Genealogy How-To & Reference

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African American, Slavery Research:

Black Genesis: A Resource Book for African-American Genealogy
This edition provides researchers with information on resources and a methodology specific to African-American genealogy. It provides an overview of general research principles and a rundown of specific resources for all fifty states, Canada, and the West Indies.

Finding Your African American Ancestors: A Beginner Guide
There has never been a better time to research your African American ancestors. The same advances in technology that have created a boom in the exchange of information have made it possible for a family historian to cover great distances and conduct in-depth investigation for a fraction of the cost of a traditional research trip. Census schedules, plantation records, and military records, among other resources, are at your fingertips in the form of online databases, CD-ROMs, and individual websites. Finding Your African American Ancestors shows you the ever-expanding resources available to your ancestral quest.

How to Trace Your African-American Roots: Discovering Your Unique History

Slave Ancestral Research: It's Something Else
"...is a good story of one person's ten-year search in Georgia records (mainly Taylor and Crawford counties) with plenty of examples, illustrated by reproductions of original documents. Written in an appealing personal style, readers are taken through Ms. Jackson Fears' trials and triumphs in search of her slave ancestors. Along the way, we learn much about the strengths, weaknesses and even pitfalls of various types of records... This book is particularly useful to researchers in Georgia records, although there is much general applicablity to Southern records in general."


Cemetery Research:

Your Guide to Cemetery Research
Unlock the mysteries of your past with this fascinating book that illuminates the practice of cemetery research. You'll learn how to determine when and where a person died, interpret funerary art and tombstone iconography, make a rubbing of a headstone, and more! You'll also find an overview various burial customs, dozens of helpful sidebars, and a glossary of terms.


Census Research:

State Census Records
State censuses rank with federal censuses as a major genealogical resource, but, because they were taken randomly, remain a much under-utilized resource in American genealogy. State censuses not only stand as substitutes for some of the missing 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 censuses (as well as many county and statewide enumerations lost or destroyed between 1790 and 1890) but also as valuable population enumerations in their own right. Many state censuses, for example, asked different questions than the federal census, so they record information that cannot be found elsewhere in federal schedules.

Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920
The county has always been used as the basic Federal census unit. Genealogical research in the census, therefore, begins with identifying the correct county jurisdictions. This work shows all U.S. county boundaries from 1790 to 1920. On each of the nearly 400 maps the old county lines are superimposed over the modern ones to highlight the boundary changes at ten-year intervals. Also included is an essay on available sources for each state's old county lines. With each map there is data on boundary changes, notes about the census, and locality finding keys. There also are inset maps that clarify territorial lines and a state-by-state bibliography of sources. The detail in this work is exhaustive and of such impeccable standards that there is little wonder why this award-winning publication is the number one tool in U.S. census research.

Your Guide to the Federal Census: For Genealogists, Researchers, and Family Historians
Your Guide to the Federal Census acts as a personal "research assistant" for the beginning genealogist. Census Basics examines the nuts and bolts of census records and the types of information available. Finding Census Records and Indexes reveals where to view the censuses online and off, and how to find most ancestors quickly and easily. Using the Census offers step-by-step instructions covering nearly every scenario for tracing family histories in census records.


Ethnic & Cultural Research:

The German-American Research Set
If you are tracing your German-American heritage, the German-American Research Set will be invaluable. The Encyclopedia of German-American Genealogical Research is regarded as the best book for surveying "the material available to the genealogist seeking to link American lineages with their origins in German-speaking Europe." The emphasis of the work is on German genealogical research in America, with special focus on immigration records, German ethnic religious bodies in America, and manuscript and published source materials, both in America and Germany. Since names and name changes are bound to figure in your research, you will also want to have access to George Jones's German-American Names, our highly regarded A-Z dictionary consisting of the spellings, meanings, and variants of about 15,000 Germanic names. In addition, this unrivaled publication deals with the Americanization of some of these names, explaining the social and historical matters that contributed to the distinctive character of German-American names. Included also are a number of names that many of us would never have thought of as German.


Tracing Your Irish Ancestors
Arguably the best book ever written on Irish genealogy. Not since Margaret Falley’s Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestral Research, written in the early 1960s, has there been a book that combines all the best features of a textbook and a reference book, expertly describing the various steps in the research process while at the same time providing an indispensable body of source materials for immediate use. Now, updated to reflect the enormous changes brought about by the Internet, the new Third Edition of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors marks another huge step forward in Irish genealogy. Most importantly, a chapter has been added that deals specifically with the Internet, while a new online subsection showing county Internet sources has been added to each of the county source lists and, where possible, references have been given throughout for any online versions of the records dealt with.


