Customer Reviews

The Genealogist's Computer Companion

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I've made something of a specialty in recent years of perusing new publications that treat the intersection of genealogy and family research with computer technology and the Internet. Some are excellent but many are simply a rehash of the most basic (and low-tech) genealogical techniques, or are concerned more with how to turn your computer on and get your modem to work, or are simply compilations of web site addresses (which are better found on the World Wide Web itself). This one falls somewhere in the middle. The author is a well-known columnist and author of the _Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy,_ and she obviously knows her subject, but she often strays off-topic and introduces unnecessary padding -- as with seven full pages on traditional abstracting methods for land titles, including a discussion of the rectangular survey system and how many square rods to an acre, though she also includes a plug for AniMap. On the other hand, she provides excellent commentaries on the limitations of Internet library catalogs and other tools and the cut-and-paste ease with which bad research can be spread via the Web. She's also adamant that doing real family research still requires one to leave the computer and venture into the courthouse and the library stacks (though the computer can make your foray more efficient), and she doesn't hesitate to suggest that one doesn't really *need* software to do genealogy (though she would hate to have to return to paper-only notetaking).

Budding genealogists who want to begin on a family history project should start with Genealogist's Companion, an invaluable, "user friendly" primer, which covers everything from using the Internet for research to blending online research with physical sources and preserving photos and documents electronically. The approach differs from earlier competing titles in offering more of a focus on using the latest technologies to aid in the genealogical search - and in preserving the results.

If you've been muddling through the internet working on your genealogy as I have, you may wish you'd had this book earlier. Ms. McClure covers the basics very well - effective use of search engines, online communities and databases and covers the pros and cons of different genealogy software programs. The genealogist who has a bit of experience under their belt will pick up a few tips but has probably already learned much of the material the hard way. I did find the tips on software worth the cost of this book.

I found Ms. McClure's writing style entertaining and easy to read - especially on a subject that could be quite dry. I also found the most helpful information to be that presented in the sidebars and charts. Don't overlook the discussions of how Soundex is determined - and did you know that the batch numbers from the FHC has built in intelligence? You'll learn what all this means in this book.

I would have liked to see the information on publishing your own family history web site expanded. Unless I missed it, there's really not much included on this topic. The state resource web sites really only include the State Dept. of Public Health and State Library sites. This isn't a big issue since you should be able to find whatever you need online with your new-found skills!

Good luck in your family search!

Have not had time to use yet but it is one resource recommended as a priority in building a personal home genealogy research library. Even though it was listed as used, it is in mint condition. Will recommend in my Genealogy organization for others to consider using this source for purchase.

An excellent book to have beside the Computer if you are doing research in Genealogy.