1 | Introduction | 11 |
2 | Why Genealogy? | 13 |
3 | Get Started | 16 |
| Baptismal or Confirmation Certificates | 16 |
| Graduation Diplomas | 17 |
| Newspaper Articles | 17 |
| Photographs | 18 |
| Government Documents | 19 |
| Memorabilia | 19 |
| Miscelleaneous | 19 |
| Shifting Gears | 19 |
| Caution! | 22 |
| Other Records | 23 |
| Old Letters | 23 |
| Old Budgets/Ledgers | 24 |
| Family Bibles | 24 |
| Photos | 26 |
| Old Legal Papers | 26 |
| Family Histories/Genealogies | 27 |
| More Than a Coin Collection | 27 |
| Getting Started Checklist | 28 |
| Additional Resources | 29 |
4 | Get Organized | 30 |
| Information You Have Found | 30 |
| Birth, Death and Marriage Records | 31 |
| Correspondence | 32 |
| Other Records | 32 |
| Photographs | 32 |
| Information For Which You Are Searching | 33 |
| Forms | 33 |
| Research Log | 34 |
| Family Group Sheet | 34 |
| Pedigree Charts | 37 |
| Get Organized Checklist | 41 |
| Additional Resources | 41 |
5 | What's in a Name? | 42 |
| Physical Characteristics | 42 |
| An Animal Connection | 42 |
| Patronymics | 43 |
| Occupations | 44 |
| Geographic Locations | 45 |
| Mother's Maiden Names | 45 |
| Don't Assume... | 45 |
| Spelling Woes | 46 |
| What's in a Name? Checklist | 47 |
| Additional Resources | 48 |
6 | Vital Records | 49 |
| Where to Look? | 50 |
| What Do I Say? | 51 |
| What Do the Records Cost? | 52 |
| Friendly Caution | 52 |
| Vital Records Checklist | 53 |
| Additional Resources | 53 |
7 | Genealogical Societies | 54 |
| Genealogical Societies Checklist | 58 |
| Additional Resources | 58 |
8 | Genealogical Collections in Libraries | 59 |
| Family History Library | 59 |
| State Libraries | 59 |
| County Libraries | 60 |
| Genealogical and Historical Society Libraries | 61 |
| University Libraries | 61 |
| National Archives | 61 |
| The Hunt Begins! | 66 |
| Vital Statistics Records | 66 |
| Census Records | 66 |
| Biographies | 67 |
| Obituaries | 67 |
| Old Newspapers | 68 |
| Land Records | 69 |
| City Telephone Directories | 69 |
| Histories | 69 |
| Cemetery Indexes | 69 |
| Befriend the Librarian! | 70 |
| Collections and Libraries Checklist | 70 |
| Additional Resources | 71 |
9 | Computers and the Internet | 72 |
| The Internet | 72 |
| Genealogy Websites | 73 |
| Genealogy Software | 87 |
| Computer and Internet Checklist | 93 |
| Additional Resources | 93 |
10 | Using the LDS Church | 94 |
| The Family History Library | 94 |
| Getting Around Salt Lake City | 96 |
| Family History Centers | 97 |
| Getting the Most Out of Your Local Family History Center | 99 |
| Prepare | 99 |
| Call Ahead | 99 |
| Have Patience | 99 |
| Share Your Success | 100 |
| FamilySearch | 100 |
| Ancestral File | 101 |
| Family History Library Catalog | 101 |
| International Genealogical Index | 101 |
| Other Resources | 102 |
| A Practical Lesson on FamilySearch | 102 |
| LDS Church Checklist | 105 |
| Additional Resources | 106 |
11 | Census Records | 107 |
| Who, What, When, Where, Why & How... | 107 |
| Questions, Questions, Questions | 109 |
| Soundex | 115 |
| Soundex Coding Rules | 116 |
| Soundex Cards | 119 |
| The Census | 120 |
| Write it Down! | 120 |
| What Next? | 121 |
| Finding the Censuses | 124 |
| Mortality Schedules | 125 |
| Census Records Checklist | 125 |
| Additional Resources | 126 |
12 | Military Records | 127 |
| Motivation | 127 |
| American Wars | 127 |
| Where to Begin | 128 |
| The National Archives | 129 |
| Enlistment Records | 129 |
| Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR) | 129 |
| Pension Records | 130 |
| Record of Events | 131 |
| Confederate Records | 131 |
| Bounty Land Warrants | 131 |
| Other Resources | 132 |
| OK-So Where Do I Find These Wonderful Records | 132 |
| The Internet and Military Records | 133 |
| Military Records Search Checklist | 134 |
| Additional Resources | 134 |
13 | Ethnic Research | 135 |
| African-American Research | 135 |
| Native American Research | 139 |
| German Research | 142 |
| Jewish Research | 155 |
| Hispanic Research | 160 |
| Irish Research | 163 |
| Other Ethnic-Specific Research | 167 |
| Traveling to Unearth Your Roots | 168 |
| Ethnic Research Checklist | 170 |
| Additional Resources | 171 |
14 | Who Am I? | 172 |
| The Genealogical Dilemma of Adoption | 172 |
| Where to Start? | 173 |
| Registries | 176 |
| Other Resources | 178 |
| After You've Found a Name | 178 |
| Locality-Specific Adoption Help | 179 |
| Should I pay someone to search for me? | 179 |
| Who Am I? Checklist | 180 |
| Additional Resources | 180 |
15 | Using DNA as a Research Tool | 181 |
| Using DNA as a Research Tool Checklist | 184 |
| Additional Resources | 185 |
16 | Is Anyone Out There? | 186 |
| The Internet | 187 |
| Message Boards | 188 |
| Magazine Queries | 188 |
| Be a Detective! | 188 |
| Is Anyone Out There? Checklist | 189 |
17 | Professional Genealogists | 190 |
| Is Now the Time? | 190 |
| OK - It's Time | 191 |
| 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 Checklist | 194 |
18 | Help Your Descendants! | 195 |
| Writing a Personal History | 195 |
| Chapters | 196 |
| Set a Regular Time | 198 |
| Additional Help | 198 |
| Keep a Journal | 198 |
| What Do I Do Now? | 199 |
| Help Your Descendants! Checklist | 200 |
| Additional Resources | 200 |
19 | In Summary | 201 |
20 | Appendix | 203 |
| Glossary of Terms | 203 |
| State Libraries and Archives | 207 |
| State Departments of Vital Statistics | 221 |
| Index | 233 |