Genealoger

Genealogy Resources

"How To"
Genealogy Resources

• About.com Genealogy - Has tips, discussion groups, and weekly articles on genealogy.
   
• Allen, Desmond Walls. Beginner's Guide to Family History Research. 3rd edition. Bryant, Arkansas: Research Associates, 1997.
   
• Allen, Desmond Walls. First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner's Guide to Researching Your Family History. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
   
• Allen, George. Our Family History & Records: A Do-It-Yourself Kit for Family Trees. Orefield, Pennsylvania: Associated Specialties Company, 1992.
   
• Amazon.com  Beginner Genealogy Books.
   
• Ancestors. Originally part of a PBS series, this site provides information on how to conduct research and links to family history resources on the web.
   
• Ancestry.com - Learning Center
   
• Arnold, Jackie Smith. Kinship: It's All Relative, Expanded. 2nd edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000.
   
• Awesome Genealogical Tips from Awesome Genealogy. Tips for beginning genealogists and researchers.
   
• Beginner's Guide to Family History Research. Desmond Walls Allen and Carolyn Earle Billingsley.
   
• Beginners Guide to the Internet
   
• Beginning Internet Genealogy
   
• Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. The Genealogist's Address Book. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., [periodically revised]
   
• Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. County Courthouse Book. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., [periodically revised]
   
• Best Websites for Helping Genealogists. This web site, provided by the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NARAGA) is a portal providing web-based resources to assist genealogists.
   
• Boice, Trina and Tracy Long. Climbing Family Trees -- Whispers in the Leaves. Provo, Utah: Spring Creek Book Company, 2006.
   
• Books - Publications: Genealogical Materials. Family Genealogy or Family History products and services needed for preparation, publication and distribution of compiled records, with related family materials.
   
• Branching Out Online - A good tutorial to learn about online genealogy techniques for beginning genealogists.
   
• Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo. Organizing Your Family History: Efficient & Effective Ways to Gather and Protect Your Genealogical Research. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1999.
  
  
• Cerny, Johni. Ancestry's Guide to Research: Case Studies in American Genealogy. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Inc., 1985.
  
  
• Chamberlin, David C. The Conceptual Approach to Genealogy. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, c1998.
   
• Clifford, Karen. The Complete Beginner's Guide to Genealogy, The Internet, and Your Genealogy Computer Program. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2002, 2000. Excellent beginner's guide.
   
• Common Research Wrong Turns. By George G. Morgan on Ancestry.com.
   
• Computer - Internet - Software:  Genealogy Programs Support. Computer and Internet resources for the experienced computer user, genealogist, family historian, or Newbie just beginning to learn about the Internet.
   
• Crawford-Oppenheimer, Christine. Long Distance Genealogy: Researching Your Family History from Home. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000. Ideas on how to access records in areas where researcher does not live.
  
  
• Croom, Emily Anne. The Sleuth Book for Genealogists. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000, 2008 reprint.
   
• Croom, Emily Anne. Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 1995.
  
  
• Croom, Emily Anne. Unpuzzling Your Past: the Best-Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, c2001.
   
• Curran, Joan Ferris, Madilyn Coen Crane, and John H. Wray. Numbering Your Genealogy: Basic Systems, Complex Families, and International Kin. Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2000.
   
• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites
   
• Dollarhide, William. Genealogy Research Forms. North Salt Lake, Utah: Heritage Creations, 1987-2004.
   
• Dollarhide, William. Genealogy Starter Kit. 2nd edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994.
   
• Dollarhide, William. Getting Started in Genealogy. 2nd edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1998.
   
• Dollarhide, William. Getting Started in Genealogy Online. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2006.
   
• Dollarhide, William. Managing a Genealogical Project. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1999.
   
• Earnest, Corinne. The What Shall I Write Handbook for Editors of Family and Genealogy Society Newsletters. Clayton, Delaware: Earnest Associates.
   
• Earnest, Corinne and Russell Earnest. Proof Before You Publish! 21 Checklists for Proofreading Genealogy Publications. Clayton, Delaware: Earnest Associates.
   
• Ellis Island Database One-Step Search Tools. This site presents an overview of search forms to use, and assists searches of the Ellis Island immigration databases.
   
• Emmel, Ruth. Let's Plant a Family Tree: How to Start Your Genealogy Resarch. Cape Coral, Florida: Lee County Genealogical Society, 2007. In addition to basic background information, this seventy-one page book, designed especially for young people, is full of forms and pages of questions that they will need to get started with their genealogical research project.
   
• Encyclopedia of Genealogy - The Encyclopedia of Genealogy serves as a compendium of genealogical tools and techniques. It provides reference information about everything in genealogy except people.
   
• Family Chronicle - In the VERY Beginning. Halvor Moorshead presents a step-by-step guide for beginners.
   
