The Complete Beginner's Guide to Genealogy, the Internet and Your Genealogy Computer Program

The modern world of genealogy combines the traditional methods of research with the awesome power of computers and the Internet, a combination so powerful that it has transformed the way we do genealogy. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to train the researcher in this new methodology, tying the fundamentals of genealogical research to the infrastructure of computers and web sites. In other words, it is a manual for modern genealogy--designed for the beginner but useful even to the most seasoned researcher.

With our growing reliance on electronic databases, computer programs, and Internet resources, genealogical research, for all practical purposes, will never be the same. And yet in many respects it will be the same, for the principles of sound genealogical research are immutable, and this book shows how to combine traditional research methods in the National Archives, the LDS Family History Library, and other major resource centers with today=s technology; how to conduct research in courthouse records, censuses, and vital records using techniques unheard of just a decade ago. It shows you how to get started in your family history research; how to organize your family papers; how to enter information into a genealogy computer program so that you can easily manage, store, and retrieve your data; how to analyze the data and place it in various tables, charts, and forms; and how to put together a family history notebook--all the while using conventional records sources with a modern search and retrieval system.

Furthermore, the book contains guidelines for using public libraries, courthouses, and archives. It also explains how to use LDS Family History Centers and the Regional Records Services Facilities of the National Archives, and it provides a step-by-step guide for using the records in each facility, including background information showing how to obtain vital, probate, military, immigration, and census records--all carefully coordinated with the ever-present backdrop of computers and the Internet.

Mrs. Cliffords new book is also designed as an instructional manual, and each chapter of the book is a self-contained teaching module containing the following elements.:

*The main body of the text provides instruction supported by illustrations, charts, and examples.
* AYour Turn@ activities serve as prompts, asking the reader to apply the instruction to his or her own research needs.
*Chapter assignments serve as review and comprehension checks.
*Computer checklists give the reader hands-on experience with his or her own genealogy computer program.
*Web site addresses listed at the end of each chapter guide the reader to valuable Internet resources related to the topics.
*Entries in chapter bibliographies serve as resources for further study.

As the title indicates, Clifford strives to cover all things genealogical in this fact-filled workbook. Heavily illustrated with charts, maps, reproducible forms, word definitions, and as-you-go assignments, her book assumes that the reader is beginning genealogy research in general while learning to use a genealogy computer program. But you don't have to have a genealogy program at hand to use this book successfully, for all readers can benefit from Clifford's objectives: to set goals, apply proper research skills, employ critical analysis, thoroughly document findings, and avoid "skipping" generations. Clifford (Becoming an Accredited Genealogist, Ancestry, 1998) offers straightforward discussions of terms, types of records, and major repositories of genealogy materials. For the various records and methods of investigation, she ties in suggestions for incorporating data into a genealogy program. Each chapter ends with brief assignments, URLs, and a bibliography. Her chapters on the Latter Day Saints' (LDS) Family History Library, local family history centers, and their various databases may provide insights to even experienced researchers. Two appendixes (on the Internet and reproducible forms) complete the book. Clifford's work compares to Emily Croom's Unpuzzling Your Past (Betterway, 1995) in its approach to genealogy basics but covers LDS resources in much greater depth. For a more thorough introduction to genealogy research on the Internet, however, readers might try Rhonda McClure's Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy (Alpha, 2000). Clifford is president of Genealogy Research Associates, Inc., whose web site is referred to throughout. Recommended for public libraries.DElaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, IN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The proliferation of home computers and the accessibility of the Internet have virtually revolutionized the discipline of genealogical research. This indispensable guide provides a practical blueprint for sophisticated genealogical examinations. Combining traditional archival research methods with technologically enhanced techniques, the author offers tutelage, tips, and shortcuts designed to enable novice investigators to construct comprehensive family histories. The instructional format includes helpful assignments, activities, and checklists. This practical manual is an ideal resource for genealogical research in a new era. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved