Product Description
The definitive guide to Jewish genealogical research. Written by more than 60 authors, all experts in their own field. The list of authors is a veritable "Who's Who in Jewish Genealogy." Its more than 100 chapters cover all important aspects of the rich body of information available to do Jewish genealogical research. Each chapter in "Researching by Country of Ancestry" typically has (1) history of the Jewish presence in the country, (2) what records are available, (3) how to access records, (4) address of repositories and other institutions, (5) bibliography, and (6) Internet addresses. This book is of immense value to both the novice or the experienced researcher. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive
PACKAGING: Nicely bound.Good cover art.When teh dust jacket tears, the hardcover beneath it is identical.Attractive, readable font.

SCOPE AND FORMAT: The first few hundred pages cover all the basic topics concisely: naming traditions, migration history, rabbinical genealogy, immigration records, American vital records, overseas records, etc.Very few topics are missed (I would have liked to have seen more on photos and family hierlooms).

The majority of this massive book, however, is an alphabetical treatment of the specific issues of research in various country -- everything from Norway, with a handful of Jews, up to the major spots like Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine.Each country gets about 1-8 pages.

Therefore, if your known Jewish ancestors are from just 2 or 3 countries, as is the case for most, then 95 percent of the last 400 pages of the book will be irrelevant to you.

My biggest complaint: NO INDEX!But the chapters are short and well-organized, making it easy to navigate.GREAT bibliographies at the ends of each chapter suggest trails of further research.

QUALITY: VERY high.The contributors are all masters of their topics.The writing style, for the most part, is clear and lively.The essays are written to be assible for beginners, but also contain plenty of helpful material for even the most experienced genealogist.

The articles are pretty current.Most seem to have been written in 2003.

My advice -- please get this book.Its a joy.If purchased along with Barbara Krasner-Khait 's Discovering Your Jewish Ancestors (2001) its all you need for general handbooks.(Krasner-Kahait covers other topics like heirlooms and photos in more depth and takes a more anecdotal, case-study approach, which complements and illustrates this Avotaynu nicely).

Added bonus -- we really need to support Avotaynu.They are doing such important work.Consider buying a copy for your public library too.And subscribe to the excellent Avotaynu journal.

... Read more

Amazon.com
Genealogy Online presents a lot of information, much (but not all) of it having to do with finding facts about family lineage on the Internet. Mostly, this is a directory of big genealogy Web sites, newsgroups, mailing lists, and commercial services. It's also an introduction to Web communities and the tools you need to participate in them. These are the things you'll need to understand in order to extract and contribute information about your heritage as part of the Internet community.

Elizabeth Powell Crowe covers RootsWeb, the ROOTS-L mailing list, AfriGeneas, and the remarkable online genealogy resources maintained by the Mormon Church. She also pays attention to the Golden Gate forum on America Online and some of CompuServe's genealogy forums. There's some coverage of standalone family-history software like Family Tree Maker and some useful information about genealogical concepts like Ahnentafels numbers.

Genealogy Online would be better if it included more information about obscure Internet resources sites having to do with particular families or small ethnic groups. There are enough of these to make an annotated directory worthwhile. The author also could dispense with most of the general Internet how-to information, which occupies a lot of this book. --David WallBook Description

The bestselling ancestry research guide--updated with new sites and resources

Using this fully revised, detailed guide, anyone with a computer and an interest in family history can successfully embark on a genealogical research project, locate family roots, and possibly find new family members. Genealogy Online, Eighth Edition explores the vast world of ancestry-related networks, websites, and online services and explains how they all work.

You will discover how to organize a search, where to begin, where to go on the Web to find specific types of genealogical information, and how to use online tools effectively and efficiently. Techniques for tracking, organizing, analyzing, and sharing research are included. This expert guide will help you break down the walls that obscure family histories and save time and money in the process.

Customer Reviews (12)

Online up to date?
While a good read with good directions, please check the copyright date. Anyone online knows how fast a book can become obsolete.

How to organize a search, where to begin, where to go
This newly revised and expanded seventh edition of Elizabeth Crowe's Genealogy Online is a thoroughly "user friendly', 432 page, hands-on, instructional resource which will enable even the most novice genealogist to deftly explore the truly vast resources of ancestry related networks, Web sites, and genealogical online services. Crowe authoritatively explains how to determine and access which ones best suit individual genealogist's purposes. Genealogy Online clearly, step-by-step, shows how to organize a search, where to begin, where to go on the Web, and how to use chat rooms, mailing lists, and Usenet effectively. No genealogical research reference shelf can be considered either complete or up-to-date without the inclusion of this impressive new edition of Elizabeth Crowe's Genealogy Online!

Good & Bad points..
Not so suprising that there's such disparity in the reviews of this book.Especially since most every review I read so far was true.

This book is good if:you are a genealogist NEW to the net.A lot of ground is covered, in terms of what kinds of software is needed (over an above the venerable genealogical database), as well as how to act/speak/do online.

