When Your Ox Is in the Ditch. Genealogical How-To Letters (Oklahoma Western Biographies) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Order--or Chaos?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Georgia Dear Bette, North Carolina, New England (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Vera McDowell's letters containing practical advice to genealogists first appeared in the Augusta Genealogical Society's newsletter, Southern Echoes, in July 1982, and since then she has become something of a "Dear Abby" in genealogical circles. Mrs. McDowell's emphasis is on problem-solving; thus all her letters bear the unstated refrain: when your ox is in the ditch (i.e. when you're stuck), here's what you do! The other thing that sets her apart is her enthusiasm for genealogy, and here her focus is on fun, personal fulfillment, and pure joy, and her letters resonate with the excitement of the chase. Ten years after they first began to appear in Southern Echoes, Vera McDowell's letters were assembled in the form of a how-to manual and grouped into chapters covering topics ranging from record-keeping and numbering systems to courthouses and cemeteries--traditional fare with a special McDowell twist! Under the title When Your Ox is in the Ditch, the compiled letters were published to universal acclaim in l992. With the Society's permission, it is now being released to an even wider audience by the Genealogical Publishing Company.

Product Details

• Paperback: 161 pages
• Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company; illustrated edition edition (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806314842
• ISBN-13: 978-0806314846
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #714,283 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the beginning genealogist and the seasoned expert, September 12, 1999

By A Customer

Came across this great book in my local Historical society genealogy library. The title intrigued me and I was not disappointed. For the beginner it a a virtual "how to" in tracing your roots. For the seasoned veteran, it contains all sorts of suggestions that I am sure every could use reminders of. Written in the form of letters between the author and one of her family members, it chronicles the steps in researching their family history. Not dry and lifeless as some of this type of book tend to be, it treats the subject with humour and makes the idea of starting your family search sound like fun! I recommend this book for everyone's genealogy library.