• Family Research. Online help for beginners.
   
• Finding Your Ancestors on the Internet. By Kimberly Powell.
   
• First Steps in Family History. From the Federation of Family History Societies.
   
• First Steps in Genealogy. From the Greene County Public Library, Ohio.
   
• 5 Steps to Getting Started on Your Family History. From Robert Ragan.
   
• Fleming, Ann Carter. The Organized Family Historian: How to File, Manage, and Protect Your Genealogical Research and Heirlooms. Nashville, Tennessee: Rutledge Hill Press, 2004.
  
  
• Friddle, Ava, Judy Andrews, Kristen Hamilton, with Joe Bardin. Back to the Beginning: Remarkable True Stories of Adoption Searches and Reunions. Scottsdale, AZ: Research Etc., 2008.
   
• GenealogicalStudies.com. Web-based certificate program in genealogical studies. The program is delivered entirely over the Internet. Specialize in the records of Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and the United States.
   
• Genealogy. Links to genealogy research tools, guidance, and web sites.
   
• Genealogy Detective. Links to genealogy research tools, guidance, and web sites.
   
• Genealogy Encyclopedia. When tracing an ancestry it is common to encounter records filled with obsolete, archaic, or legal terms that can be difficult to interpret. Misinterpreting these terms can make the difference between linking persons to the right generation, parents, spouse or children. Understanding exactly what is stated in any record is vital before attempting to move to the next generation. Inexperienced or impatient genealogists undervalue the quality of their research by applying present-day definitions to documents created in an earlier century. Take the time to use the glossaries provided here and other excellent dictionaries, genealogical reference books and encyclopedias to interpret documents correctly.
   
• Genealogy for Beginners. Some tips before you start.
   
• Genealogy for Beginners On and Off Line. Instructional guide with tips.
   
• Genealogy-How To. From Kenton County Public Library, Kentucky.
   
• Genealogy Knowledgebase. Tools to aid the beginning researcher in this very addictive hobby.
   
• Genealogy 101. Ann Sharp originally posted this letter to Roots-L, a genealogy based e-mail service, on November 22, 1995, in answer to someone who inquired about how to get started on the road to genealogy.
   
• Genealogy Research Associates. Free On-line Lessons - The Great Ancestral Hunt. Seven courses from Karen Clifford.
   
• Genealogy Research for Beginners. How to start your family tree, learn about family history and find your ancestors. Free printable genealogical charts and forms, understanding census records, etc.
   
• Genealogy Tips and Guidelines for Beginners. From Genealogical Journeys in Time.
   
• Genealogy Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid. Ten key mistakes that you will want to avoid in order to make your search a successful and pleasant experience.
   
• Genealogy Today. This site provides news, links, and tools for genealogists.
   
• Genealogy University. Offer tutorials on a variety of topics suitable for all genealogists from beginning to advanced.
   
• Genealogy.com. Offers tips on starting genealogical research, web links, and a 470 million-name searchable database.
   
• Gen-Newbie Started as an electronic mailing list for people who were new to computers and/or genealogy, to ask questions, help others, and generally share information, research techniques,  brick walls, and computer/genealogy woes. 
   
• Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History. From GENUKI - UK and Irish Genealogy.
   
• Gormley, Myra Vanderpool and Tana Pedersen Lord. The Official Guide to Rootsweb.com. Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2007. This guide explains in detail all of the features of Rootsweb.com.
   
• Greenwood, Val D. The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy. 3rd edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000. Classic guide.
   
• Hatcher, Patricia Law, and John V. Wylie. Indexing Family Histories: Simple Steps for a Quality Product. Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 1994.
  
• Hatcher, Patricia Law. Producing a Quality Family History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, c1996.
   
• Hinckley, Kathleen W. Locating Lost Family Members & Friends: Modern Genealogical Research Techniques for Locating the People of Your Past and Present. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 1999.
   
• The History Slice - Getting Started.  From Robin Sowton.
   
• How to .. From the Australian Family History Compendium.
   
• How to Begin Tracing Your Family Tree. From the About.com genealogy section.
   
• Introduction to Genealogy: An Online Course. The National Genealogical Society's online course for beginners.
  
  
• Is that Lineage Right? Washington, D.C.: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, c1982. Training manual for the examiner of lineage papers with hints for beginners on genealogical research.
  
  
• Jacobson, Judy. A Pocket Guide for Genealogists. 2nd edition. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co., Inc., 2003, 2007 reprint.
   
• Johnson, Richard S. How to Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military: Armed Forces Locator Directory. 8th edition. Burlington, North Carolina: MIE Publishing, 1999. Addresses of veterans organizations and information about locating military records.
   
• Kirkham, E. Kay. Land, Military & Census Records of America. 2nd edition. Provo, Utah: Stephenson's Genealogy Center, 1972.
   