This book is bad if:you've been online for more than a week.Too much ground is covered... well... look at the paragraph above... :)

I've found that some of the information she presents is a bit dated, but not so much so that a new user will terribly embarrass themselves by relying on it.

Overall, for myself (as a computer consultant of 15+ years) it did have some information to impart.Not necessarily enough to make this a "must have", but worth a read and recycle.

All you need to get started
I disagree with the review that says it's too American. There is a chapter on international genealogical resources and in the chapters on RootsWeb, FamilySearch and general search sites it shows how to search for genealogies beyond North America. In all it's a good book to get you started in online genealogy.

Technologically Inept and Too American-centric
I found this book a real disappointment. Anybody with more than rudimentary Web surfing skills with the ability to type "family history" in a decent search engine is likely to get more useful information than from this book.

For a "fifth edition", I expected a technically more competant exploration of geneological sources worldwide, rather than a book which devotes pages covering such material as spam email addresses, emoticons (i.e. "smileys"), and a lot of material which covers Web surfing basics. I would have liked to have seen more "meat" on how to get the most out of the online sources listed in the book.

Much of my ancestry of British + European origin, and again I was disappointed by the relative lack of information on the wealth of online info sources in this area that are available. The American-centric approach is a good one if your family has been in the States for several generations, but unless you're a native American, chances are good you have roots elsewhere.

Save your money, read the reviews here, and find a book that will better serve you in your geneological search. ... Read more

Book Description
"I teach the kings of their ancestors so that the lives of the ancients might serve them as an example, for the world is old but the future springs from the past."
Mamadou Kouyate "Sundiata", An Epic of Old Mali, a.d. 1217-1257

Two major questions of the ages are: Who am I? and Where am I going? From the moment the first African slaves were dragged onto these shores, these questions have become increasingly harder for African-Americans to answer. To find the answers, you first must discover where you have been, you must go back to your family tree--but you must dig through rocky layers of lost information, of slavery--to find your roots.

During the Great Migration in the 1940s, when African-Americans fled the strangling hands of Jim Crow for the relative freedoms of the North, many tossed away or buried the painful memories of their past. As we approach the new millennium, African-Americans are reaching back to uncover where we have been, to help us determine where we are going.

Finding a Place Called Home is a comprehensive guide to finding your African-American roots and tracing your family tree. Written in a clear, conversational, and accessible style, this book shows you, step-by-step, how to find out who your family was and where they came from.

Beginning with your immediate family, Dr. Dee Parmer Woodtor gives you all the necessary tools to dig up your past: how to interview family members; how to research your past using census reports, slave schedules, property deeds, and courthouse records; and how to find these records. Using the Internet for genealogical research is also discussed in this timely and necessary book.

Finding a Place Called Home helps you find your family tree, and helps place it in the context of the garden of African-American people. As you learn how to find your own history, you learn the history of all Africans in the Americas, including the Caribbean, and how to benefit from a new understanding of your family's history, and your people's.

Finding a Place Called Home also discusses the growing family reunion movement and other ways to clebrate newly discovered family history.

Tomorrow will always lie ahead of us if we don't forget yesterday. Finding a Place Called Home shows how to retrieve yesterday to free you for all of your tomorrows.

Finding a Place Called Home:  An African-American Guide to Genealogy and Historical Identity takes us back, step-by-step, including: Methods of searching and interpreting records, such as marriage, birth, and death certificates, census reports, slave schedules, church records, and Freedmen's Bureau information.

  Interviewing and taking inventory of family members
  Using the Internet for genealogical purposes
  Information on tracing Caribbean ancestry ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Probably the best thing published on this subject
African-American genealogy is a field that few non-Black researchers know very much about, myself included. The essentials of family research are generally the same, of course, and this well-written book reflects that -- but there are also a great many special considerations, techniques, and applications of old ideas that Woodtor presents clearly and in detail. Several chapters lay out the basic principles for the novice: Working backward from the living generation, moving from the known to the unknown, developing good research habits, checking all the sources, and so on. But they also point out the importance of oral tradition among African-American families, the necessity of identifying the last slave owner, and the tendency among many families to "disremember" unpleasant periods or relationships in the past. The author also relies on anecdotes, mostly from her own family, to illustrate the research process and to warn of special problems the researcher may encounter. A number of important topics are discussed at length, most of which I had only the most superficial knowledge of. Among these were the several extended exoduses during the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the great out-migration from Edgefield County, South Carolina to Tennesse, Arkansas, and (via Charleston) to Liberia; the "exodusters" movement of 1878-1879 from most of the Od South to Kansas and the Midwest; and the effects of World War I on the formation of a Black artisan and middle-class. Even searching the censuses of 1870-1920 brings special problems for the African-American researcher, since race was often incorrectly reported and surnames often changed over time. Another important consideration is possible enlistment in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War; this is especially true for Louisiana (my special research area), which supplied more enlistees than any other state, North or South. There are several rules to keep in mind in working your way back before 1865: The smaller the slave owner, the fewer the records created. Rather than analyzing nuclear families, one will be looking at lists of slaves in an effort to reconstruct kinship ties. The general principle of working slowly from the present to the past tends to break down in slave research, with very wide gaps between records. In order to understand the movement and selling of more than one million slaves in the South between 1790 and 1860, one must understand the principles and mechanics of the slave trade. And, perhaps most important, the genealogy of slaves is the genealogy of slave owners. The author also explains the reasons behind "protective" slavery and slave ownership by free Blacks, the place of free Blacks in the North before the Civil War, and the question of American Indian ancestry among African-Americans. Several closing chapters discuss special topics, including Caribbean ancestry, sources of African-American institutional records, genealogical research at family reunions, and what to do with your research. I highly recommend this volume to any and all genealogists, regardless of race or ethnicity.

