tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63220843925081115642024-02-20T17:52:17.239-08:00Blogging About GenBooksIndependent reviews of genealogy and family history books to help researchers connect with the best sources.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-3347082561937123952015-03-08T16:43:00.000-07:002015-03-08T16:43:45.703-07:00Book Review: Owning New Jersey.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grabas, Joseph A. <u>Owning New Jersey: Historic Tales of War, Property Disputes & the Pursuit of Happiness</u>. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014. ISBN 978-1-62619-620-9. Paper, $19.99; Kindle, $9.99. 190p.<br />
<b><br /></b>If you've ever researched New Jersey land and property records, this new book by Joseph A. Grabas provides needed historical context to help you make sense of conflicting title claims, courtroom squabbles and missing records. Grabas, a professional title searcher and educator, is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, a house historian, and resides in New Jersey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is not a how-to book. Introductory chapters discuss the evolution of land regulation and legislation that had lasting impacts on the state. Then, through a series of highly readable individual case studies, the author illustrates the legal complexities and scope of records to be found from colonial to contemporary times in New Jersey. In one chapter, he demonstrates how laws forbidding land ownership by African-Americans were cleverly circumvented using legal loopholes; in another chapter, he describes how a 2007 decision by the US Supreme Court was impacted by 17th century land titles in New Jersey and Delaware. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recommended for researchers, libraries and archives with more than passing interests in New Jersey land records. Currently, it's available in print and e-book formats from online booksellers. <a href="http://www.continuingeducationnj.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=OWNNJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Signed copies</a> may be purchased directly from the Grabas Institute.</span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-12764942484572231812014-12-11T11:40:00.001-08:002014-12-11T11:40:30.455-08:00Review: The Map Thief<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blanding, Michael. <u>The Map Thief: </u></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps.</u> New York: Gotham Books, 2014. ISBN 978-1-592-40818-7. Kindle $10.99; Cloth $27.50. 300p.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did E. Forbes Smiley, an experienced and respected map dealer, become a criminal who stole and defaced numbers of important, historic maps owned by prestigious libraries and museums? How did he escape detection for years? Investigative reporter Michael Blanding (and collector of subway maps) interviewed Smiley, as well as some of his clients, other map dealers, librarians, and law enforcement to find out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the narrative unfolds, it is impossible not to be amazed at the duration and extent of Smiley's deceits to steal and sell maps to support his lifestyle and grandiose ambitions. Even with cameras and staff present, Smiley found ways to separate antique maps from bound books, fold them into tiny packages, and hide them in his briefcase or jacket. After his eventual arrest in 2005, he agreed to cooperate with the prosecution and admitted to stealing 97 maps worth over $2 million. In exchange, he was given a light sentence--E. Forbes Smiley was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the story of Smiley's offenses and prosecution is interesting on its own, Blanding takes his investigation further by reporting how those affected by Smiley's thefts responded once his crimes were revealed. In-depth reviews of collections and security practices by affected institutions led to provocative conclusions. Instead of 97 missing maps, more than 200 (listed in the appendix) were found to be stolen. And, budget constraints often limited the types and number of security measures an institution could implement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Librarians and archivists make up a logical audience for Blanding's book and I highly recommend this book to them. For genealogists, <u>The Map Thief</u> provides insights into why and how libraries must balance security needs with access. Find this title at your local library, bookseller, or online merchant. </span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-33325360351758442722014-07-20T18:01:00.000-07:002014-07-20T18:01:22.267-07:00Review: Every Person Has a HistoryVickers, Rebecca. <u>Every Person Has a History</u>. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library, 2014. ISBN 978-1-4329-9584-3. Paperback, $8.99; library binding, $31.50; 64 pages.<br />
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These days, it seems as if everyone wants to know the details of other people's lives. As genealogists, we're usually digging into histories of long-gone ancestors. Vickers puts her own spin on this type of research by discussing how to uncover personal history about anyone--from a rock star to a military hero to great-grandpa.<br />
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In short chapters, she introduces beginning research techniques that middle- and high school students can use to obtain different types of records, such as military, obituary, and census, for people like Wilma Rudolph and Winston Churchill. She also touches on the nature of evidence, and how to evaluate and distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Attempts are made to guide students to libraries, websites, and government offices--in most cases, directions are not enough specific enough to be useful. The author's knowledge of the subject, the resources, and the methodology is evident. However, this is a 64-page book aimed at students who probably have minimal exposure to personal history research. Given the many aspects of personal history research tackled by Vickers, a longer book is in order. In its current edition, I believe it's overly ambitious to expect most students to independently--or successfully--use this book.<br />
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Many colorful illustrations as well as a glossary, index, and sources for further research are included. The book is part of Heinemann's <u>Everything Has a History </u>series.<br />
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Recommended as supplementary material for libraries, schools and organizations that specialize in introducing young researchers to genealogy and family history.<br />
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A genealogy/family history book by a respected publisher is always worth reviewing. Being able to borrow <u>Every Person Has a Story</u> for free from my local library made it irresistible. It was definitely worth reviewing, but I can't recommend it as introduction to family history for students. The book is available in both paperback and library reinforced binding formats.<br />
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<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-53115891275325056402014-06-22T08:15:00.000-07:002014-06-22T08:15:29.895-07:00Review: Genealogy Offline: a Beginner's Guide to Family History Records That Are Not Online<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breland, Claudia C. <i>Genealogy Offline: a Beginner's Guide
to Family History Records That Are Not Online</i>. 2013. 131 pp. ISBN
978-1490463889, paper, $12.95; Kindle eBook, $7.95.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although the title clearly states this helpful book is designed
for beginners, many experienced genealogists will also be delighted with
Breland's guide to tracking down original records that are not online.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why the emphasis on offline records? Breland is definitely not PC
or Mac-phobic. As a librarian and teacher she knows the value of online
research as well at its limitations. Her primary goal is to encourage all
researchers to seek out original documents from archives and other institutions
if/when online material is inadequate. While transcriptions, indexes, and
abstracts of original documents may be found online, they are often incomplete
or contain errors. As part of a thorough research, the conscientious genealogist<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>always</i> pursues
the original record.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each chapter in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Genealogy
Offline</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is devoted to a
different U. S. record type, such as adoption, land, probate, and
naturalization records. The author provides quick, highly readable
descriptions of each record type, what you can learn from them, how to locate
original documents, and even which online tools will facilitate your searches.