Family History Library Help:

An Insider's Guide to the Family History Library


Female Ancestry:

A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Female Ancestors: Special Strategies for Uncovering Hard-To-Find Information About Your Female Lineage


General Genealogy Reference:

Genealogy As Pastime and Profession
A genealogy classic, this work describes the principles of genealogical research, the evaluation of evidence, and the relationship of genealogy to chronology, eugenics, and the law. It covers early nomenclature, Royal ancestry, the use of source material, and the methods of compiling and publishing a family history, and it also deals with characteristic blunders and misconceptions. It is the very foundation of scientific American genealogy.

Ancestry Reference Libary (ARL) 2000 Deluxe Edition
Introducing the ultimate genealogy reference set on CD-ROM -- now with 12 new titles for the same low price! Gain computer access to the full contents of twenty of the most important genealogy reference works in print -- fully indexed and instantly searchable. You'll function like a genealogy pro in no time. Here are the books included in this information-packed collection:
- The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy
- The Library: A Guide to the LDS Family History Library
- The Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical & Historical Research
- Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, & Town Sources
- The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches
- US Military Records: A Guide to Federal & State Sources
- Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives
- The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans
- Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the 19th Century
- Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army
- Biographical Directory of the American Congress: 1774-1949
- American Biographical Notes
- Daughters of America, or Women of the Century
- The Biographical Cyclopaedia of American Women
- Plymouth Colony: Its History and People 1620-1691
- They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
- Ancestry's Concise Genealogical Dictionary
- The Dawes Commission and the Allotment of the Five Civilized Tribes
- Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records
- Family History Made Easy

Known as the national Yellow Pages for genealogists, the fifth edition of this standard work lists more than 16,500 resources. Organization is clear, and the entire work is very accessible. Information for each entry is arranged in the same format: address (separate from mailing in many instances), telephone, fax, e-mail, URL, hours of operation, publication, name of contact, and often brief descriptions of holdings.

Greenwood returns with his updated and expanded guide to American genealogical research. Written in a friendly style, the book addresses aspects of the field that often challenge even the experienced researcher.

500 Brickwall Solutions to Genealogy Problems
500 Brickwall Solutions runs the gamut of conundrums that real genealogists faced and overcame. Fully indexed, over 400 pages in length, and featuring more than 250 black-and-white illustrations, this excellent book shows how genealogists, through any number of methods, have vaulted their genealogical barriers.

Managing a Genealogical Project
This work focuses on a particular method of organizing research materials. Its unique system of organization takes you from the preliminary stage of your research to the final presentation of your work as a report or a book. The system, an outgrowth of the Dollarhide System of Genealogical Records, enables you to manage a genealogical project with maximum ease and efficiency.

The Handybook for Genealogists
The Handybook for Genealogists is THE best-selling book in American genealogy. Since 1947 the first ten editions of this valuable research aid have been purchased by over a million people! The new 11th edition integrates the winning formula of the previous editions with a number of important new features.

Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources
The third edition of Red Book effectively builds on the hallmarks of the original – namely thoughtful organization as well as in-depth coverage of the best libraries and archives in the United States. Red Book also promises to take genealogy into the 21st century through updated text devoted to the wealth of information now available from the internet.

Family Tree Magazine

Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry
This searchable, online database is a glossary of terms and words used in heraldry. It includes descriptions and explanations of heraldic terms as well as 1,000 illustrations. The terms are listed in the database alphabetically. Although most of the terms are derived from old French, the glossary does include some common, everyday words as well.

Organizing and Preserving Your Heirloom Documents
Learn to collect, preserve and perhaps even publish the family papers and memorabilia that document your family's past. You'll find practical guidelines, useful tips and ideas on how to locate, organize and transcribe family documents; care for fragile papers; annotate and illustrate documents; conduct historical research; construct a documentary volume; and more!

Hidden Sources: Family History in Unlikely Places
Discover facts about your ancestors in unexpected places--some right under your nose!