a superb discussion of evidence and sources
Dee Parmer Woodtor, Finding a Place Called Home:A Guide toAfrican-American Genealogy and Historical Identity (New York: Random House,1999) is a superb discussion of resources and methods, with awell-developed (and essential) emphasis on interpreting evidence fromrecords.Includes examples and case studies throughout.The best book ofits genre yet written.

I heartily applaud Dee's efforts
The book itself is beautifully laid out with photos, tables, quotes and sample documents. But don't let the good looks fool you! This book has real meat to it! I heartily applaud Dee's efforts to:

describe the type of records available

suggest how to organize research

handle thedelicacies of slave trading, and the consequential short history of manyAfrican Americans

discuss the usefulness of tracing European ancestry

assist you in finding your own voice during the process

guide readersto a thoughtful presentation of results.

Chapter headingsinclude:

Regaining Our Collective Memory, Reclaiming a Lost FamilyTradition

Beginning Your Genealogical Pursuit

Techniques & Tools

Your Ancestors on Record: The importance of documenting the life cycle

A Place Called Down Home

Unraveling the ties that Bound 1870-1920

Finding Freedom's Generation 1860-1865

Close to Kin, but StillWaiting for Forty Acres and a Mule - Searching for your ancestors duringthe reconstruction

A Long Way to Freedom - The genealogy of your slaveancestors

The Last Slave and the Last Slave Owner

The Records ofSlavery

Reconstructing Families and Kinship in the Slave Community

The Records Freedom Generated

The Last African & the FirstAmerican

Conclusion - Family Reunions & Regaining a CollectiveMemory

Special topics include:

Sources for Advanced Research in SlaveGenealogy

African American Institutional Records

Caribbean Ancestry

American Indian Ancestry

World Wars I & II

What to Do withYour Research - Writing family memoirs or the family story, and 101genealogy research projects waiting to be done

Further Note on CountyCourthouse Records

Personal Recordkeeping with exercises for Beginners

African American and Genealogy Web Sites

African American GenealogySocieties in the United States and Canada.

Dee's bibliography,referenced by chapter, is found on 24 pages of closely spaced lettering --a literal MUST READ set of resources to augment her offerings.

Notablecomments, which ring true to my understanding include:

"...Once youfind the last slave owner, you are using his family history and genealogyas a guide to identify his recorded transactions that named slaves he andhis extended family owned over time using primarily the family's personalrecords, if you can find them, and any public transactions that theyrecorded at the courthouse. " p 275.

"Dotted throughout theSouth are thousands of small African American Churches of every knownProtestant denomination.If there are now approximately 65,000 AfricanAmerican Churches in the United States, over half of them must be in thesouth.

A recent survey reported that 70 percent of African Americansattend church.In each and every county of the historical Black Belt andin every small place where Black folks lived during slavery, you will findthat they established independent churches within a few decades ofemancipation. Many were extensions of churches established during slaveryor through a bequest by a former slave owner."p 107.

RegardingAfrican Americans serving in the military during the US Civil War from page148: "Anoder ting is, suppose you had kept your freedom withoutenlisting in dis army; your chillen might have grown up free and been wellcultivated as to be equal to any business, but it would have been alwaysthrown in dere faces --"Your fater never fought for his ownfreedom." Private Thomas Long, 1st Carolina South Colunteers Cited inBenjamin Quarles, The Negro in the Civil War.

The author, Dee Woodtor,is a member of the Genealogy Forum staff

copyright 2000

A must for a genealogy library
Best book on the market for a genealogical researcher.It is easy to read and reviews in detail, how to reseach your ancestor, who may have once been a slave.It reviews records that other guides do not explain or may notknow exist.Finding this book, when I hit the brick wall was heaven sent. Not only did it help me decide what to do next, but it also help me toreview the work I had did before and to see what steps I had missed.Thisbook should be recommended reading for all genealogical researchers,beginners and advanced.Even though this book details African-Americanresearching, it could be used for all types of genealogical researching.