Lots of examples explain her techniques, although accompanying photos are often
unclear and hard to read. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While newbie genealogists will certainly gain from using this
book, more experienced genealogists will gain tips on how to track down the
records from which derivative abstracts, indexes and transcriptions are
created. In the near future, Breland also plans a sequel,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Genealogy Offline 2, </i>which
promises to show us how to track down even more elusive records, such as
photos, hospital records, and manuscripts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For this review, I purchased a paperback copy. At the time of
writing this post, the best way to read this book is to buy it since
availability through public libraries is limited. With both Kindle and
paperback formats for sale at amazon.com, I am sure you'll find this a
worthwhile, inexpensive purchase.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-82763140183360749752014-05-25T16:15:00.000-07:002014-05-25T16:15:36.375-07:00Review: Crash Course in Family History, 5th ed.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larsen, Paul. <u>Crash Course in Family History</u>. 5th ed. St. George, Utah: EasyFamilyHistory.com, 2014. 344 pp. ISBN 978-1-937900-05-2, hardback, $39.95; ISBN 978-1-937900-09-0, eBook, $33.95.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What genealogist wouldn't want a book that promises you can "build your family tree and
connect to your ancestors" in just three easy steps? Paul Larsen does just that in his 5th edition
of <u>Crash Course in Family History</u>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As in earlier editions, the book is also intended as a resource to be dipped into as research questions arise. Family historians with zero or limited
background in genealogical research are Larsen's target audience. The format is
appealing (though a little busy at times) with plentiful use of colorful illustrations,
sidebars, and website links. Given its hefty size and weight, you might decide to pass on the hardback and opt for the eBook instead--especially during research
trips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 3 easy sentences, here are Larsen's 3 easy steps. Step 1 is
to identify your ancestors by talking to relatives, networking online, and looking
for distant cousins. Step 2 teaches you to
extend and expand your family tree with basic census, immigration, military
and other records. And, step 3 shows you how to connect with your ancestors
by tapping into histories, family photos, and background information on places they lived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is more to the book, however. If your interest in genealogy has religious
or spiritual origins, the many quotes from Mormon and other leaders will no doubt be inspiring. The author is also an advocate for the belief that deceased ancestors can guide genealogists' research. If you find these assumptions jarring, you
will still gain from the solid information presented about genealogical research techniques and sources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I purchased a hardback edition of <u>Crash Course in Family History</u> for this
review, although an ebook is available. Prices shown are from the publisher; other online vendors may offer discounts. Older editions are readily available at public libraries.</span></div>
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-38218819386150298802014-03-04T10:59:00.001-08:002014-03-04T10:59:30.966-08:00Review: The Underground Railroad on Long Island: Friends in FreedomVelsor, Kathleen G. <u>The Underground Railroad on Long Island: Friends in Freedom</u><i>. </i>History Press, 2013. 144 pp. ISBN 978160497705. $19.99 paper, $9.99 Nook & Kindle.<br />
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Kathleen G. Velsor's purpose for writing this history book is to describe the existence of an active Underground Railroad on Long Island and how it evolved and was shaped by Quakers. She also continues the research she did for an earlier work, <u>Angels of Deliverance: the Underground Railroad in Queens and Long Island</u>. She begins by providing historical overviews of colonial Long Island, slavery, and growth of the Society of Friends. Chapters follow about Elias Hicks and his anti-slavery ministry among Quakers; the generations of families committed to abolition; and the Underground Railroad passage from North Carolina to Long Island.<br />
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Velsor demonstrates extensive Quaker participation in the nation's growing antislavery movements, as well as their leadership in Underground Railroad activity on Long Island by pulling together varied documents, personal narratives, newspaper notices, and letters. Underground Railroad participation, in particular, can be difficult to research since those involved often took great pains to avoid discovery and left few contemporaneous records. Although her narrative is compelling, it is not always clear how she reaches conclusions. More detail about this process would be welcome.<br />
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Her work suffers from occasional careless editing and fact-checking. In one chapter, she references the first census of Maryland (taken in 1790) for the death of a man in 1814. She refers to Liberia as an island. In some instances, endnotes don't match the text they reference and bibliographical entries are incomplete.<br />
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Although this book is not a genealogical study, family historians will enjoy Velsor's book since it provides social and historical background for 18th and 19th century Long Island. Her descriptions of marriages and relationships among key Quaker families (such as Hicks, Mott, Jackson, and Post) are useful starting points for genealogical research.<br />
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Libraries and individuals with strong interests in Long Island history should consider purchasing in order to broaden their existing collections. It's also widely available at libraries throughout the US. The review copy was purchased from an online vendor.<br />
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<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-53331137135705251902014-01-15T08:48:00.001-08:002014-01-15T08:48:46.469-08:00Review: Sustainable Genealogy: Separating Fact From Fiction in Family LegendsHite, Richard. <u>Sustainable Genealogy: Separating Fact From Fiction in Family Legends</u>. Genealogical Publishing Co., 2013. 110 pp. ISBN 978-0-8063-1982-7. Paper, $18.95.<br />