Long-Distance Genealogy

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The Genealogist's Question and Answer Book
Discover the answers to 150 of the most commonly asked genealogy questions in this easy-to-use reference tool. You'll save time and confusion as you learn what to look for, how to interpret information, and where to go next. From basic to complex, all you will ever need to know about finding your family tree is in this guide!

Finding Your Roots: How to Trace Your Ancestors at Home and Abroad

How to Trace Your Roots: For The Beginning Family Historian

Evidence!: Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian

Locating Lost Family Members & Friends: Modern Genealogical Research Techniques for Locating the People of Your Past and Present

Pitfalls in Genealogical Research


Georgia Genealogy Reference:

Georgia Genealogical Research


Immigration & Naturalization:

Guide to Naturalization Records in the United States
State by state, county by county, city by city, the Guide to Naturalization Records identifies all repositories of naturalization records, systematically indicating the types of records held, their dates of coverage, and the location of original and microfilm records. The Guide also pinpoints the whereabouts of federal court records in all National Archives facilities. But perhaps the most unique feature of the Guide to Naturalization Records is that it identifies every single piece of information on naturalizations that is available on microfilm through the National Archives or the Family History Library System, including the call numbers used by each institution. Records that are available on microfilm through other facilities have also been included.

They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records & Ethnic Origins
Discover with clarity the ancestral treasures to be found in naturalization records in this sometimes difficult, yet potentially rewarding area of research.


Land Records Research:

Land & Property Research in the United States
An indispensible tool! Land & Property Research in the United States is the most comprehensive and useful review of land and property research to date. Nowhere else will a researcher find the information on these important records so easily accessible. A "must have" for genealogists, title companies, law libraries, county government offices, and federal government employees.

Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records
A great way to track down early ancestors, land records comprise one of the most important record sets in genealogy. In Locating Your Roots, certified genealogist Patricia Law Hatcher explains where to find land records and how to use them. Through easy-to-follow instructions, she describes the process for identifying, finding and interpreting the most common types of records. She also includes in-depth advice for locating a deed in a courthouse, recording what one finds and figuring out how land was transferred. This book is an excellent resource for genealogists, historians, anthropologists, reference librarians and lecturers.


Native American Research:

Cherokee Connections
An introduction to genealogical sources pertaining to the Cherokee nation, and it is designed specifically for researchers who are trying to prove their heritage for tribal membership as well as for those who are simply interested in investigating family legends about Cherokee ancestry. It includes a thumbnail history of the tribe that is both fascinating and informative. In addition, the book elaborates on such famous topics as the "Trail of Tears," the seven clans, and tribal divisions. Cherokee Connections also examines some of the myths and folklore surrounding this famous Native American tribe.

Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes
Designed to eliminate speculation and help you determine the truth about your Indian ancestry. It focuses on the toughest period to research--the century or so prior to the removal of the Southeastern nations to Indian Territory, the point at which records were regularly maintained. It provides the cultural, genealogical, and historical background needed to turn family stories into proved lineages. And it outlines a method of research that can carry you from the colonial period to the great tribal rolls of the mid-to-late nineteenth century, using the unique records kept by American, English, French, and Spanish governments.


Online, Internet Research:

Online Roots
Researching family history is the second most popular topic on the Internet. In Online Roots, Pamela Boyer Porter, a Certified Genealogical Records Specialist, explains how to search effectively on the Internet, how to assess the value of what you find, and the best way to make full use of the resources of the Internet to trace your family's history and heritage.

Getting Started in Genealogy ONLINE
Getting Started in Genealogy ONLINE is so basic that it brings the world of Internet genealogy into instant focus. Designed as a beginner's guide, its 64 pages pack more clout than any 64 pages ever written on the subject of online genealogy. If you ever wanted to trace your family tree online, this book will help you do it. The object of the book is to reduce the process of genealogical research to its most basic elements, enabling the raw beginner to be brought up to speed in no more time than it takes him to read a handful of pages. At the same time, it is a handy resource for the more experienced genealogist, providing in one convenient place the names and web addresses of all essential record repositories. One of Genealogical Publishing Company's "Top Ten" Books of 2006.