A wonderful addition to a genealogist's library.
As a serious researcher for over twenty years of various ethnic origins, regions and time periods, I found this book to be packed with information and encouragement for anyone researching African Americans.She not only includes hundreds of resources but gives examples of what you may find. She continually encourages the reader to keep looking and finding slaveancestors is not impossible.She also dimisses many myths about the livesof slaves as well as slaveholders.The book is very readable, for thebeginner or experienced researcher. It is particularly helpful for someonewho believes they have hit a brick wall. The author has combined her bookinto a "book of sources" with a "how-to book" in a mostsuccessful manner.Other genealogy writers would profit by studying hermethodology. ... Read more

Book Description
Genealogy is one of the hottest topics on the Internet, with thousands of sites, forums, and newsgroups clamoring to help--or confuse--family history sleuths. How do you cut through the noise and find the best tools to trace your roots? This opinionated guide can help. Zeroing in on the science of online genealogical research, author Pamela Rice Hahn shows you how to:
* Map out a research strategy
* Target the best Internet resources>
* Dig up info and swap leads with other researchers
* Evaluate genealogy software
* Steer clear of hype, dead ends, and time-wasters
* Organize a family reunion ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A BIT TOO SIMPOLISTIC BUT GOOD INDEX
This book is a bit too simplistic but if used as a reference, looking up what you need via the index, it is fine. Otherwise it reads like a dictionary or an encyclopedia.

Far from the best, but not bad
It seems there's a new computer-genealogy "how to" book being released every month -- more the result of the marketing department's presumed wisdom than because we need yet another such volume. This is especially true when genealogy is simply one in a long line of topics: There are now "Unofficial Guides" to wine, children, stock picking, job interviews, and menopause. However, each volume in this series is prepared with the assistance of a panel of experts -- in this case Matthew Helm (publisher of the JOURNAL OF ONLINE GENEALOGY), John Scroggins (who received the FGS Award of Merit for his efforts in increasing public access to government files of interest to family researchers), and Tim Stowell (active in the USGenWeb project). Actually, the advice and information you'll receive here is pretty good, including setting up a computer workspace, the difference between primary and secondary sources, setting your research goals, managing your information as you find it, how to find genealogy web sites (method as well as a list of addresses), strategic tips for online research, the proper use of search engines and online library catalogs, creating personal genealogy web pages, and publishing a book as well as publishing to the web. The style is not unlike the popular "Dummies' Guides," with tips, time-savers, caveats, and informative sidebars scattered throughout.

Great sources for online genealogy research
Author Pamela Rice Hahn has written a book that is aimed at genealogists hoping to learn more about using the power and advantages of the Internet to assist them in their search for information about their ancestors. Each chapter in the book covers the basics of learning about genealogy while recommending web sites that will supplement the information presented.
The first chapter describes some of the common documents that every genealogist needs to have in their family files. Learning what to expect from an online search for records is an important lesson. Even though the number of vital records available online is increasing every day, you will still find the bulk of your documents at courthouses, libraries and archives. Chapter 2 gives ideas and tips for organizing your home work space and getting online. Since you are reading this online article, I'll assume that you've handled that part of the setup.

The next two chapters cover organizing all the accumulated papers, charts, and forms that you will be collecting at an alarming rate. The advice I found most helpful was the idea of setting up a research notebook that includes enough information to aid you in your research trips without bogging you down with copies of every record in your collection. This section also includes ideas for setting up a full filing system and choosing a genealogy database software.

Chapter 5 describes the various types of information available online. Choosing a Web-based email service, learning about the options available in full-fledged email programs, and subscribing to newsgroups and email lists are topics that are covered in this chapter. This is followed by a chapter covering some of the major genealogy web sites and how to maximize your time while surfing.

The remaining chapters cover in greater detail the various types of information that you should be collecting and which web sites may offer the most help in your search. Topics include search engine tips, immigration, census records, libraries, courthouse research and preservation of family photographs. Chapter 14 contains suggestions to aid you in setting up your own genealogy web site. Several appendices finish out this content-rich book.

I never knew I could do this!
I have been interested in Genealogy for some time now and never thought it was possible to pursue it so thoroughly the Internet! One of the reasons that I bought this book is that I am not an "Internet expert" by any stretch. In the process of learning how to find information on genealogy I learned a few things about my computer. I live way up in Canada and regardless of where you live, this book is a must have for anyone interested in the subject.

I especially liked the step-by-step process that begins with teaching you first how to use the necessary tools to accomplish your goals and ending with results you were after. In any subject that interests me I hate to buy a book that reminds me of the dry texts I read back in school. I have seen them while wandering bookstores and despite the fact the subject interests me I will not buy it. This book was nothing like any of those books, which was very refreshing.

* Helps anyone not particularly well versed in the Internet get started with learning the necessary tools.
* Takes a well thought out step-by-step approach to attainting your ultimate goal.
* I thought it was very well laid out and easy to read.

Can't get all the information you need without this book!
For a lot of people, the courthouse is where the search for the bulk of your family's background research begins. This book has great information on how to go about getting the most out of that research.

*I also like how the author put all of the links from the book online at GenelogyTips.com. That means I don't have to type them in; she's done it for me!

