The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy [Paperback]

Pamela Rice Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Series: Unofficial Guides | Publication Date: October 23, 2000

Genealogy is one of the hottest topics on the Internet, with thousands of sites, forums, and newsgroups clamoring to help--or confuse--family history sleuths. How do you cut through the noise and find the best tools to trace your roots? This opinionated guide can help. Zeroing in on the science of online genealogical research, author Pamela Rice Hahn shows you how to:
* Map out a research strategy
* Target the best Internet resources>
* Dig up info and swap leads with other researchers
* Evaluate genealogy software
* Steer clear of hype, dead ends, and time-wasters
* Organize a family reunion

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! Remember when researching your family history meant hiring expensive consultants to trace your family tree and connect you with long-lost ancestors? Today, the Internet has made going back to your roots easier, cheaper … and more fun! Genealogy is one of the hottest topics online, with thousands of sites, forums, and newsgroups clamoring to help family history enthusiasts. But with so many options available, how do you sift through them to find the most reliable online resources? If you're researching your genealogy on the Net, you want to know which sources the professionals and successful amateur genealogists use. You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy is designed to give savvy consumers such as you a foolproof appraisal of everything from getting started with your cybersearch to charting a clear path through the e-maze of history. The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy is intensively inspected by The Unofficial Panel of Experts: Matthew Helm is the publisher of Journal of Online Genealogy; John Scroggins received the Federation of Genealogical Societies Award of Merit for his efforts to increase public access to the government's genealogy files; and Tim Stowell has provided expertise to 13 countries for the USGenWeb Project. These specialists ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on the subject of online genealogy and are told exactly what "the Official establishment" doesn't want you to know. Vital Information on the Web sites, user groups, and other Net resources you can't be without! Insider Secrets on optimal record keeping and savvy e-mail tactics. Money-Saving Techniques on using free search services rather than paying for resources. Time-Saving Tips on mapping out a clear, focused research path. The Latest Trends in filling mysterious family history gaps—names, places, dates, and relationships. Handy Checklists and Charts for locating and tracking legacy family documents.

About the Author

About the Author Pamela Rice Hahn says her interest in genealogy began with what she considers her writer's curiosity-a desire to learn more about the history behind the hand-pieced quilts that were stitched by her maternal grandmothers and other family stories and artifacts; it evolved from there. In addition to The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy, Pam is also the lead author of Teach Yourself Grammar and Style in 24 Hours (Sams/Macmillan General Reference, June 2000), Master the Grill the Lazy Way (Alpha Books/Macmillan General Reference, June 1999), and How to Use Microsoft Access 2 (Sams/Macmillan Computer Publishing, July 1999). She has served as editor for a local community-action commission newsletter, The AMCAC News, as well as for a number of computer-related and business newsletters. In addition, she has taught business and sales training seminars; her most recent speaking engagements have been about writing opportunities on the Internet. Pam has published several hundred bylined and ghostwritten business, general interest, technical, and humorous articles that have appeared in Glamour, Country Living, Business Venture, Current Notes, and other national publications. In addition, she works as a technical editor and writer for Macmillan Computer Publishing, Sybex, Osborne, Quessing, and DDC. Pam is publisher and editor-in-chief for the online magazine The Blue Rose Bouquet at www.blueroses.com, and she maintains several other Web sites, among them her personal site at www.ricehahn.com as well as www.ricehahn.com/grill, www.genealogytips.com, The Ultimate Chronic Illness Resource Directory at www.ricehahn.com/resource, and, along with Keith Giddeon, the Authors on the Undernet chat channel pages at www.blueroses.com/authors. Pam is the 1997 winner of The Manny Award for Nonfiction from the MidWest Writers Workshop.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028638670
• ISBN-13: 978-0028638676
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,781,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never knew I could do this!, December 2, 2000

By 

B. Dobson (Richmond, BC Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy (Paperback)

I have been interested in Genealogy for some time now and never thought it was possible to pursue it so thoroughly the Internet! One of the reasons that I bought this book is that I am not an "Internet expert" by any stretch. In the process of learning how to find information on genealogy I learned a few things about my computer. I live way up in Canada and regardless of where you live, this book is a must have for anyone interested in the subject.

I especially liked the step-by-step process that begins with teaching you first how to use the necessary tools to accomplish your goals and ending with results you were after. In any subject that interests me I hate to buy a book that reminds me of the dry texts I read back in school. I have seen them while wandering bookstores and despite the fact the subject interests me I will not buy it. This book was nothing like any of those books, which was very refreshing.

* Helps anyone not particularly well versed in the Internet get started with learning the necessary tools.
* Takes a well thought out step-by-step approach to attainting your ultimate goal.
* I thought it was very well laid out and easy to read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Far from the best, but not bad, July 23, 2002

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy (Paperback)

It seems there's a new computer-genealogy "how to" book being released every month -- more the result of the marketing department's presumed wisdom than because we need yet another such volume. This is especially true when genealogy is simply one in a long line of topics: There are now "Unofficial Guides" to wine, children, stock picking, job interviews, and menopause. However, each volume in this series is prepared with the assistance of a panel of experts -- in this case Matthew Helm (publisher of the JOURNAL OF ONLINE GENEALOGY), John Scroggins (who received the FGS Award of Merit for his efforts in increasing public access to government files of interest to family researchers), and Tim Stowell (active in the USGenWeb project). Actually, the advice and information you'll receive here is pretty good, including setting up a computer workspace, the difference between primary and secondary sources, setting your research goals, managing your information as you find it, how to find genealogy web sites (method as well as a list of addresses), strategic tips for online research, the proper use of search engines and online library catalogs, creating personal genealogy web pages, and publishing a book as well as publishing to the web. The style is not unlike the popular "Dummies' Guides," with tips, time-savers, caveats, and informative sidebars scattered throughout.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for someone new to genealogy, November 8, 2000

By 

Jodi M. Cornelius (Derrick City, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Online Genealogy (Paperback)

As a new researcher to genealogy I have to say that I found this to be a very helpful book. Ms. Hahn seems to have gone into depth trying to help people who are new to genealogy find ways to do research on the web. Her insights and book layout are a very easy way to jump into researching the web for family information. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy to follow "instruction" guide for genealogy!!