Evernote for Genealogists Quick Guides Now Available

Lisa Louise Cooke and GenealogyGems.com recently released two new quick reference guides: Evernote for Windows for Genealogists and Evernote for Mac for Genealogists.

If you're not familiar with the format, a "quick reference guide" is a 4-page overview or how-to about a given subject. In genealogy, you often see laminated guides for sale at conferences. They usually are also available in PDF format.

I was fortunate to get my hands on a PDF digital download of Evernote for Windows for Genealogists, and I'm going to share some observations with you.

If you're an absolute beginner, start with page 2 because it provides an easily understandable definition of Evernote. Then return to page one and read through all the tips. This should give you a good idea of the power of Evernote for genealogy.

Features in this quick guide include:

A side-by-side comparison of a free Evernote account vs. a premium one.

Common Evernote terms such as "notebooks" and stacks"

Tag suggestions for genealogists

Evernote quick keys

A getting-started checklist

Merging notes

Compare and contrast of the two types of Evernote clipping

How to maneuver the desktop client

Desktop and search quick keys

All that in only 4 pages! I hate to sound like a salesperson, but I found this quick guide to be helpful and extremely easy to read. The tables are concise and the lists of quick keys are impressive. This guide is a keeper.

Should you want a copy of Evernote for Windows for Genealogists or Evernote for Mac for Genealogists, they are available from the GenealogyGems.com store.

Evernote for Windows for Genealogists (laminated copy)

Evernote for Windows for Genealogists (PDF digital download)

Evernote for Mac for Genealogists (PDF digital download)

Lisa Louise Cooke was kind enough to share these Evernote tips and encouraged me to pass them on to you, so here you go:

1) Create a New Note: When you’re working on your computer and you want to make a quick note of something in Evernote, you can get there with lightning speed by pressing quick keys simultaneously. Windows: Ctrl+Alt+n.  Mac: Command + N. 

2) Instant Note Search: What if you are knee deep in your research and you have a note that you need to quickly reference? Simply press Win+Shift+f (Windows) or Option + Command + F

 (Mac) from anywhere on your computer and Evernote will instantly open with your cursor in the search box ready to type a keyword and search!

[Disclosure: I received a review copy of this quick reference guide from the publisher. The enthusiasm is my own. --A]

Zap the Grandma Gap: A Review

Author Janet Hovorka gets it. She understands the value of family history and its impact on our lives. Genealogy isn’t just a hobby. It’s a means to uncover the knowledge that can influence who we are and how we comprehend our world.

Unfortunately, most people don’t discover the joys of family history until much later in life. When our relatives die, we lose their family memories, experiences, recipes and other elements of our heritage. To ensure family history is preserved, we need to pass our knowledge and wisdom on to our children so they can learn to appreciate genealogy.

However, kids have a tendency to run away from whatever mom, dad, grandma and grandpa think is cool. How do we get our broods interested in family history? Fortunately, Janet Hovorka’s book comes to the rescue.

Zap The Grandma Gap: Connect With Your Family by Connecting Them To Their Family History features almost 200 pages of ideas, strategies and assistance in preserving and sharing family history with loved ones.

The book is divided into seven sections that tackle different challenges in incorporating one’s family into family history. The first section discusses serendipity, healing and understanding emotions within the family. Section two provides visual ideas for sharing ancestral history. Other sections include sharing through technology, creating new content, making family history fun and educational, connecting with relatives and preservation tips to ensure heirlooms are passed down in top condition.

Hovorka knows all about what she preaches. She’s a mother of three who also runs Family ChartMasters with her husband. In Zap the Grandma Gap, she shares candidly of her own trials and tribulations and how they shaped her life. Her ideas have been tested on her own family so you know they’re practical and successful. She references her own “crabby teenager” when introducing social media strategies to break down communication barriers.

There are literally dozens and dozens of ideas and tips for introducing family history, sparking interest and fostering ancestral appreciation. My favorite example was the set of short children’s books Hovorka’s mother created to share family history. Each 10-15 page book focused on a different ancestor and an attribute he or she exhibited in life. What a treasure!