*I recommend this book because the writing is easy to understand yet full of information. ... Read more

Book Description
The modern world of genealogy combines the traditional methods of research with the awesome power of computers and the Internet, a combination so powerful that it has transformed the way we do genealogy. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to train the researcher in this new methodology, tying the fundamentals of genealogical research to the infrastructure of computers and web sites. In other words, it is a manual for modern genealogy--designed for the beginner but useful even to the most seasoned researcher.

With our growing reliance on electronic databases, computer programs, and Internet resources, genealogical research, for all practical purposes, will never be the same. And yet in many respects it will be the same, for the principles of sound genealogical research are immutable, and this book shows how to combine traditional research methods in the National Archives, the LDS Family History Library, and other major resource centers with today=s technology; how to conduct research in courthouse records, censuses, and vital records using techniques unheard of just a decade ago. It shows you how to get started in your family history research; how to organize your family papers; how to enter information into a genealogy computer program so that you can easily manage, store, and retrieve your data; how to analyze the data and place it in various tables, charts, and forms; and how to put together a family history notebook--all the while using conventional records sources with a modern search and retrieval system.

Furthermore, the book contains guidelines for using public libraries, courthouses, and archives. It also explains how to use LDS Family History Centers and the Regional Records Services Facilities of the National Archives, and it provides a step-by-step guide for using the records in each facility, including background information showing how to obtain vital, probate, military, immigration, and census records--all carefully coordinated with the ever-present backdrop of computers and the Internet.

Mrs. Cliffords new book is also designed as an instructional manual, and each chapter of the book is a self-contained teaching module containing the following elements.:

*The main body of the text provides instruction supported by illustrations, charts, and examples.
* AYour Turn@ activities serve as prompts, asking the reader to apply the instruction to his or her own research needs.
*Chapter assignments serve as review and comprehension checks.
*Computer checklists give the reader hands-on experience with his or her own genealogy computer program.
*Web site addresses listed at the end of each chapter guide the reader to valuable Internet resources related to the topics.
*Entries in chapter bibliographies serve as resources for further study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Genealogy and geneaology but no internet
The title of this book is a bit deceptive. It doesn't focus much on the computer aspect of genealogy; instead it primarily sticks to traditional how-to material for beginning genealogists.Also, the computer related material is designed for the never-picked-up-a-mouse-before neophyte. If you have any computer experience at all, skip this book & get one on genealogy basics.You are better off exploring your software and the internet for yourself.

An indispensable manual for modern genealogy
Karen Clifford is a renowned professional genealogist and instructor who brings to bear her considerable expertise in The Complete Beginner's Guide To Genealogy, The Internet, And Your Genealogy Computer Program, an indispensable manual for modern genealogy designed for the beginner but replete with useful information and advice for even the most experienced and seasoned genealogist. This superbly presented instruction and reference book is an essential, core title for any personal, professional, academic, or genealogical society collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Professional Genealogy is a manual by professionals for everyone serious about genealogy. For librarians who struggle to help a whole new class of patrons, it provides a bridge to the methods, sources, and minutiae of history, up-close and personal. For established genealogical professionals, it offers benchmarks by which they can advance their skills and place their businesses on sounder footing. For all those who dream of turning a fascinating hobby into a successful career, Professional Genealogy details the preparation and the processes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

If You're Serious About Your Genealogy...
This book was a splurge for me, but one that I can definitely say was well worth it! I thought I knew quite a bit about genealogy research, but this book has taught me so much more. Each chapter is written by a professional genealogist who specializes in the topic. While some chapters are geared towards genealogists starting their own research business, most are helpful to all genealogists. Lots of excellent examples of proper research methods and techniques.

Where's the book?
I ordered this book as a gift for a relative 6 weeks ago.After 2 delays the estimated ship date was still 4 weeks away.I contacted the pubilsher direct and they shipped the book the next day.Just an FYI.

A must have for Professional Genealogists and Hobbiests Alik
You don't have to be a professional to benefit immensely from Professional Genealogy.I purchased this book when I first began offering my services as a professional researcher, and wished I had acquired it sooner.

The book is filled with useful information for professional and hobbyist alike, such as tips on building a library of "essential texts" (including an extensive list of resources for ethnic research), samples of research reports and guidelines for proper reporting, steps for determining the validity of a document, as well as the validity of published research...the list goes on.

Each chapter has been created by a different expert in the field of genealogy, it is well cited, and gives a list of further recommended reading.

I used this text everyday as I was developing my company, and it walked me through the complicated process of writing business plans, creating and executing contracts, organizing, filing, and marketing.This is the perfect gift for the aspiring professional, or anyone who is serious about genealogical research.

Of immense practical value in the field
Ably edited by Elizabeth Mills, Professional Genealogy: A Manual For Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, And Librarians is a core title for any private or professional genealogical reference book collection. Family historians wanting to do independent study, genealogy students needed to familiarize themselves with research standards and resources, professionals in search of benchmarks against which to measure their skills and expertise, will find Professional Genealogy to be an expansive (680 pages) encyclopedia text and indexed reference of immense practical value in the field of genealogical research and recording.