• Leary, Helen F.M. North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local History. 2d edition. Raleigh: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996. Excellent guidance for more than just North Carolina research.
   
• Life on the Net - Genealogy. This is a guide to using the internet for researching your family origins. You do not have to be an expert in either genealogy or the online world, just interested in both.
   
• Lineage Web. From Mike Mullins at Genealogy Today.
   
• Local History and Genealogy Reading Room. This Library of Congress (LC) site offers information on conducting genealogical research at the LC.
   
• McClure, Rhonda R.  Finding Your Famous [& Infamous} Ancestors: Uncover the Celebrities, Rogues, and Royals in Your Family Tree. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 2003.
  
  
• McHugh, Richard H. Death Matters: History, Humor, Advice. Westminister, MD: Heritage Books, 2008.
   
• Melynk, Marcia D. Yannizze. Family History 101: A Beginner's Guide to Finding Your Ancestors. Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books, 2005.
   
• Meyerink, Kory L. Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998.
   
• Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 2007. Will help you cite correctly the sources used in writing a family history.
   
• Morgan, George G. How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy.  Berkeley, California: McGraw-Hill. Osborne, 2004.
   
• Morgan, George G. The Official Guide to Ancestry.com. Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2007. Explains how to work with ditized image collections, examines the various databases at Ancestry.com, and offers search strategies.
   
• My History is America's History. Presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities Millennium Project, this site encourages visitors to find their family's place in history.
   
• National Archives and Records Administration. Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives. Rev. edition. Washington: National Archives Trust Fund Board [NATFB], 1985.
   
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For genealogists and family historians.
   
• National Genealogical Society. This web site for a national genealogical association provides "How to get started" guidance and a virtual library.
   
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. Provides resources for genealogists including an online catalog.
   
• Newbies Helping Newbies. We are a group of friends living in Forbes, NSW, Australia, who decided to get together and share our knowledge of computers. It is co-incidental that all of us are interested in genealogy, so this site has evolved as a site for those new to computers, the internet and genealogy.
   
• Parker, J. Carlyle. Going to Salt Lake City to Do Family History Research. 3rd. edition. Turlock, California: Marietta Publishing Co., 1996.
   
• Pathfinder: Genealogy. This guide describes ways for people to start researching their genealogy.
   
• Reeder, Josh. Indexing Genealogy Publications. Clayton, Delaware: Earnest Associates.
   
• Research Aids for the Family Historian. From the Gene Pool.
   
• Researching Your Family Tree. From Debbie Duay.
   
• Renick, Barbara. Genealogy 101. Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press, 2003.
   
• ROOTS-L Resources: Info and Tips for Beginning Genealogy.
   
• RootsWeb Guide to Tracing Family Trees
   
• Rose, Christine, and Kay Germain Ingalls. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy. 2nd edition. New York: Alpha Books, 2005.  A good beginner's guide and good source for references. New edition includes chapters on the Internet and DNA testing as well as URLs for Web sites, suggestions for performing productive searches, and newer research aids.
   
• Rubincam, Milton. Pitfalls in Genealogical Research. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1987.
   
• San Antonio Public Library - Texana/Genealogy. Information on preserving family photographs, personal papers, and other precious materials.
  
  
• Sayre, Pamela Boyer. Paths to Your Past: A Guide to Finding Your Ancestors. Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2009. A beginner's guide to family history research.
   
• Schools - Colleges - Universities. Alumni and Genealogy Education. Worldwide comprehensive resource of educational institutions, past and present students, alumni, associations, faculty, friends and military personnel.
  
  
• Smith, Franklin Carter and Emily Anne Croom. A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003, 2008 reprint.
   
• Sources of Genealogical Information.
   
• Spaltro, Kathleen. Genealogy and Indexing. Medford, New Jersey: American Society of Indexers, 2003.
   
• Starting from Scratch. From Jill Syers Clark, StateGenSites.com.
   
• Sue's Genealogy Recipes. "Recipes" for success with your family tree research from Sue Marie Hillier Roe.
   
• Suggestions for Tracing Your Family Tree. From the State Historical Society of Missouri.
   
• Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. The Archives, A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches. Salt Lake City Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 1988.
   
• Szucs, Loretto Dennis. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy. Rev. edition. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997. Chapters by 16 leading genealogists.
   
• Szucs, Loretto Dennis. They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998. Discussion of the naturalization process and strategies for locating naturalization records, with a detailed listing of naturalization records held by each National Archives regional archive.
   
• Things I Hate and Love about Genealogy and Family History.
   
• This and That Genealogy Tips
   
• Tips and Tricks for the Beginner - Genealogy 101. By Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
   
• Treasure Maps - "How to Do" genealogy.
   
• 26 Genealogy Tips to Get You Started. Robert E. Bickham.
   
• What Are Archives? From the Archives Center of the National Museum of American History.