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Many family historians and professional genealogists first learn about their own families through the stories told by parents and grandparents. Over time and distance, facts are lost and stories take on lives of their own. Most of us then face a sort of baptism of fiery disbelief as we struggle to learn the truths behind the stories and eventually separate fact from fiction. The same things happened to Richard Hite.<br />
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Using his own experiences, Hite sympathetically discusses common errors in family stories and how they possibly evolved as stories were shared and re-shared. He then demonstrates the best research practices to uncover what really happened. Individual chapters cover some of the more common things that may need verification, like surnames' ethnic origins, relationships and connections to royalty and famous people, and descent from Native Americans. The myths are familiar ones. Hite adds much value to his book by showing how to apply various research tools (such as DNA tests, timelines, and cluster genealogy) to answer questions.<br />
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All new--and many experienced--genealogists will benefit from spending some time with <u>Sustainable Genealogy</u>. It is a well-written, thoughtful discussion of how to avoid common pitfalls when presented with undocumented traditions and legends. The sources and techniques he recommends will point you in the right direction and optimize your research results. In his enthusiastic foreword to the book, <a href="http://www.hankjones.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Henry Z. Jones, Jr., FASG,</a> heartily agrees.<br />
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The book is recommended for purchase by avid genealogists and libraries with genealogy collections. It is available through the publisher's <a href="http://www.genealogical.com/products/Sustainable%20Genealogy/2752.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> and at various libraries. At this time, an e-Book edition was not found.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-19744790894003367952013-12-04T16:58:00.003-08:002013-12-04T16:58:54.207-08:00Review: Family Tree Pocket Reference<span style="font-family: Arial;">Haddad, Diane. <u>Family Tree Pocket Reference</u>. F + W Media, Inc. rev. ed., 2013. 205 pp. ISBN 978-1-4403-3484-9. Paper, $14.99.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is an updated edition of the title by the same name published by the editors at <u>Family Tree Magazine</u> back in 2010. Characterized by minor, yet welcome, updates and format changes from the previous edition, the <u>Pocket Reference</u> remains a handy research guide for genealogists. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The content is compiled from articles appearing in the magazine in recent years so you will find the information accurate, reliable, and very useful. Chapters cover everything from general research skills to what to expect at libraries and archives to tips on using different record types. The chapter on census records does include a new section that conveniently lists each census with the questions asked for that year. Unfortunately, much of the information in other chapters is page-for-page the same as the 2010 edition. It was also slightly irritating that not all mentions of the <em>footnote </em>and <em>newenglandancestors </em>websites were corrected to reflect the new names of <em>fold3</em> and <em>americanancestors</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The somewhat larger format of the new edition is attractive and easy to read. With a large variety of reliable information and quick facts, it's especially helpful when you're traveling light through areas with sketchy internet access. I keep the newer edition in my research bag. It's recommended for public library collections and most genealogists who do not own the 2010 edition. If you have the 2010 edition, however, you might as well save your money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For this review, I purchased the 2013 edition and compared it with the 2010 one I already have. Several online vendors sell the paperback with attractive discounts. A <a href="http://www.shopfamilytree.com/digital-download-family-tree-pocket-reference" target="_blank">digital eBook</a> is also available. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Neither edition is widely available at public libraries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-58535287239091472652013-10-26T17:05:00.001-07:002013-10-26T17:05:35.904-07:00Review: AARP Genealogy Online: Tech to Connect<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Helm, April Leigh, and <span style="background-color: white;">Matthew </span>Helm. <u>AARP Genealogy Online: Tech to Connect</u>. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. For Dummies. 2012. 240 pp. ISBN 978-1-118-24405-0. Paper, $19.95; Kindle, $16.99.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Genealogists typically reach out to friends and family members to share their passion for family history. Savvy publishers recognize that seniors, in particular, may be passionate about sharing genealogy but lack technical expertise with online resources. AARP has partnered with the For Dummies line of publications to create its own <em>Tech to Connect</em> series. The <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/ForDummies/AARP/prweb9743571.htm" target="_blank">announcement at <em>PRWeb</em></a> stated, "Specifically targeting the 50+ consumer, these books offer advice and solutions for using technology to stay connected with friends, family and community...while helping to protect their online privacy and security." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any genealogy how-to book branded with both the AARP and For Dummies names should be welcomed by beginner genealogists and family historians. The authors aptly identify sound genealogical practices such as beginning research with yourself, organizing your findings, and online search strategies and prudent reminders to use traditional as well as online resources. Source citation was mentioned but not covered in detail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Writing about how to do anything on the internet is like herding cats or nailing Jell-0 to a tree. Your carefully crafted instructions will likely have a very short lifespan given the pace of change and product upgrades rampant on the internet. Unfortunately, that is all too evident with this book. The first chapter is titled, "Writing Your Autobiography with arcalife." What was once a promising genealogy product, is now, apparently, defunct. