February 2020
I learned the basics of Genealogy from my paternal grandmother and The How Book For Genealogists by Everton Publishers. The 237 page hard bound guide had step by step instructions for becoming a Genealogist. Recently I found an online version here: [https://archive.org/stream/newhowbookforgen00ever/newhowbookforgen00ever_djvu.txt]
While the How Book is no longer in print, what it taught me back then, is still of value today! A good starting place is The Family Group Sheet. This single page document allows you to write information about the father and the mother, then listing all children and their basic information.
The How Book instructed “Write all names in their regular order – Christian name first, then middle name if any, and then the surname (John Christian JONES). Be consistent in the style you use for writing names, dates and places.” Also “a good practice is to write all the dates with the day first, then the month and the year “12 July 1893.” Page 11
My Pedigree Chart was filled in as I discovered family names. Thankfully my grandparents had written down their parents and grandparents names in their Bibles. Before long I had a 5 generation chart with names on every line.
The How Book stated “Genealogy is not easy to find: it still requires lots of ingenuity and long hours and months of diligent study. A sincere researcher never gets discouraged although it takes a lot of work, he knows success seldom comes without planned an applied effort. If one method fails, another is tried until the needed information is finally found.” Page 55 This is still true today, despite modern technological techniques that my grandmother would not believe!
Other How Book techniques that are still valid today include:
Log your research endeavors. Keeping a log of who you wrote and what records you looked at. More likely over the years I have re-looked at the same record as I’m not very good at logging my research. For those starting out – it’s a good idea.
Prove your records. After asking your family questions. You must gain records that prove the information. (Even more important now as you can’t claim it just because it is online.)
In those days, the How Book suggested to write letters. “Be clean and attractive, be courteous, be clear, be concise, be helpful, be reasonable, offer to share what genealogical information you have, plan your letter carefully! You may write thousands of letters, not all will be answered.” Page 37 (It’s still not a bad idea to write older family members for information!)
In those days, The Genealogical Helper was a bi-monthly magazine founded in 1947. It served people all over the world with research information, stories, book reviews, family associations and classified ads.
Places to Search:
Directories, Newspapers, City recorders, County clerks, National archives, Libraries,
Immigration bureau, Printed family histories, State histories, County histories
When searching online now for the Genealogy Helper I found this note:
https://myheritage.com/wvr-fl-redirect/
The services previously provided by WorldVital Records and Family Link are now available on http://www.myheritage.com.
I love all the modern search techniques but be reminded not everything is on online. Family history research is unique to each family and their migration patterns. Each ancestor has a unique story that requires extensive, detailed, good ole fashioned Genealogy Research!
Another book I used regularly was the Handy Book for Genealogists by George B. Everton, Sr. aka the “Genealogy Bible.” This book listed all the US states, a brief timeline and history along with a Genealogists’ Check List of the Historical Records Survey, Valuable Printed Sources, Archives, Libraries, Societies and Publications, Printed Census Records. Most importantly a County Map for each state including county boundaries, the date created and the parent county of each. It looks like this reference is still available. There are many online sources that offer the same. I’d recommend [www.familysearch.org/wiki]
Good luck as you get started on a hobby which has thrilled me my whole life!
Geneographer 