Professional Genealogy
This comprehensive manual for professional genealogists is a "must have" for any serious genealogical researcher. Each chapter, which contains sections written by 23 professional genealogists,covers a different aspect of using professional skills to produce quality work.The topics covered include every aspect of professional genealogy, from legalities and ethics, to education, research, compiling research reports, and publishing.Although the manual is intended for professional genealogists, I would strongly recommend it to every hobbyist. There are chapters which are obviously more useful to the professional, such as, "Career Management", but most of the topics simply pertain to producing quality work, and would benefit the serious hobbyist. With 654 pages, it covers the same amount of material as several "lighter" books. It would be hard to imagine a question that is not covered by this manual, which is destined to become the standard in this field. ... Read more

Book Description
Young people have the wonderful opportunity to record their family history as they are living it day to day, but it can be a challenge to arouse students' interest in genealogy, so the right approach is essential. Here is a guide to offering older children and teenagers a personalized journey through history with a little geography on the side; teaching the art of climbing the family tree; and developing the detective skills necessary to discover missing pieces and family secrets.

This unique book opens with a brief overview, followed by a teachers manual and class lessons for both beginning and intermediate genealogy classes. Well-structured lesson plans introduce students to essential genealogical tools such as maps, oral history collection, and research methods. The Junior Genealogy Workbook section contains all the forms necessary to make your class a success: pedigree charts, correspondence logs, IGI forms, microfiche forms, cemetery research forms, land deed research forms, census forms, etc. All these forms are also contained in the Young People's Workbook for Junior Genealogy Classes. ... Read more

Book Description
This is a carefully thought-out introduction to the methods and principles ofgenealogical research written for the beginner and calculated to entertain while producingresults. It shows how to start research and how to find clues in family keepsakes andmemorabilia, and it introduces important sources of information such as census records, churchrecords, the vital records of birth, marriage, and death, probate and land records, and the infinitearray of public records. It also explains the origins and uses of these records in the context of theresearch process, and it does so while conveying a sense of fun and excitement. The author iswell qualified for she is a teacher of genealogy and a professional genealogist. ... Read more

Book Description
This major contribution to young adult genealogy studies helps create ethnic pride, self-esteem, and awareness of the extraordinary accomplishments each ethnic group has brought to the American experience. Designed for use in grades 6-12, this important new series explores the creation of the American people while promoting the use and understanding of solid research techniques. Oryx American Family Tree Series enhances the social studies curriculum--especially the thematic strands in the New Curriculum Standards for Social Studies--* culture, time, continuity, and change* people, places and environment* individual development and identity* individuals, groups, and institutions* power, authority, and governance* global connectionsWhile using the volumes in this series, young adults experience a uniquely personalized opportunity to practice the historians craft as they learn how to collect data, obtain and evaluate documents and sources, use the latest electronic tools for researching, and conduct and record eyewitness accounts of historical events in family life. The volumes carefully describe the challenges unique to researching each ethnic group or region. Also explained are the "why" and "how" of tracing their roots if users are adopted or come from nontraditional families. Also, each book in the series provides basic historical and cultural background information.As young adults explore their cultural heritage, they gain self-esteem, personal identity, and ethnic pride.Each volume in the Oryx American Family Tree Series is packed with hundreds of annotated bibliographic references for print, electronic, and media sources, as well as many helpful organizations. Every book is lavishly illustrated with 4-color and black and white photographs throughout and features a glossary and an index. The series is published in sturdy 6" x 9" casebound volumes of approximately 200 pages printed on acid-free paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Wealth of Practical Advice for Indexers!
Kathleen Spaltro has assembled a wonderful collection of experts in the field of genealogical indexing. Collectively, they will walk you through the process of indexing, highlight common mistakes to avoid, and share some of their experiences that will help make your own publishing efforts successful ... you won't want to put this book down, for it holds many of the secrets needed to take our diligent, yet often disorganized, genealogical world into the future -- a well-indexed future!

Illya J. D'Addezio
Genealogy Today ... Read more

Book Description
Anyone interested in discovering their family genealogy should carry a copy of this book everywhere. Written by internationally recognized expert, George G. Morgan, this book is an irreplaceable resource for beginner to expert knowledge gatherers. Not only does Morgan explain how to get the search started – creating a family tree, locating and evaluating documents, selecting the appropriate hardware and software for the search – he goes steps further and dedicates an entire section to research methods and strategies where he discusses, among other topics, getting past “dead ends,” and organizing possible research travel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

comprehensive but tedious reference
This book is certainly comprehensive... it covers the expected range of genealogy topics, from vital records to selecting technology tools and planning a genealogy research trip.

But, for all the value that thorough and linear thinking has in the field of genealogy research, Morgan's writing style is unnecessarily tedious.For example, when talking about pedigree charts, he describes how you write your own name on line number one, then actually goes out of the way to explain to us that "the next pair of lines is numbered 2 and 3" before describing to us what these next lines are all about.And though he does devote some text to technology, this is discussed mostly in separate chapters at the end and he fails to incorporate as a central theme the role technology can play in alleviating the tedium of research.