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another pitfall is providing step by step instructions for navigating viable websites like Ancestry.com. Upgrades, content growth, and new technology guarantee that accurate directions written months ago are already dated. Preparing readers for this inevitability would have helped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I find little fault with the genealogy research strategies that are described, the problems described above are serious flaws and I cannot recommend this book. The authors' earlier <em>Genealogy Online for Dummies</em> titles would be a better choice (a new edition is scheduled for early 2014). And, if you're in the market for an introductory book, you should take a peek at </span><a href="http://genealogy.about.com/cs/beginnerscorner/tp/genealogy_books.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kimberly Powell's short list at about.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you're not deterred by my review and prefer to make your own opinion, you'll find this book readily available in paper and e-book formats, as well as at many (mostly) public libraries. (For the purposes of this review, I borrowed a copy from my local library, and I have pre-ordered the 7th edition of <em>Genealogy Online for Dummies </em>which I'm eager to review.)</span><br />
<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-46160859440374614662013-09-04T18:06:00.000-07:002013-09-04T18:06:54.189-07:00Review: Turn Your IPad into a Genealogy Powerhouse by Lisa Louise Cooke<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cooke, Lisa Louise. <u>Turn Your iPad into a Genealogy Powerhouse (& other tablets too!)</u>. Genealogy Gems Publications. 2012. 152 pp. $19.95.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through podcasts, presentations and books, Cooke
continues to skillfully demonstrate that technology is a highly approachable
tool we can readily incorporate into our genealogy research process. This book is no exception. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the book is devoted to descriptions of apps for your mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) that meet a broad range of genealogical research needs. You will find apps to help you connect with other researchers, to organize your research, to scan documents in archives, and edit your photos. notetaking or traveling. While the emphasis is definitely on apps for Apple products, Cooke conveniently
includes android apps and sources, too. Each app is clearly described and may even include detailed how-to instructions for various features. In particular, I appreciated her tips about tracking down apps and websites when urls and names change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because everything related to the internet changes at lightning speed, this publication does run the risk of becoming outdated unless Cooke plans intermittent new editions.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: small;">Particularly recommended for genealogists new to the field or eager to expand their technology toolkits. </span><u>Turn Your iPad into a Genealogy Powerhouse</u> is available through several online vendors (which is how I purchased my copy) and a number of public libraries. <span style="font-size: small;">
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</span></span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-69731709382835064352013-06-15T06:59:00.000-07:002013-06-15T06:59:26.705-07:00Review: How to Archive Family Keepsakes by Denise May Levenick<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Levenick, Denise May. <em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn How to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia & Genealogy Records</em>. Family Tree Books. 2012. 208p. ISBN 978-1-4403-2223-5. $24.99. <br /><br />For several years, I’ve subscribed to the <em><a href="http://www.thefamilycurator.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Family Curator</a></em> blog by Denise Levenick, read articles she’s written and even attended a presentation she did at Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in 2012. Her enthusiasm for preserving family papers, artifacts, and photos is contagious. Plus, she has the knowledge to tell us how to successfully do it.<br /><br />This comes across in her recent book, <em> How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn how to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia & Genealogy Records</em>, as she explains how to plan, prepare, and implement a well-managed family archive. People who use this book to tackle their own collections will gain confidence to make decisions about the purpose, nature and scope of their own family archives. <br /><br />The book consists of three primary parts: <br /><br /><u>Part 1</u>. “I Inherited Grandma’s stuff, Now What?” leads you through a soul-searching planning process to define goals, set parameters, identify storage solutions, and prepare for the future. This process helps you focus and shape your assorted collection(s) into a family archive. Overall, this is Levenick’s finest section since it emphasizes planning and thinking ahead.<br /><br /><u>Part 2</u>. “Break the Paper Habit” delivers strategies for organizing and digitizing materials that can be preserved, shared with others, or accessed for writing and other creative projects. The sample workflows will get—and keep—your family archive organized, scanned, identified and accessible. Technical information, such as scanning specifications, is presented clearly.<br /><br /> <u>Part 3</u>.“Root Your Research in Strategies for Success” provides a handy toolkit of research methodologies, various software programs, citation options, and social media resources—all in the context of genealogical research and with lots of links to explore.