a banker, and Ida Wilmot Lines (1855-1952), daughter of Henry Lines. The Jacobus family's lineage can be traced back to Dutch origins, recorded in Albany, New York, in 1683. Jacobus received his education at Yale University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908, followed by a Master of Arts degree in 1911.

Career

Jacobus started working on his genealogical compendium Families of Ancient New Haven in 1912 and it was published in eight volumes between 1922 and 1932. This compendium came out as a part of The American Genealogist journal (originally called New Haven Genealogical Magazine) which Jacobus established in 1922. He served as editor and publisher of the journal until 1937. Other Jacobus's published works include: Jacobus became a distinguished Fellow of The American Society of Genealogists. Following his passing, his colleague Milton Rubincam described Jacobus as "the man who more than any other single individual elevated genealogy to the high degree of scholarship it now occupies."

Awards

Jacobus was the first genealogist to be included into the National Genealogy Hall of Fame by the National Genealogical Society. In 1972, the American Society of Genealogists established The Donald Lines Jacobus Award "to encourage sound scholarship in genealogical writing".

Personal life

Jacobus never married. He enjoyed the hobby of tracing the descendants of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, affectionately referring to them as "Ferdie and Izzie." Jacobus passed away at the Golden Manor Nursing Home in New Haven, Connecticut, on 7 October 1970 following an extended period of illness.