In short, this book could have been written in half as many pages without losing much on substance.It's definitely not the kind of book you can read from cover-to-cover, even chapter-by-chapter.I found the Genealogy Handbook by Ellen Galford to be a much better starting point.However, given the comprehensiveness of this book and its decent index, this book still maintains some value as a reference.

How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy
I am so pleased with this book!. It gives the genealogist concrete information on research, organizing and presenting your work. Personal examples are very helpful. I wouls recommend this book to any family historian.

A great book for new genealogists
This is a great "how to" book for beginning genealogists and a good reference book for anyone searching for their ancestors.

Comprehensive
I'm new at genealogy, but I'm having a lot of fun learning about my ancestors. This book explains absolutely everything about locating your family in history, particularly how to use the internet to find out about your ancestors. Read a chapter, then follow its summary to locate a great, great, great grandparent.

A First Class Reference For All Genealogists
When I first began researching my genealogy in the 1980's, I made sure that I read all the "how-to-do-it" books in print.I had quickly learned that I was becoming involved in something more than looking at a census or filling out a chart.Learning from others with more experience helped me develop my research skills and saved me from a lot of trial and error learning.As genealogy has become one of the most popular pursuits, the need for guidance has grown, too.The number of those "how-to" books has increased, but some offer more than others, especially since technology has come to play such a large role in our research.This book fills a real need.

From beginning with home resources to making use of all the technology available, George gives his readers 472 pages of first class advice and information.The book is intensely readable, and the examples are clear and to the point.Both the beginner and the advanced researcher will benefit from chapters on using the Internet, locating advanced records, and following alternate paths to find the records you need.

One of the best features of the book is the chapter "Plan A Very Successful Genealogical Research Trip". When spending the time, effort, and cashto get to a research locality, we want to be as successful as possible.Planning is the key.George gives step-by-step directions to get prepared and uses practical examples to illustrate just how to do this.I know I will be more successful on my next trip because of things I learned here. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on January 8, 2003. The length of the article is 1100 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Historian helps people research Civil War ties.(General News)(Genealogy: Clay Feeter will appear at Books on Main in Cottage Grove today.)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: January 8, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: D1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Roots for Kids is based on a twelve-week course the author developed for herfourth grade class. While the book is suitable for adoption by teachers seeking to supplementtheir middle school social studies curriculum with material on family history, its principal usewill be by and with individual young people. The author moves slowly and carefully, as shetakes young readers through an introduction to genealogy, to discussions of their families andtheir parents families . . . learning how to ask questions (oral history) . . . researching local, stateand national records . . . using libraries and historical societies . . . much more. In short, Roots for Kids will teach youngsters how to create a simple family tree and give themboth the tools and appetite to learn more about their roots and to uncover the stories and eventsthat make them and their families unique. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The BEST of the genealogy books
Purchased this book on the recommendation of a genealogist.She was right.It is NOT just for kids.The charts in the back have been an exceptional help in keeping me organized. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The Helms have put together an excellent introductory guide to doing genealogical research online. They've avoided the usual trap of organizing their book by resources, which may be easy for the author but makes it harder on the user. So instead of devoting this chapter to useful Web sites, that chapter to valuable newsgroups, and so forth, they've organized the book in a way closer to the way you'd organize good family research.

They begin with a series of chapters on preparation, including doing initial groundwork, developing a plan, picking the names to begin researching, and locating ancestors geographically. Next, they deal with the means for finding valuable records and then delve into getting the most from your resources. Chapter 8, for example, discusses organizing and presenting your findings, while chapter 9 deals with cooperating with other researchers so that you can all be more effective (and probably make some new friends in the bargain).

As is always the case with a Dummies series book, the Helms present a "Part of Tens" section, in this case four chapters each covering 10 top online genealogical sites, tips for designing your genealogical Web page, sites for beginners, and general tips for "smooth sailing." An enclosed CD-ROM contains nine genealogy programs plus a wide assortment of Internet tools and utilities. --Elizabeth LewisBook Description
If you have an interest in genealogy, a wealth of information is at your fingertips. You can correspond with family members who live in far-off lands. You can research the history of a particular area and find images of historical documents without setting foot outside your home. You can discover resources that you never suspected to be helpful in your pursuit of your family history. And you can do all of it by using your computer and the Internet.

Genealogy For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is for you if you're looking to fill in your family tree, zero in on the best online sites, access government records, or share data with other researchers. This easy-to-use guide is also for you if

Book Description
Genealogy Basics Online is an important resource for the beginner researching family history.More than just a list of helpful Web sites, this book provides tips for how to manage a structured search for family surnames and documents such as birth, death and marriage certificates.Even with little or no Internet experience, Genealogy Basics Online can show anyone how to begin using the vast resources of the World Wide Web to facilitate genealogical research. The Internet is a virtually limitless resource for genealogy research.Given the ease of communication, as well as the global distribution of individuals researching family histories, more people than ever are discovering detailed genealogical information that would have been difficult or impossible to access before. Genealogy Basics Online goes beyond simply listing genealogical Web sites by including reviews of the sites listed, as well as tips for how to get the best results from searching them. Whether you use AOL or another ISP, surf like a pro or barely get your feet wet checking e-mail, Genealogy Basics Online can help you get to the roots of your family tree. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

GENEALOGY RESEARCH JUST GOT EASIER
Cherri's book is well organized and provides all the basics needed to start researching your ancestors online.I spent a couple of hours with her book and my computer and was quite happy with the positive results I received in such a short amount of time.I was able to successfully research my great-grandmother's ancestors all the way back to the 1600's!It's a great book, easy to use and full of helpful tips.

