We were delighted to see that the prestigious Midwest Book Review published a long and glowing review of J. Michael Cleverley’s book, Family Stories . . . and How I Found Mine. We have reprinted it in its entirety below. Reviewer’s Bookwatch: July 2020James A. Cox, Editor-in-ChiefMidwest Book ReviewFamily Stories…and How I Found MineJ. Michael[…]Read more
Tag: Genealogy Pointers
Assessing Genealogical Sources—Part 2
By Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG From time to time we have excerpted portions of the extraordinary book, Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards. Edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, one of America’s most respected genealogy authorities, and written by eighteen leading experts on the substance of genealogical research, Progen PPS is a priceless[…]Read more
Creating a Research Plan to Solve Our Research Problem
By Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG Excerpted from Laura Murphy DeGrazia, “Problem Analyses & Research Plans,” Elizabeth Shown Mills, ed., Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018), 295–316. Publisher’s Note: Last week we ran an excerpt from Laura Murphy DeGrazia’s chapter, “Problem Analyses & Research Plans,” published in Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice &[…]Read more
“Assessing Genealogical Information,” By Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG
The following article was excerpted by Elizabeth Shown Mills, editor, from Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018), pp. 265–92. Genealogists think about the information they find and what it might say or imply about the past. They assess both information and the sources that contain the information. These assessments usually[…]Read more
Planning a Future for Your Family’s Past, by Marian Burk Wood
What will happen to your ancestor photos, family heirlooms, and genealogy documents when you someday join your ancestors? The new year is a good time to plan for passing family history to future generations. Planning a Future for Your Family’s Past by Marian Burk Wood offers a practical, step-by-step process for getting your collection in shape for the next generation[…]Read more
Assessing Genealogical Sources—Part 1
By Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG From time to time we have excerpted portions of the extraordinary book, Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards. Edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, one of America’s most respected genealogy authorities, and written by eighteen leading experts on the substance of genealogical research, Progen PPS is a priceless[…]Read more
Family Stories . . . and How I Found Mine illustrates the Potential of Pension Records
When last we took up the story of author J. Michael Cleverley’s Greene family ancestors, it was during the reign of England’s Richard II (1377-1399)—just as one of Michael’s forebears was about to lose his head. Today’s excerpt comes from “Chapter Five: Road to Rebellion,” as Rhode Island ancestor Nathaniel Greene and others attempt to[…]Read more
DNA Testing: Ethical Considerations
By Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D. & Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL Excerpted from Bettinger & Russell, “Genetics for Genealogy,” Elizabeth Shown Mills, ed., Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018), 361–90. Millions of people have voluntarily undergone DNA testing. Probably millions more would do so if they were not[…]Read more
A Lighter Side of History — A Timeline of Pastimes of our Ancestors
By Denise R. Larson Though it can be said that our ancestors did not have the economic advantages that most of us enjoy today, that doesn’t mean their lives were completely humdrum and colorless. They had their fun, too. A chapter in the second edition of Judy Jacobson’s History for Genealogists: Using Chronological Time Lines[…]Read more
History for Genealogists. Using Chronological Time Lines to find and Understand Your Ancestors
By Judy Jacobson Finally! A history book written expressly for family sleuths–History for Genealogists, Using Chronological Time Lines to find and Understand Your Ancestors. With this book, accomplished author Judy Jacobson returns with a vast array of historical time lines that are guaranteed to inform your family history. Consider the following illustrations: If you have[…]Read more
Citing Derivatives & Imaged Sources: The Basics, by Elizabeth Shown Mills
The following essay was excerpted from Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 3rd ed. Rev. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2017), p. 47, by the author, expressly for “Genealogy Pointers.” “The range of materials and media in use today defies standardization. When we examine a publication to define the elements that need recording,[…]Read more
HOW TO RESEARCH NEW ANCESTORS, By Lyndon Hobbs Hart, III, Jamestowne Society Genealogist
The following article describes the criteria and important sources for obtaining membership in the distinguished Virginia lineage organization, the Jamestowne Society. The article is also valuable for identifying sources related to 17th-century Virginia research in general. It originally appeared in the Jamestowne Society Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 1. Spring 2020, p. 13, and is reproduced[…]Read more