Hovorka advises genealogy enthusiasts to give kids a chance to be beginners. Let them discover the joy of the hunt, even if their research practices aren’t top notch out of the gate. She revels in their excitement and tells us to do the same. Her motherly patience is all over this book.

Zap the Grandma Gap is a handy toolbox brimming with inspiration and ideas for getting the “family” into family history. You’ll be grateful for the guidance as well as the casual and supportive way in which it is delivered. Like a good mom, Hovorka even adds something special at the end: a promise of more great ideas at the book’s accompanying website: zapthegrandmagap.com.

Zap the Grandma Gap - $19.95

Buy the book

[Disclosure: I received a pre-publication copy of this book for review. -A]

Reunion: A Search for Ancestors by Ryan Littrell

Genealogy enthusiasts often talk about putting their family histories in writing. The truth is that few actually take the time to do so. The excitement of the next great research discovery always seems to distract us.

Ryan Littrell is one genealogist who did take the time to pen his ancestral tale. He shares it with us in Reunion: A Search for Ancestors.

Littrell’s own immediate family history is a familiar one: Midwestern background with no discussion of family roots growing up. The author’s own curiosity led to the discoveries that fuel this book.

Reunion is actually two separate stories moving in time toward each other to become one. Littrell shares his own quest to move backward in his family tree starting with his grandmother. At the same time, Littrell introduces readers to the MacDonalds of Scotland hundreds of years ago. He brings their story toward the present day while taking his own MacDonalds back in time. Do they meet? Will Littrell make the connection? That’s the hook in Reunion.

Armchair genealogists will appreciate and relate to the author’s research trials and tribulations. Courthouse strikeouts, cemetery wanderings and chance meetings with cousins are all present.

Littrell’s search for the “right” MacDonalds leads him to test his own family DNA. Through this he reaches out to and connects with other MacDonalds. This makes for interesting reading, though those unfamiliar with the DNA process may be confused by the scientific descriptions.

No two personal genealogy memoirs are the same, and they run the gamut in terms of readability and quality. Littrell does it right combining research, road trips, history and colorful descriptions of the MacDonald homeland. If you like books about the thrill of the genealogy hunt, Reunion will fit nicely on your shelf.

RyanLittrell.com (author's official website)

Reunion Paperback at Amazon.com $12.99 (affiliate link)

Reunion Kindle at Amazon.com $4.99 (affiliate link)

Book Review: Cajun by Any Other Name

Cajun by Any Other Name* focuses on the history of one person’s Acadian, Native American and European ancestral lines. Author Marie Rundquist shares the relocation and establishment of her ancestors from Canada to Louisiana.

The book is organized into six chapters. Five of the six chapters detail distinct eras in the location of the author’s ancestors. The first chapter details the relocation of Rundquist’s ancestors from Nova Scotia to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The author’s description of their plight and the setting make a good read for those unfamiliar with the area’s history. This section itself would make an excellent book on the topic of Acadian exile in Maryland.

The middle chapters of Cajun by Any Other Name focus specifically on the authors own ancestors as they made their way to Louisiana. Rundquist moves back and forth between her ancestors’ past and her own story in the present day including detailed travel itineraries and commentary. This works most of the time but occasionally takes away from the historical narrative. 

Chapter six is titled “Out of Acadia,” but it actually is a discussion on the use of DNA tests in genealogy. Here the book shifts unexpectedly from the focus on history as the author discusses her own experiences with DNA and shares those of others who are in her same research interest group. Those who are not familiar with DNA tests as they are used in family history may be confused by this chapter, as there is no introductory lesson on haplogroups and Y-DNA and mt-DNA. This final section--like the first chapter--would make an interesting book topic in itself.

The book includes several color photos and references at the end including a healthy bibliography. There is no name index, though the author’s maternal ancestral line is provided for reference as an appendix.

Cajun by Any Other Name is most relevant to those who share common Acadian ancestry with the author. Though my own Cajun roots landed and grew further west in Louisiana, I still found Rundquist’s ancestral story to be an interesting read.



* affiliate link

Cajun by Any Other Name*
by Marie Rundquist
ISBN - 978-0-7414-7042-X
$11.95

Book review: On the Banks of Plaquemine Brulee by Gene Thibodeaux

On the Banks of Plaquemine Brulee: Une Histoire de la Pointe de l'Eglise is a history of Church Point, Lousiana written by native Gene Thibodeaux.