<br /><br />Anyone who is struggling to live with and manage collections of family papers, photos, and miscellany will appreciate this book and the advice it contains. Public libraries will find it a welcome addition to their family history and digital photography collections. My own copy of Levenick’s <em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes</em> is well-thumbed as I organize and digitize over 80 years of my parents' memorabilia.<br /><br /><em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn how to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia & Genealogy Records</em> is available in several formats/editions at online vendors and public libraries. As a reviewer, my role is to evaluate a book in context of works by the author by searching for other editions and books. Surprisingly, I found that in addition to the expected eBook and paper formats, the three parts (listed above) of this book were extracted into individual books and sold separately under different titles.<br /> <br />“I Inherited Grandma’s stuff, Now What?” is sold as <em>How to Organize Inherited Items</em> at amazon.com ($7.99, Kindle) and at ShopFamilyTree.com ($9.99, pdf download) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The “Break the Paper Habit” section is sold as <em>How to Organize Family History Paperwork</em> at amazon.com ($7.99, Kindle) and at ShopFamilyTree.com ($9.99, pdf download)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Root Your Research in Strategies for Success” is sold as <em>Organization Strategies for Genealogy Success</em> at amazon.com ($7.99, Kindle) and at ShopFamilyTree.com ($9.99, pdf download)<br /><br />Just to be sure, I compared <em>How to Organize Family History Paperwork</em> with part 2 in <em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes </em>and found them to be identical. At the end of <em>How to Organize Family History Paperwork</em> there is also an explanatory statement that it had been extracted from <em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes</em>. I wish that statement had been included in the promotional blurbs I read.<br /><br />My recommendation for <em>How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn how to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia & Genealogy Record </em>is it is outstanding and you will repeatedly refer to all three sections to answer questions. You cannot go wrong with this choice. If you’re absolutely only interested in one of the extracted titles, you will still (mostly) get your money’s worth.</span> Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-68966166129271373422013-03-06T12:38:00.000-08:002013-03-06T12:38:50.773-08:00Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Virginia Genealogy Research by Carol McGinnis.McGinnis, Carol. <u>Virginia Genealogy Research</u>. Genealogy at a Glance series. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2012. 4pp. ISBN 978-0-8063-1896-7. $8.95.<br />
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It must be impossible to read any blog, attend a meeting, or visit your favorite genealogy bookseller without stumbling across one of the recent spate of laminated, 4-page pamphlets designed to fill you in on any number of genealogical research subjects. While they're not comprehensive, they will jumpstart your research and point you in the right direction. <br />
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And, frankly, I find them quite appealing with their spillproof formats and implied promises of instant information gratification. Some are simple lists of sources and websites. The better ones are written by experts who provide relevant background (such as history and timelines), discuss what you can expect from the recommended resources, and give you location or access details. <br />
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Carol McGinnis' <u>Virginia Genealogy Research</u> is definitely one of the better ones. She provides a concise introduction to Virginia's origins and history then demonstrates how events affected the types and amount of records available. Despite its brief length, McGinnis succeeds in packing key information, especially about Virginia's stellar online collections, into her publication, If you're new to Virginia research, you will get a solid introduction about reliable sources you should check first. For more experienced researchers, you will recognize some old friends, be reminded of others, and surprised that some of them have moved off library shelves to websites. Here's a list of records and resources she covers:<br />
<ul>
<li>Overview of Virginia's beginnings and settlers</li>
<li>Descriptions of vital, land, military, probate, census, and church records</li>
<li>Significant published indexes and journals</li>
<li>Major repositories</li>
<li>Free online resources</li>
</ul>
A lot of useful, current information is packed into these 4 pages. In addition to treating the above topics, McGinnis includes tips and pointers to helpful sources for further research. It's important to note that her focus is mostly on state-level resources. When you're ready to dig deep into resources held by individual counties, you can't go wrong with another title by McGinnis--her outstanding <u>Virginia Genealogy: Sources & Resources</u> (1993).<br />
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<a href="http://www.genealogical.com/" target="_blank">Genealogical.com </a> claims each publication in its Genealogy at a Glance series is "a four-page distillation of the key ingredients in a given area of genealogical research." With <u>Virginia Genealogy Research</u>, both the author and the publisher have met this goal. The title is available from the publisher and Amazon. A few libraries across the U.S own this title so don't forget to check the one near you.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-89247623475079680952013-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:002013-01-03T18:36:01.635-08:00Review: An Uncommon Soldier edited by Lauren Cook Burgess<div style="text-align: left;">
Burgess, Lauren Cook, ed. <u>An Uncommon Soldier: The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, alias Private Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers</u>. The Minerva Center. 1994. Bibliography. Index. 110p. ISBN 0-9634895-1-8.</div>
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Although not allowed to serve, women <em>did </em>sometimes disguise themselves as men and enlist in Confederate and Union military units. Since their continued service depended on secrecy, information about women soldiers serving in the Civil War is very hard to find and verify. Those who were discovered were discharged, often leaving in disgrace. </div>
