Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best-Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy [Paperback]

Emily Croom (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1558705562 | ISBN-13: 978-1558705562 | Publication Date: July 10, 2001 | Edition: 4

The new and expanded fourth edition of this best-selling guide (over 150,000 copies sold!) to genealogy provides readers with the tools and information they need to jump into this great American hobby. Unpuzzling Your Past, 4th edition focuses on fundamental strategies for success, questions to ask, places for research, and interesting examples of each step along the way. Throughout, readers will find techniques and suggestions for: Taping family documents, oral tradition and memories; Exploring the vast array of U.S. public records, from newspapers and tombstones to censuses and land records; Getting the most from names, dates and handwriting of the past; Developing a first-rate and meaningful family history; Well-organized, well-written and comprehensive, this guide offers readers charts, illustrations, reference sidebars, bibliographies, a glossary, and useful, reproducible forms. Each chapter is capped with a list of "Things to Do Now" to encourage readers or students to apply what they have learned.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you've ever thought of find your roots, Emily Anne Croom's is the genealogy guide to get you going. She's got sensible chapters on how to get started, the meaning of names, the difference between a family history of dates and a family history of stories, how to gather sources, who to interview, and how to fit it all together. Croom breaks the process into bite-sized pieces to turn it into a fun project that takes shape and grows with each new family scrap. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-- An excellent "how-to" book for those interested in investigating their family genealogy, and a good reference for students tracing family trees for history class. This workbook, with its reproducible forms of all kinds, will help those just starting out, as well as those who have already begun to gather material, to organize, and to extend their search. A sample interview letter and checklists of family sources are particularly helpful, as is the relationship chart--especially for answering the "second-cousins-twice-removed" kind of question. Appendix C lists addresses and phone numbers of genealogical libraries and archives, by state. Sources in the United Kingdom and Caribbean are also listed, as is U. S. state census data.
- Carolyn Henebry, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, Tex.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books; 4 edition (July 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558705562
• ISBN-13: 978-1558705562
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete, concise and excellent for beginners., September 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy (Paperback)

Croom's book offers excellent advice for beginners and genealogists with some experience. The workbook gives helpfuls lists such as "Where Do I find That?" and gives sources for birth, death and marriage information. It also explains the censuses and Soundex very well.

The appendices list archives, libraries and genealogical societies that are very helpful and up to date. There is also an excellent list of available state censuses.

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginning genealogists!, December 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy (Paperback)

This book by Emily Croom is THE best book I've seen for the beginning genealogist. The information is very concise and well written. I am really impressed by Ms. Croom's use personal examples to explain the research concepts that she is talking about. This book is a MUST for the beginner.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, February 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best-Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy (Paperback)

This is by far the best book general methods book I have found. I highly recommend it to anyone beginning genealogical research and to those who are veterans, as well. I have given several to friends with a fledgling interest in genealogical research. It is indispensible for the beginner & I highly recommend it to everyone. Organized in a logical, easy to follow manner; not too technical; practical -- just plain good.