My own interest in this book stems from my connection to the area. My great-great grandparents Noel Thibodeaux and Eliza Eldridge were married there. You may remember Noel as the one with the wandering eye.

Thibodeaux's book is organized into eighteen chapters, sorted by time period. The first chapter begins with the Native American history of the area. Later chapters each cover a set time period and the events that occurred during that time.

A typical chapter includes and overview of the national, state and local history of the era. Notable events, social changes and disasters are included. Readers will get a detailed picture of the region, it's economy and local flavor.

On the Banks of the Plaquemine Brulee is a history book with value to genealogists. Thibodeaux includes many names of Church Point citizens and their role in the city's history. A name index is included in the back of the book.

Numerous black and white photographs are featured in certain sections of the book. Thibodeaux also included an impressive source list and several appendixes featuring lists of names in historic Church Point groups, censuses, etc.

On the Banks of the Plaquemine Brulee is a well written, thoroughly researched look at a slice of Acadiana. It helped me get a sense of the former home of my ancestors and learn more about Louisiana. It also makes me wonder if I'm distantly related to the author through my Thibodeaux line. That's a search for another day, however. For now I'll just be content with my new knowledge of Church Point, Louisiana.


Information on ordering the book can be found here.

Branching Out: Genealogy for High School, a review

Family history is so important, especially as it pertains to the younger generations. It is up to us to ensure the stories, lives and accomplishments of our ancestors are honored and preserved for future generations.

Drumming up youth interest in genealogy is no easy task, however. The term connotes images of old stuff, boring stories and other topics at which teens love to roll their eyes. How do we teach the simple joys of genealogy while sharing the important stories of our families’ histories?

Noted genealogist, speaker, author and mother of 3 Jennifer Holik provides an exciting solution with Branching Out:Genealogy for High School, Lessons 1-15.

Branching Out part 1 is a series of 15 lessons geared toward the teen audience. Each lesson includes a goal, vocabulary words, assigned reading, lesson and activity along with some worksheets and projects.

For example, lesson 6 asks the student to collect family history information then write a story based on those facts. Links to online articles pertaining to this subject are provided. The task involves utilizing information gathered in the previous lessons to create a sound family history biography. The results include a solid written genealogy piece as well as expanded family history knowledge for the student.

The author does recommend the purchase of certain genealogy books (a list is provided), but many of them and the assigned articles can be found online or through the public library. A 3-ring binder and basic school supplies (pen, paper, etc.) are needed to execute the lessons.

Holik builds a solid family history foundation from lesson 1, letting each task build from the previous ones. Students also gain experience in research, writing, interviewing and analytical techniques on top of the treasured stories they will learn about their relatives and ancestors. There’s even a gentle lesson in etiquette, as students are instructed to write thank you notes to the family members who granted interviews. The final result also includes a notebook suitable for any budding genealogist, filled with records, information, stories and written pieces that describe the student’s family history.

Branching Out: Genealogy for High School, Lessons 1-15 is the first in a groundbreaking series of genealogy education tools from Jennifer Holik. They are suitable for a homeschool or traditional curriculum*, supplemental education, independent study, service project or any other educational opportunity.

* I am not an expert in homeschool or  general education. After reviewing these lessons, I feel they are of good quality and would incorporate them in my own curriculum if I was homeschooling or teaching in the classroom.

For more information, see Generationsbiz.com.

[Disclosure: Jennifer Holik is my colleague and friend. I received a review copy of this book. The opinions are my own. --A]

The Genealogist's Guide to Researching Tax Records

The Genealogist’s Guide to Researching Tax Records* gives readers “the techniques to locate, read and understand the valuable information in annual tax records.” Authors Carol Cooke Darrow, CG and Susan Winchester, Ph.D., CPA bring their expertise to this book that explores the research value in historical American tax records.

The book is divided into nine chapters and starts with the steps to understanding the tax process and the documents created by it. Chapters three through nine describe a different type of tax, such as poll, land or federal taxes.

