Secrets of Tracing Your Ancestors

Secrets of Tracing Your Ancestors

by W. Daniel Quillen
Secrets of Tracing Your Ancestors

Secrets of Tracing Your Ancestors

by W. Daniel Quillen

Paperback(7th ed.)

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Overview

There is no better book to get beginners started in America's top hobby: genealogy!

This new 7th edition is an easy-to-read guide to beginning genealogy. Quillen teaches the basics of getting started and guides readers through the tricks and techniques of professional genealogists, and best of all the book is filled with real-life examples from Dan's own searches over the years. Readers are pointed to the most current web sites and government records where information can be gleaned. Overlooked resources – such as military, family and church records – are identified and instructions for procuring and using them are included. Readers will also be treated to detailed suggestions on how to write an effective and interesting life history that will be treasured by the budding genealogist’s descendants. This revised edition has a new section on the Soundex system; new topics in Internet research, including new web sites; and more on immigration, naturalization, census and military records.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781593601973
Publisher: Cold Spring Press
Publication date: 07/08/2014
Edition description: 7th ed.
Pages: 248
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

For 29 years, W. Daniel Quillen has been a professional writer specializing in travel and technical subjects. He teaches beginning genealogy courses to university students and working adults, and is a frequent lecturer in genealogy classes in the greater Denver area. He is also the author of "The Troubleshooter's Guide to Do-It-Yourself Genealogy" and Quillen's Essentials of Genealogy series, with six titles in this line now in print and more to come (all published by Cold Spring Press).

Table of Contents

1Introduction11
2Why Genealogy?13
3Get Started16
Baptismal or Confirmation Certificates16
Graduation Diplomas17
Newspaper Articles17
Photographs18
Government Documents19
Memorabilia19
Miscelleaneous19
Shifting Gears19
Caution!22
Other Records23
Old Letters23
Old Budgets/Ledgers24
Family Bibles24
Photos26
Old Legal Papers26
Family Histories/Genealogies27
More Than a Coin Collection27
Getting Started Checklist28
Additional Resources29
4Get Organized30
Information You Have Found30
Birth, Death and Marriage Records31
Correspondence32
Other Records32
Photographs32
Information For Which You Are Searching33
Forms33
Research Log34
Family Group Sheet34
Pedigree Charts37
Get Organized Checklist41
Additional Resources41
5What's in a Name?42
Physical Characteristics42
An Animal Connection42
Patronymics43
Occupations44
Geographic Locations45
Mother's Maiden Names45
Don't Assume...45
Spelling Woes46
What's in a Name? Checklist47
Additional Resources48
6Vital Records49
Where to Look?50
What Do I Say?51
What Do the Records Cost?52
Friendly Caution52
Vital Records Checklist53
Additional Resources53
7Genealogical Societies54
Genealogical Societies Checklist58
Additional Resources58
8Genealogical Collections in Libraries59
Family History Library59
State Libraries59
County Libraries60
Genealogical and Historical Society Libraries61
University Libraries61
National Archives61
The Hunt Begins!66
Vital Statistics Records66
Census Records66
Biographies67
Obituaries67
Old Newspapers68
Land Records69
City Telephone Directories69
Histories69
Cemetery Indexes69
Befriend the Librarian!70
Collections and Libraries Checklist70
Additional Resources71
9Computers and the Internet72
The Internet72
Genealogy Websites73
Genealogy Software87
Computer and Internet Checklist93
Additional Resources93
10Using the LDS Church94
The Family History Library94
Getting Around Salt Lake City96
Family History Centers97
Getting the Most Out of Your Local Family History Center99
Prepare99
Call Ahead99
Have Patience99
Share Your Success100
FamilySearch100
Ancestral File101
Family History Library Catalog101
International Genealogical Index101
Other Resources102
A Practical Lesson on FamilySearch102
LDS Church Checklist105
Additional Resources106
11Census Records107
Who, What, When, Where, Why & How...107
Questions, Questions, Questions109
Soundex115
Soundex Coding Rules116
Soundex Cards119
The Census120
Write it Down!120
What Next?121
Finding the Censuses124
Mortality Schedules125
Census Records Checklist125
Additional Resources126
12Military Records127
Motivation127
American Wars127
Where to Begin128
The National Archives129
Enlistment Records129
Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR)129
Pension Records130
Record of Events131
Confederate Records131
Bounty Land Warrants131
Other Resources132
OK-So Where Do I Find These Wonderful Records132
The Internet and Military Records133
Military Records Search Checklist134
Additional Resources134
13Ethnic Research135
African-American Research135
Native American Research139
German Research142
Jewish Research155
Hispanic Research160
Irish Research163
Other Ethnic-Specific Research167
Traveling to Unearth Your Roots168
Ethnic Research Checklist170
Additional Resources171
14Who Am I?172
The Genealogical Dilemma of Adoption172
Where to Start?173
Registries176
Other Resources178
After You've Found a Name178
Locality-Specific Adoption Help179
Should I pay someone to search for me?179
Who Am I? Checklist180
Additional Resources180
15Using DNA as a Research Tool181
Using DNA as a Research Tool Checklist184
Additional Resources185
16Is Anyone Out There?186
The Internet187
Message Boards188
Magazine Queries188
Be a Detective!188
Is Anyone Out There? Checklist189
17Professional Genealogists190
Is Now the Time?190
OK - It's Time191
The Board of Certification of Genealogists (BCG)191
The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGEN)192
The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)193
What Will it Cost?194
Professional Genealogists Checklist194
18Help Your Descendants!195
Writing a Personal History195
Chapters196
Set a Regular Time198
Additional Help198
Keep a Journal198
What Do I Do Now?199
Help Your Descendants! Checklist200
Additional Resources200
19In Summary201
20Appendix203
Glossary of Terms203
State Libraries and Archives207
State Departments of Vital Statistics221
Index233
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