Table of Contents
Introduction 11
01 Click Into Your Past 13
Family Tree Basics 14
Plan Your Project 14
Collect Information 18
Evaluate Your Evidence 21
Organize the Search 22
Record Your Progress 27
Document Your Findings 31
02 Begin Backward 35
Interview Yourself 36
Rummage Through the Attic 38
Question Your Family Members 40
Has It Already Been Done? 44
From One Generation to the Next 47
03 Learn How to Search 49
Search Engine Basics 50
Database Search Strategies 53
Get Creative with Names 56
Connect with Living Kin 58
More Search Tools and Tactics 59
Find the Right Tree in the Forest 61
Spread the Wealth 62
04 Online Starting Points 65
What Is and Is Not Online 66
Find Family at FamilySearch 66
Explore More Free Databases 70
Seek Out Subscription Sites 73
Discover History at the National Archives 76
Look at the Library of Congress 78
Search State Libraries and Archives 79
05 Dig Into Death Records 81
A Good Place to Begin 82
Search for Obituaries 82
Social Security Death Index 86
Death Certificates and Online Indexes 88
Visit Virtual Cemeteries and Funeral Homes 90
Put It Into Practice 94
06 Check the Census 97
The U.S. Federal Census 98
Access Census Images and Indexes Online 100
Census Research Tips and Caveats 104
Follow Census Clues to New Records 106
Special and State Censuses 109
Utilize Census Alternatives 112
Put It Into Practice 114
07 Hunt Down Family Connections 117
Marriage and Divorce Records 118
Birth and Baptismal Records 120
Unearth Wills and Estate Records 122
Chase Down Court Records 125
Identify Adoptions and Orphans 127
08 Look Local 131
Maps and Geography 132
Land and Property Records 134
Historical Newspapers 142
Libraries and Societies 146
Churches and Schools 149
09 Mine the Web for Military Records 155
Find Clues to Military Service 156
Compiled Military Service Records 157
Pensions and Bounty Land Warrants 160
Discover Revolutionary and Civil War Ancestors 163
Research Twentieth-Century Conflicts 168
Bone Up on Military History 172
10 A Nation of Immigrants 175
Find the Birthplace of Your Immigrant Ancestor 176
Plunge Into Passenger Lists 177
Naturalization Records 186
Ethnic Research 191
Put It Into Practice 192
11 Reach Out to Others 195
Make the Most of Boards and Lists 196
Ferret Out Family Trees 199
Ask the Right Way 203
Share Your Research 206
Take a Class 207
Connect with the Pros 210
12 Dig Deeper 215
Books, Magazines, and Blogs 216
Occupational Records 218
Membership Organizations 221
Photos and Postcards 223
DNA and Genetic Genealogy 228
13 Locate Records Abroad 235
A Nation of Immigrants 236
Canada 236
Mexico, Central America, and South America 239
British Isles 240
The Rest of Europe 247
Australia and New Zealand 255
Asia and Africa 256
14 Putting It All Together 259
Evaluate What You've Found 260
Protect Your Family History from Disaster 266
Publish Your Family History 268
Dos and Don'ts of Online Genealogy 272
See It in Action 275
Appendix A Further Readings 277
Appendix B Examples of Family Trees 285
Appendix C Genealogical Standards 289
Index 295
