Library Journal Review
| Writer and historian Hull's (Scotland) guide, published in Britain last year, offers an introduction to family history and the numerous online and hard-copy informational sources available to genealogical researchers. Focusing mainly on family history in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, she divides the book into five parts-"Beginning the Quest," "Filling in the Gaps," "Understanding the Fine Print," "Special Circumstances," and "Going Global"-then subdivides those parts into such topics as passenger lists, libraries, census records, cemeteries, and hiring a professional. For several research situations, Hull includes checklist dos and don'ts (e.g., when researching an ancestor's religious affiliation, do check tombstone engravings for religious information; don't assume the ancestor shared the surviving family's religious affiliation) and offers advice on preparation (e.g., before visiting a records repository, researchers should familiarize themselves with the facility's rules and procedures). Appearing throughout the book are "Problem and Solution" scenarios and copious illustrations highlighting clues for which one should look to answer questions like, "How do I find my female ancestor's maiden name?" A selected resources directory, reading list, and index round out the book. Bottom Line Similar in approach to Anthony Adolph's Collins Complete Tracing Your Family History (HarperColins, 2005), Hull's book aptly covers research basics and is suited for beginning genealogists. Recommended for public libraries.-Elaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, ID (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
School Library Journal Review
| Adult/High School-A well-crafted, clearly organized guide for beginning and experienced genealogists. The book is divided into five sections from "Beginning the Quest" to "Going Global" and includes an extensive international resource directory. The introduction discusses some of the pitfalls and myths of genealogical research. Hull takes readers from the simple to the complex. Each section is logically divided and includes "problem" and "solution" and "dos" and "don'ts" sidebars. Photos of documents and ancestors complement the text; captions explain how they might be used for further research. A listing of genealogy software, supplies, the National Genealogical Society's recommended publishing standards for sharing information one has gathered in print and on the Internet, and a lengthy index are included, but there is no glossary of genealogical terms. This title could be used for history assignments on the culture of various decades, famous people, and the Holocaust.-Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