A superb introduction for the novice genealogist
Genealogy Basics Online: A Step-By-Step Guide To Searching And Finding Your Ancestors On The Internet is a superb introduction for the novice genealogist on using the Internet as a tool in their genealogical research. Cherri Flinn draws upon her considerable experience and expertise to review genealogical websites and offer practical, time-saving tips for searching them. There is even a virtual tour of courthouses and genealogy libraries around the country. Beginners are shown how they can even take genealogy lessons over the Internet! Genealogy Basics Online is an essential, core, "how to" reference title for personal and professional genealogy reference collections and training course reading lists.

A great resource!
I have always been interested in knowing where my ancestors came from.Before she died, my best source for family information was my grandmother.I bought Cherri Flinn's bookand was able to trace my family back to 1589in about 20 minutes!Her book has so manyneat sources of information.Iwould highly recommend this as a reference book for anyone interested ingenealogy research.

Small town gal - Big time book!
When I opened Cherri Flinn's book Genealogy Basics Online, I expected to find a well written, "how-to" book for the beginner or intermediate family historian. What I found instead, was a marvelouswritten book that should prove helpful to any family historian frombeginner to seasoned veteran.

By her own admission, what sets thisbook apart is its simplicity. Genealogy Basics Online does gently guide thereader through the Internet and provides all the tools necessary forhelping anyone succeed in finding family history information on theInternet.

I have been doing family history for twenty years and haveused the Internet for the better part of the last ten years, yet I foundsomething I could use the very first time I opened the book.

Cherrisuggests "Keep this book by your computerand and refer to itoften." How true. What she could have said was, "This may be theonly "how-to" book you will ever need while working on GenealogyOnline.

A wonderful book.

Joe Hutchcraft 03/30/00 ... Read more

Book Description
first published in 1977, black genealogy remains a unique guide guide among standard genealogical references.author charles blockson, a noted genealogist and african american historian, traced his own family roots back through the 18th century.along his journey, he discovered obstacles and advantages that make searching for black family history a rewarding experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Angry Polemics Mar Book
Unfortunately, I cannotnt recommend Charles L. Blockson, Black
Genealogy because so much of what he writes is either misleading or
unhelpful.Blockson's treatment of Black genealogical records for the
post-slavery era (after 1865) is somewhat adequate but pedestrian.
There are several other commonly-available books that address these
records much better.It is in his treatment of records from the
slavery period that Blockson does his readers the greatest disservice.
His experience with records of slavery seems to be limited to records
of Pennsylvania - which might account for his woefully inadequate
treatment of Southern legal records where most genealogists in search
of slave ancestors may need to look.Some of the most significant of
such records are probate records, deeds, conveyances, and lawsuits
- but the reader would never know it from reading this book.
Blockson devotes a total of only THREE SENTENCES to "wills,
estate inventories, and tax records" (p.71).According to the
single sentence devoted to tax records, their value is merely to
"prove that slaves were valuable assets to ironmasters in the
latter part of the eighteenth century." In his discussion of
Federal Census records (p.45), he says, "Slave schedules were
made for every state. . . with slaves listed under their owners'
names." He fails to explain that slaves are not named in these
censuses, but only listed by age and gender.There is no discussion
of the uses and shortfalls of the slave censuses. Rather than discuss
these most fruitful and likely sources, Blockson urges readers to seek
records of slave "breeding sessions" (p.72), to browse
museum collections for "slave collars" with names on them
(p.75), to search for "branding records" in county
courthouses and branding irons in museum collections (p.75)!These
bizarre recommendations are urged in spite of the fact that the author
does not offer a single example of such things (he admits that it is
"difficult to find any [courthouse branding] records
today"!).Furthermore, if museums have relics such as branding
irons, the author fails to show how finding them would help a
researcher trace his or her ancestors.On p.77, Blockson addresses
the relative difficulty of finding records of slave paternity compared
to slave maternity, but adds, "You may run into problems tracing
your DIRECT family line (father to father)." One has to wonder
why Blockson believes that tracing maternal ancestry is less
"direct" (and by implication, less satisfactory) than
tracing paternal ancestry.Blockson's book is punctuated with
lengthy, angry polemics against slavery and racism, which will
probably be unhelpful to most genealogical searches.The main
objective of Blockson's book seems to be to arouse his readers'
indignation at racism and the "inhuman system of slavery,"
rather than to lead researchers to records of their ancestors.




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