Each chapter shows practical examples of research situations created by tax records then provides the steps to solve the genealogical problem. For example, when several taxed individuals have the same name, the authors guide readers through the steps to determine which taxpayer is your research subject. You can use tax records to determine approximate age, family relationships, property (including slaves), and more.

The individual chapters contain a tax-related quote at the beginning and a set of footnotes at the end. Also included in The Genealogist’s Guide to Researching Tax Records are several appendixes, a small glossary and a bibliography of selected tax records.

Though the authors write extensively on the different taxes once collected in various states, such information is not reflected in the index. If you want to look at the types of taxes in Massachusetts as they are mentioned in the book, you must read through the entire book because “Massachusetts” is not a keyword in the index.

The Genealogist’s Guide to Researching Tax Records is a good primer for understanding the genealogical value and depth of historical American tax records. You’ll have to do the hunting yourself, as it does not contain research guidance for individual states. However, readers will walk away with a good foundation and education in an often overlooked set of records that can be an information goldmine.

The Genealogist's Guide to Researching Tax Records

ISBN 978-0-7884-4298-8

Published by Heritage Books

*both links are affiliate links

Book Review: The Time Traveller's Handbook by Althea Douglas

In this technological era, information as well as the way we retrieve it have changed greatly. Much of what used to be “common knowledge” is fading away as we attempt to grasp the facts and realities that arise. This is a challenge to genealogists who are dealing with historical documents that contain obsolete terms and details.

What is “green sickness?” How long did it take our ancestors to sail across the Atlantic Ocean? These answers aren’t easily attained today because they are part of the information of the past. As genealogists, we still need those “old” facts. Where do we find them?

Enter The Time Traveller’s Handbook: A Guide to the Past, by Althea Douglas (affiliate link). The author is a noted genealogist who has written extensively on Canadian local history and heritage. This latest endeavor is billed as a “guide for family historians working in Canada,” though the subject matter often pertains to readers in other countries as well.

The book is divided into sixteen chapters as well as an appendix, notes section, bibliography and index. The subjects covered in the chapters include historical documents, family traditions, education, money, travel, trades, home, health and heritage. The chapters flow easily and include many photos, tables and timelines to help readers process the information.

Douglas utilizes a conversational writing style that allows readers to learn more about her personal life and that of her ancestors during various eras in time. These anecdotes peppered throughout the chapter are entertaining, though sometimes draw attention away from the facts at hand and purpose of the book.

The biggest assets of The Time Traveller’s Handbook are its extensive reading lists. Douglas clearly is a well-read historian. This book includes numerous titles utilized in the manuscript, as well as a sizable bibliography. Readers will be pleased with the helpful published suggestions on both lists. Those looking for online resources will find only a couple recommended websites however, as the author focuses almost exclusively on printed resources.

Though the book is written by a Canadian for Canadians, it really is useful for genealogists in other countries as well. Much of the historical information contained in the book is relevant to British and U.S. research interests. Even the final chapters, which deal with Canadian heritage, are interesting and helpful from my American perspective.

According to the book’s introduction, this guide is “an attempt to bring together a lot of facts our ancestors once knew, took for granted and used regularly.” Douglas succeeds in packing a ton of information on numerous subjects into one soft-cover guide. The Time Traveller’s Handbook is a handy tool for assisting genealogists in understanding their ancestors’ every day lives.

The Time Traveller's Handbook by Althea Douglas

ISBN 976-1-55488-784-2

Dundurn Press

Book Review: Life in Civil War America

Life in Civil War America is a completely revised edition of Everyday Life in the Civil War, which was first published in 1999. Author Michael Varhola has added substantially to the 2011 edition including two new chapters and other enhancements to make this a definitive handbook for the study of the Civil War.

The book is intended to give readers a broad-based view of everyday life before, during and after the Civil War. The various elements of the era are divided into thirteen chapters covering topics such as housing, education, slang, entertainment, religion, dress, wages, shortages, food, technology and more.

Five appendixes bring up the rear of the book, including a section on Civil War photography by Maureen A. Taylor. In her piece, Taylor shares how photography was used to document the War and how images impacted those involved. Other appendixes cover the Civil War timeline, bibliography, suggested readings and resources, songs and poetry.