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Burgess has successfully documented well over 150 women soldiers who saw military service during the Civil War. In <u>An Uncommon Soldier</u>, she applies her skill and knowledge gained by that research to bring to life the experiences of one woman, Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, whose letters home were preserved and passed down through the years by family members. </div>
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Sarah Rosetta Wakeman (1843-1864) was the first of nine children born to Harvey and Emily (Hale) Wakeman. She apparently left her home in Afton, New York in 1862, disguising herself as a man in order to work on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenango_Canal" target="_blank">Chenango Canal</a>. She then enlisted in the 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers in 1862 as Pvt. Lyons Wakeman. </div>
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In her letters home, Wakeman often expresses her love for family and pride in her military service. She is also well aware how Army life has changed her. Writing home just before Christmas 1863, she explains, "I have enjoyed my self the best since I have been gone away from home than I ever did before in my life. I have had plenty of money to spend and a good time asoldier[ing]. I find just as good friends among Strangers as I do at home." At other times, Wakeman writes about farming techniques, day-to day camp activities (her descriptions with these topics are particularly appealing), and her belief she will survive the war. Sadly, she died from diarrhea contracted during the Red River campaign and was buried at <a href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11079398" target="_blank">Chalmette National Cemetery.</a> </div>
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Pvt. Wakeman's letters were carefully edited by Burgess to retain the writer's voice while adding punctuation and standardizing spelling for the convenience of modern readers. The many explanatory notes are very welcome additions and help clarify events and identify people mentioned by Wakeman. If you're interested in reading the unedited letters, however, photocopies are available at <a href="http://catalog2.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=497408&recCount=100&recPointer=0&bibId=5811471" target="_blank">the Library of Congress.</a></div>
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Recommended for students, Civil War buffs, and genealogists with specific interests in the Wakeman family and the 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers. The book is widely available at many libraries in the U.S. as well as at several online vendors. Cloth and paper editions are for sale at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, beginning at about $10. Amazon also sells the Kindle edition for $9.99 while Lulu.com sells the eBook (pdf) edition for the same price.</div>
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-82015741418122821482012-12-13T09:28:00.003-08:002012-12-13T09:28:50.002-08:00Review: Digital Imaging Essentials by Geoffrey D. RasmussenRasmussen, Geoffrey D. <u>Digital Imaging Essentials: Techniques and Tips for Genealogists and Family Historians</u>. Geoff Rasmussen. 2012. Index. Paper, $19.95. eBook, $14.95.<br />
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Many of you will recognize this author from his presentations at genealogy conferences and as the host of Legacy Family Tree's webinar series. I've enjoyed his enthusiastic and informative presentations on Legacy software as well as the webinars. He brings that same enthusiasm to his recent book which successfully demystifies working with digital cameras and images for genealogists.<br />
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In his book, he provides basic definitions and overviews of terminology, procedures and related to digital photography. The information is straightforward and easy to understand. I appreciated his focus on Adobe Elements 11 (the most current release of this popular software!) and Picasa. <br />
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This is a well-rounded introduction to digital photography for those of us who struggled with each advance in camera evolution--from Brownie to Polaroid to 35mm to digital. <u>Digital Imaging Essentials</u> won't be the only guide you need, but it's an excellent starting point if you're the slightest bit nervous about digital photography. Publishing the book in print and eBook formats is not only logical, it gives readers needed flexibility to access information when and where they need it.<br />
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About the formats. I downloaded the eBook and pre-ordered the paper edition from Legacy. After reading it on my pc, I uploaded a copy to my iPhone 3GS so I could refer to some of the information if (when) I splurge on a new digital camera. The whole process was very easy and the version on the iPhone is as readable as the one on my pc. The paper edition arrived a couple of weeks later and I found it has the same layout and illustrations as the eBook. Rasmussen also points out that the eBook will be updated as needed--a definite advantage.<br />
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This title appears to be for sale only at <a href="http://www.legacyfamilytreestore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Legacy Family Tree</a> in eBook (available to download right away) or paper editions. Special holiday pricing is also offered. If you plan to borrow the book from your local library, you may have a long wait--only a few public libraries list it in their <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/digital-imaging-essentials-techniques-and-tips-for-genealogists-and-family-historians/oclc/820335384&referer=brief_results" target="_blank">catalogs</a>. No library admits to owning the eBook edition--although I imagine this will change.<br />
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-36844965297485372782012-10-16T17:32:00.000-07:002012-10-16T17:32:52.742-07:00Review: History for Genealogists by Judy JacobsonJacobson, Judy. <em>History for Genealogists: Using Chronological Time Lines to Find and Understand Your Ancestors. </em>Clearfield Company. 2009. ISBN 978-0-8063-5439-2. $33.00.<br />