The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy
If you want to learn more about your family, now's the time to start. With the advent of the Internet, there's more information available than ever before, and it's easier to access now than in the good old days of musty libraries and records halls. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy by Rhonda McClure will have you wired and digging up dirt (or gold) in just an hour or two. Even the most ardent computer-hater will have to admit that the search is simpler, and McClure makes the case clearly. Her charming prose is well complemented by online images and hint boxes scattered liberally on each page. Specific sites are mentioned as well as general means of searching for family data, so even if one site disappears you can still get what you need. The book covers the basics of both gathering family data and online searches, so if you're not quite up to speed on one or the other, you can quickly figure it out. After you've browsed a bit and started collecting information, the later chapters help you to communicate with other researchers, mining government records, and even publishing your own results online. It's not hard to learn plenty about your family's history; whether you want to get in touch with your roots, glean medical information to improve your own health, or give your kids something to think about, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is for you.

Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet




Photography, Researching Old Photographs:

Unlocking the Secrets in Old Photographs
You've looked at photos before, but have you ever actually "seen" the photos? Author Karen Frisch-Ripley will guide you through the detailed process of analyzing historical photographs as she teaches you to "see!" Ripley's clear and expressive writing will teach you such skills as:
- The care and restoration of photographs,
- Recognizing photo types,
- Finding public sources of information,
- Dating photographs, and much more!

Creative Black & White Photography
This comprehensive guide takes readers step-by-step through the thought processes and technical procedures involved in producing high-quality black and white photographs. Les McLean starts by explaining the technicalities of the art and, more importantly, how to overcome the technical limitations of cameras and film. He details the simple tests and tricks of the trade that will allow readers to achieve the images they want; all are explained simply and clearly, and backed up by specially commissioned photographs. McLean also provides invaluable information on developing and printing photographs, along with a detailed look at some of his all-time favorite images. He explains from start to finish how each was created, and elaborates on such details as the mood and effect that he wanted, the technicalities of taking the shots, and how each image was printed and manipulated in the darkroom. A final chapter on digital black and white photography illustrates how to combine silver halide and digital to the best effect, and the pros and cons of digital printing.

Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs


Tax List Research:

The Beginner's Guide to Using Tax Lists
Tax lists are one of our most valuable, if often neglected, sources of genealogical information. They usually divulge the names of heads of households and other males aged 16 or over, as well as valuations of slaves, cattle, horses, other types of personal property, land taxes, and notes of interest. They can be used not only to trace a family's migration and its taxable property, but also to prove parentage when no other records are available. Tax lists place individuals in a particular place at a particular time and indicate the amount and type of property owned. They may also indicate the relationship of individuals in a household and their approximate ages. The Beginner's Guide to Using Tax Lists is Cornelius Carroll's primer for making the best genealogical usage of tax lists.


Writing & Publishing:

Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian
Elizabeth Shown Mills' stunning book, Evidence!, provides the family history researcher with a reliable standard for both the correct form of source citation and the sound analysis of evidence. In successful genealogical research, these two practices are inseparable, and the author's treatment of this little-understood concept is nothing short of brilliant. One of Genealogical Publishing Company's "Top Ten" Books of 2006.


Your Life and Times
Using this oral history handbook as a guide, you will be able to record your life experiences on tape simply by answering questions that will lead you, step by step, through the precious moments of your life. On Sale NOW!

Carmack's Guide to Copyright and Contracts
In scarcely 100 pages, Carmack's Guide to Copyright and Contracts informs its readers about all aspects of copyright law. Each chapter in the book lays out a specific principle of copyright or contracts and then addresses the topic with situations specifically applicable to genealogists. Subjects covered in this fashion include: (1) Copyright Basics, (2) Fair Use, the Public Domain, and Seeking Permissions, (3) Illustrations, Images, Photographs, and Maps, (4) Works for Hire, (5) Collaboration Agreements, (6) Journals/Magazine Contracts, (7) Book contracts, (8) Electronic Contracts, and (9) Self-Publication Contracts. The author also provides an extremely useful glossary of terms found in contracts and matters of copyright. Rounding out the volume are an up-to-date bibliography; a resource directory of websites, links, and online articles; and an index to the book's contents.

Writing the Family Narrative
A clear and concise explanation of how to write your family history! Writing the Family Narrative will teach you how to bring all those seemingly disjointed facts you've researched together into a narrative which entertains as well as informs! Numerous stylistic examples by both novices and professionals make it easy for you to improve your writing and avoid those common pitfalls!

Write the Story of Your Life
Write the Story of Your Life is the best introduction to writing an autobiography ever set into type. Through specific exercises, psychological insights, apt quotes, personal examples and suggested readings, Kanin provides an extensive tour of the creative process. On Sale Now!


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