Genealogists will find the Introduction helpful and handy. It describes the steps to determining Civil War ancestors (including those who assisted in other areas besides battle), and ways to locate their records. General and location-specific website addresses are included in this section.

Life in Civil War America is a history book geared toward the general-interest audience. Do not expect to find your ancestor’s name in here, nor details on specific battles. However, you will get a description of the period and an introductory Civil War military lesson. Varhola’s book is ideal for writers, students (8^th-college), genealogists and history buffs looking for an all-encompassing work that explains the basics of a complex era in United States history.

Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors: Book Review

Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors is a handy little tool for genealogy research in this era of United States history. The publication is presented in magazine format, with 84-pages and a UV coated cover. By appearance and weight, it feels like a double-size genealogy magazine with a stronger cover.

Author David Norris has written extensively on the subject, including books and over 250 articles for various publications.

The design of Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors is similar to the Family Chronicle and Internet Genealogy magazines published by Moorshead Magazines. Numerous research topics are presented in 28 articles, each covering a different aspect of Civil War era research and records. Article subjects include:

First steps to finding a Civil War ancestor

Learning how armies are structured

Ancestors in the navies

U.S. Colored Troops and African-American sailors

Medical records, pay records and parole lists

Pension records, civilian records, tax records and Southern claims.

Newspapers, photos, maps and flags

Many more topics

Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors stays true to the magazine format and does not contain an index or suggested reading list at the end of the publication. However, each article includes many mentions of books, record groups or links readers can access for more information on a given subject.

Black and white photos are peppered throughout the publication. Subjects include soldiers, documents and maps. Most articles have a least one photo in them.

David Norris packs a lot of information in one spot. Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors is a good introductory resource for the various records that are available with regards to Civil War ancestors. A complete cover-to-cover read of Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors will give you a basic understanding of Civil War resources and suggestions for further research.

Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors

ISBN 978-0-9781592-7-6

$9.95 US/CDN

Available at FamilyChronicle.com through this page.

Also available at Barnes & Noble and Books a Million in the USA, and Chapters/Indigo in Canada.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this publication from Family Chronicle. I was not compensated for this article.

Book Review of Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? is billed as a companion book to the television series of the same name. Author and “Chief Genealogical Consultant” Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, really) is the author of this book subtitled: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History.

Here’s the blueprint: nine chapters covering research preparation, Internet use, record types, case studies and family history preservation. Also, in the middle of the book, there is a separate insert of highlights from the episodes of the first season of Who Do You Think You Are?

Smolenyak’s book touches on all major categories of genealogy records, but doesn’t go into depth into any of them. This observation isn’t really a criticism, as it’s pretty difficult to cover all the genealogical bases without publishing a multi-volume set. Given the size of the book, the author has included an impressive knowledge set including helpful Internet links. Readers will have exposure to all the big record groups, but will have to seek more texts for further study.

Learning the basics of genealogy can intimidate beginners. Smolenyak’s conversational tone is a comforting introduction to a field that asks us to remember a lot of details. The author is an accomplished professional genealogist who has delved into the family lines of many recognizable historical figures. Luckily for readers, she shares some of the records and stories she’s found along the way. Are you interested in seeing the Word War I draft registration for Al Capone or hearing about President Obama’s Irish roots? Both are included in this book.

Readers do not need to view the Who Do You Think You Are? show in order to benefit from the book of the same name. However, if these episodes do inspire you or others to begin research family history, this book makes a great introduction. At 204 pages, it’s an easy and entertaining read. 

Who Do You Think You Are?

by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak

ISBN-13: 978-0670021635 

Book Review of Presentation Zen

 Presentation Zen is a crash course in simplicity for speakers. Author Garr Reynolds offers a philosophical approach to preparation, design and delivery of presentations that is beneficial to both speaker and audience.

Reynolds has clearly attended more than his share of seminars. His description of endless streams of bullet-point riddled slides resonates with readers and draws them into the message of the book: simple is better.

Preparation is the theme of the first section of Presentation Zen. Reynolds encourages readers to get back to pen and paper in the idea stage and offers suggestions on ways to do so.