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Education and experience teach many genealogy researchers to develop historical and social contexts when developing profiles of their ancestors. Knowing what went on in their worlds during their lifetimes provides insights into how and why our ancestors made certain decisions. In this book, prolific author Jacobson promotes timelines as essential tools to help researchers develop those contexts. <br />
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The author touches on the how-to of creating timelines and discovering relevant sources, but the real stars of this book are the many, many timelines. You will find detailed timelines for many topics, including international migrations, wars, disasters, politics, and economics. Key events for countries and regions throughout the world, and, my favorite, each U. S. state, are listed. All of these can be valuable starting points for your research. <br />
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Despite the value of the timelines, more information about how to create a relevant timeline and apply it to your ancestor's life would have been very useful. Readers looking for history lessons will also be disappointed, although the extensive bibliography will provide some direction. And, why weren't there more examples of the many available free online resources, such as <a href="http://www.cyndislist.com/timelines/general/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">links for timelines in Cyndi's List</a> which were available when the book was written?<br />
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This paperback book is an optional--and somewhat pricey--purchase for most genealogists and library collections. No eBook edition located. It is widely available for sale online at websites like <a href="http://www.genealogical.com/" target="_blank">genealogical.com</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> (which is where I purchased the copy to review). Outside of libraries with strong genealogy collections, few public libraries in the U.S. own this title, so it's a good candidate for inter-library loan.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-45618387011600058782012-08-31T11:03:00.000-07:002012-08-31T11:03:32.773-07:00Review: Brother Against Brother: the Lost Civil War Diary of Lt. Edmund HalseyChadwick, Bruce, ed. <em>Brother Against Brother: the Lost Civil War Diary of Lt. Edmund Halsey.</em> Carol Publishing Group. 1997. 308p. <br />
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One hundred fifty years ago, Edmund Halsey of Rockaway, New Jersey enlisted in the Union Army. His older brother, Joseph, of Virginia had already joined the Confederate Army. Both men served throughout the war and left many letters, articles and other documents that were saved by their families. On one level, this book is a simple collection of eyewitness narratives documenting the rigors of wartime and military life. What gives it value, however, is the way Chadwick juxtaposes excerpts from Edmund's diary and letters with those from Joseph and other Halseys. This combination creates a vibrant look into the turmoil, as well as the day-to-day concerns, that people throughout the North and South endured.<br />
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In the first part of the book, Chadwick provides descriptive background information covering the family's background, social standing, and contributions to Rockaway's--and by extension, New Jersey's--history and growth. Some genealogical information on the related Halsey and Jackson families is even included (but not footnoted). The prospect of uncovering genealogical tidbits about the Halseys is what enticed me to borrow this book from the library, but it was the useful background information on the Rockaway community that I found particularly valuable.<br />
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The balance of the book contains Edmund's diary, extracts from Joseph's papers, family letters, and helpful parenthetical explanations from Chadwick. The arrangement is chronological from August 30, 1862 through January 20, 1865. Many of the entries detail camp life, worries about family at home, and details about Edmund's and Joseph's military jobs. Letters from sisters and Joseph's wife, Millie, portray hardships at home.<br />
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This book is not a genealogy, but will give genealogists essential background information on the Civil War and Rockaway. The bibliography and author notes don't specify where the diary, family correspondence, and other source documents are located, but it appears the bulk of the materials are held by either the University of Virginia in <a href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00494.xml;query=halsey;brand=default" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Morton-Halsey papers</a> or the <a href="http://rockboro.gti.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rockaway Borough Free Public Library</a>.<br />
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Includes photographs, selected bibliography, and an index which does not include every name mentioned in the book. No eBook edition located. New and used copies available at amazon.com, bn.com, and other retailers. And, of course, borrowing it from a library is always a wise option.<br />
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-32772579237783747052012-08-22T17:48:00.000-07:002012-08-22T17:48:27.493-07:00Review: From the Family Kitchen by Gena Philibert-OrtegaPhilibert-Ortega, Gena. <em>From the Family Kitchen: Discover Your Food Heritage and Preserve Favorite Recipes</em>. Family Tree Books. 2012. 205p. ISBN 978-1-4403-1827-6. $13.44 (Kindle). $17.99 (hardcover).<br />
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Having attended a couple of Philibert-Ortega's presentations at local conferences in Southern California, I looked forward to adding her book to my personal library and eagerly ordered it pre-publication. Luckily, the book arrived in time to take on a cross-country flight that, thanks to <em>From the Family Kitchen</em>, ended up feeling like it lasted minutes instead of hours.<br />
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As the title promises, <em>From the Family Kitchen</em> provides family historians and genealogists a variety of tools and techniques to track down, collect, document, save and share family recipes. Definitely an ambitious project! Philibert-Ortega keeps it manageable by focusing (mostly) on family recipes and traditions developed in the U. S. Some methods to collect family recipes--such as interviewing relatives--may be familiar to researchers. Other methods, such as researching community cookbooks in local libraries and archives, may be new. She also explores how technology (<em>e.g.</em>, refrigeration), wars, and changing economies affected our ancestors' diets.<br />
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Descriptions of ethnic food traditions and the history of cookbooks, definitions of old cooking terms/ingredients, as well as a short collection of historic recipes add valuable information for researchers and round out the book. About 25% of the book is devoted to blank pages for documenting your own family's recipes and traditions. While public librarians tend to avoid titles with fill-in-the-blank pages, this title deserves a huge exception. Libraries should buy the book anyway. It's that good!<br />
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The book is highly readable, usable, and comprehensive. Each chapter ends with a list of pertinent resources. Additional books and websites are listed in the bibliography. There's also an index. And, if that's not enough for you, the illustrations, design and layout are delightful.<br />
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<em>From the Family Kitchen: Discover Your Food Heritage and Preserve Favorite Recipes</em> is available in hardcover from shopfamilytree.com, amazon.com, and bn.com. Kindle and Nook editions may be purchased from amazon.com and bn.com, respectively. Or, you may be able to find it at your local library since about 20+ libraries list it in <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/from-the-family-kitchen-discover-your-food-heritage-and-preserve-favorite-recipes/oclc/748334143&referer=brief_results" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Worldcat.</a> You can learn more about <a href="http://www.yourfamilyhistoryresearch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gena Philibert-Ortega</a> at her website.<br />
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<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-14403397857231213792012-08-14T07:32:00.000-07:002012-08-14T07:32:40.682-07:00Review: Family History Detective by Desmond Walls Allen<br />
Allen, Desmond Walls. <em>Family History Detective: a Step-By-Step Guide to Investigating Your Family History</em>. Family Tree. 2011. 143p. ISBN 9781440306876. $9.34 (Kindle), $16.99 (paperback).<br />
<em>Family History Detective </em>updates author Desmond Walls Allen's <em>First Steps in Genealogy: a Beginner's Guide to Researching Your Family History </em>(Betterway Books, 1998), by expanding recommendations to incorporate online resources and search techniques in genealogical research. The book emphasizes the importance of starting with what you know--gathering family stories, interviewing relatives, asking questions, documenting sources, etc. What makes Allen's advice shine, however, are her recommendations to develop critical evaluation skills and to learn about our ancestors' worlds. In her words, "Genealogy isn't just about collecting information; it's about analyzing and evaluating what you find."<br />
Much of the new edition, however, retains its 1998 feel with the same text, research anecdotes, and recommendations for other books. Lackluster appendices cover 29 citation examples, 3 forms, plus a topical list of vendors, titles and other resources mentioned throughout the book. Indexing was good and will be a plus for the paperback format, but rather superfluous in a searchable eBook. Overall, this new edition is a solid, well-written introduction to genealogical research that will help newbie researchers develop good research habits. If you're just starting your own family history research or teach beginning genealogy classes, <em>Family History Detective</em> would be a useful resource for your personal library. <br />
Disclosure: Purchased <em>Family History Detective </em>in the Kindle eBook format to review. Borrowed a copy of <em>First Steps in Genealogy </em>from my local library. Read both from start to finish. <br />
Availability: Widely available from many publishers and various online bookstores for both the paperback and eBook formats. <br />
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6322084392508111564.post-42294765913142997762012-08-13T16:40:00.000-07:002012-08-13T16:50:13.965-07:00Welcome to Blogging About GenBooks<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blogging about GenBooks</span></em>,
I'll review, evaluate, and make recommendations for books (in all their many glorious
formats) all about genealogy, family history, and related topics. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fresh out of library school, the first genealogy book I purchased for my personal library was <em>Cite Your Sources</em> by Richard S. Lackey. Now, I collect mostly books about research techniques and places my ancestors lived. I started with Personal Ancestral File and am now on Rootsmagic 5. As an amateur genealogist, my research experience in the past 20+ years has been mostly focused on California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. I'm always interested in learning about new methods, technology, and research opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The heart of my career as a librarian is to connect people with the books they want to read, the ones that meet their needs. I'll write reviews about books I've read and/or used to help you connect with the best sources for your genealogy research. Here's what you can expect from each review:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An overview of the book’s content, author’s background, and any additional features (such as indexes or illustrations).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An evaluation of the pros and cons of the book and how it compares to similar titles.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My recommendation as to which researchers will benefit the most from this book, so you can decide if it’s right for you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Information you need to buy, borrow and/or otherwise access the book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Disclosure about how I obtained copies for reviews. Beyond the simple pleasures of evaluating books and sharing my opinions, I am not paid for reviews.</span></li>
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13792728273494521475noreply@blogger.com2