In the second section, design is the focus. Preventing “death by PowerPoint” is the goal here. Examples of slides are provided in side-by-side format to show how simplification or minor edits can maximize a message.

Connecting with the audience through good delivery is the book’s third main point. This portion does not create new speakers, but provides paths for improvement.

Genealogy speakers, writers and presenters can benefit from the message put forth in Presentation Zen. The lessons on slide design alone will enhance genealogy conference sessions and make sense of all the overwhelming information provided.

Critics will find fault with the book’s lean formula, and the $34.99 cover price makes it hard to argue. However, though the statements are basic, the lesson learned is a good one: less can be more and lead to better presentations. Reynold’s is true to the book’s point that audiences can only remember a handful of items in a given session. Presentation Zen delivers just enough to be valuable and expand readers’ thinking on the subject.

Presentation Zen is definitely a good read if you can find it on the library shelf. It’s not an essential genealogy book for your own personal collection, but can be a valuable asset to professional genealogists looking to enhance their own presentation skills. 

Presentation Zen 

by Garr Reynolds

ISBN 13: 978-0321525659

[Disclosure: I did not receive a review copy of this book. I got it at the library. Libraries are good that way. Also, the link takes you to the Amazon web page for this book. It is attached to my affiliate account.]

Book Review: How to Do Everything Genealogy

“How to do Everything ___” is a popular series of books in the same vein as the “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to___” and “___For Dummies” introductory subject guides. George G. Morgan wrote the original How to Do Everything (with Your) Genealogy and also updated the second edition featured here.

The title is no joke. Morgan somehow manages to touch on every aspect one might encounter in the general genealogy field. Chapter subjects include topics on why one should do genealogy, family tree organization, traditional & electronic resources, accessing different types of records (military, land, etc.), DNA, problem solving, research trip planning, technology and more.

Each chapter includes “Did You Know?”text boxes with handy facts for benefit of readers. Morgan also shares documents from his private collection and features them as examples throughout the book.

The center of How to Do Everything Genealogy contains a highlighted section that includes a brick-wall research problem. In “Getting Past Penelope Swords,” Morgan shares some hurdles in a genealogy quest and provides alternative research strategies readers can employ in their own family history pursuits.

The vast level of content covered in this book makes it a good starting point for those just beginning their genealogy quests. Morgan does not go into depth with these topics (there’s simply not enough room), but he introduces the terms, explains them and provides suggestions for further information. Intermediate researchers may also learn some new tricks and be reminded of old ones.

“Become an expert genealogical researcher,” claims the book’s cover. This ambitious statement is more likely from the publisher’s art department than the author himself. Reading How to Do Everything Genealogy will not make you an expert, but it will provide a solid foundation on which new genealogists can build.

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

McGraw-Hill Osborne Media

ISBN-13: 978-0071625340

Book Review of The Genealogist's Address Book

The Genealogist’s Address Book provides almost 800 pages of state and local genealogy resources. Elizabeth Petty Bentley has compiled an amazing amount of information and genealogy contacts in this recently updated 6^th edition.

The book is divided into two parts. The first section focuses on the United States. There are sections devoted to contact information for National Archives, federal government departments and agencies, U.S. libraries, societies (national) and publications. There are also sections for each state. These groupings have statewide resources listed first, then localized resources listed by county.

The second part of The Genealogist’s Address Book is titled “Special Resources” and concentrates on contact information for archives and libraries with specific ethnic categories, religious categories, lineage societies, genealogy products and smaller miscellaneous subjects.

Bentley states that the information compiled within the book is “based largely upon data received in response to direct-mail and email questionnaires, supplemented by information from printed and Internet sources.” This begs the question: what happens if a repository doesn’t answer an inquiry? Is the information from the 5^th edition used instead? It would seem to be the case, at least in one instance where a national library’s contact/staff information is considerably outdated.

Other issues found include sources misplaced in the wrong county (at least in one instance: my county) and the author’s web site being inaccessible thanks to GeoCities demise. These observances aren’t necessarily criticisms as much as an illustration of how quickly this type of information can change, rendering a book obsolete.

Bottom line: The Genealogist’s Address Book isn’t a must-have item, but you shouldn’t reject one delivered to your door. It is worth a look. Try to track down a copy through your public/academic library system (or inter-library loan) and browse it occasionally for genealogy contacts and new research repository leads.

The Genealogist’s Address Book – 6^th Edition

Elizabeth Petty Bentley

ISBN 978-0-8063-1796-0

Genealogical Publishing Company

Genealogical.com

[Edit 12 Jan 2010: Comments on this post are currently suspended due to spam (in Spanish, no less). If you have any comments, you can email me at the address I listed in the sidebar of this blog. Thanks. --Amy]

Book Review of The Family Tree Problem Solver

The Family Tree Problem Solver provides “proven methods for scaling the inevitable brick wall.” Author Marsha Hoffman Rising CG, FASG is a professional genealogist who specializes in problem-solving in the nineteenth century. In this book, she draws on her experience to highlight certain common genealogical problems and provides the steps to solve them.

There are 11 chapters in the book, each focusing on a different type of brick wall faced by genealogists. Topics include problem analysis, finding records before civil registration, census troubles, collateral kin, court records (or lack thereof), land records, common/same names, pre-1850 ancestor location, research mistakes and evidence analysis.

The audience best suited for this book is everyone except absolute beginners. The terminology and level of discussion may get lost on those new to the field that may not understand what a “burned courthouse” is or know the difference between the 1840 and 1850 federal censuses. Each book chapter includes advice on how to approach certain research problems. The author also provides personal case studies as examples and shares how she busted through the brick walls they presented.

The Family Tree Problem Solver has a longer shelf life than many genealogy books because it focuses on research technique rather than ever-changing technology talk. The skills applied and advice offered will never be obsolete in terms of research strategy.

Bottom line: The Family Tree Problem Solver is a good read for intermediate and advanced genealogists who are looking for a light-bulb moment in problem solving. It is not an essential book to own, like Evidence Explained for example, but would fit in the “nice to have” category. If you can’t afford it, simply track it down through your library’s inter-library loan program because it’s definitely worth your time.

The Family Tree Problem Solver by Marsha Hoffman Rising. ISBN 1-55870-685-2, paperback, 240 pages.

Book Review of Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4

RootsMagic 4 is the latest edition of a popular genealogy software series. The program allows family historians, hobbyists and professionals to record ancestral lines, create family trees, publish documents and more based on user preferences. Though it’s easy to get started with the program, there are so many features that users may miss some while concentrating on others. How do you know what you don’t know about RootsMagic 4? Fortunately, there’s a book to enlighten readers on all the features the program has to offer.

Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 (affiliate link) is the companion book to the program of the same name. It is divided into many chapters, each covering a different step or feature of the program. Section titles include: The Main Screen, Editing People, Sources – Proving It, and Wall Charts & Timelines. The chapters also provide further guidance through tips, warnings and notes readers can use to enhance the user experience.

Author Bruce Buzbee clearly states in the introduction that this book is not intended to be a software manual. Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 does begin with brief introductions on creating a database. However, after a few pages of basic details, the subject matter focuses on all the bells and whistles offered in the program. Readers needing more introductory guidance and technological hand-holding may want to seek out a tutorial, or play with RootsMagic 4 a bit to get used to the program’s feel.

There are many illustrations throughout the book acting as guides to the program’s features. All are in black and white, which would be an issue if this book claimed to be a step-by-step resource. However, the images are acceptable for the type of book advertised, and likely keep the cover price down as well. As they are, the illustrations are clear and uncluttered making it easy for readers to follow along with the examples.

RootsMagic 4 is a powerful genealogy program with a ton of wonderful features. So many features, in fact, that it’s easy for users to miss some of the best details. Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 spells out each tool so readers will be aware of each and every one by the time they finish the book. RootsMagic 4 users should read the book at least once, though readers would also benefit from a second (or third) browse through the pages as their experience with the program grows.

Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4, by Bruce Buzbee. 336 pages. $14.95. ISBN 1-932932-07-0

[Note: I received a copy of this book from the author. There was no expectation/implication that a review be written, nor was I endorsed by author or publisher for the piece. The opinions stated above are my own as a user of genealogy products.]