RESEARCHING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY ONLINE FOR DUMMIES2E

Praise for the 1st Edition


"Easy to read yet filled with facts and information, this is a solid reference guide with everything for the beginner – and perhaps something for the more experienced too."
–Family History Monthly


"There is a lot of good advice in this book for those starting out."
–Ancestors


Navigate your way through your family's past


Interested in family history? Keen to discover who your ancestors really were? Want to find out more from the comfort of your own home? If so, this book is for you. Walking you through the process of researching, organising and presenting your family tree online, this expert guide makes it simple. So what are you waiting for? Get plugged in and start tracking down your ancestors today!


* Lay the groundwork – take the first steps on your genealogical journey and start searching for evidence

* Find out about your ancestors – discover who your predecessors were and where they came from

* Get to grips with research tools – find the best online and offline archives and dig deeper into your family's past

* Present your results effectively – compile your findings into a family tree and create a place to host your material online



Open the book and find:


* What clues you can get from photos, letters, diaries and your relatives

* The best genealogy websites in the UK and around the world

* How to get the most out of archives and documents

* Techniques for creating family history charts on your computer

* The advantages of coordinating your hunt with other researchers

* Ways to share research online

* Tips and tricks for building a family history web page



Learn to:


* Get the most out of genealogy websites and resources

* Store and organise information on yourcomputer

* Create your family tree and host it online

Dr Nick Barratt is the CEO of Sticks Research Agency (SRA), a research company specialising in family history. Nick was also the genealogical consultant for four series of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?


Sarah-Jane Newbery is a historian at SRA.


Jenny Thomas, Matthew L. Helm and April Leigh Helm are genealogists.

Introduction 1


Part I: Starting at the Roots 9


Chapter 1: Laying the Groundwork and Planning Ahead 11


Chapter 2: Fine-Tuning Your Organisational and Preservation Skills 31


Part II: Focusing on Your Ancestors 43


Chapter 3: Tracking Down an Ancestor: What’s in a Name? 45


Chapter 4: Locating Your Ancestors (Geographically Speaking) 69


Part III: Rooting Around in the Past 85


Chapter 5: Basic Genealogical Resources in the UK 87


Chapter 6: Digging Deeper into Your Family’s Past 125


Chapter 7: Looking Offl ine: Further Research Sources in the UK 143


Part IV: Share and Share Alike 165


Chapter 8: Storing and Organising Information on Your Computer 167


Chapter 9: Coordinating Your Attack: Getting Help from Other Researchers 183


Chapter 10: Sharing Your Wealth Online 195


Chapter 11: Creating a Place to Call Home 207


Part V: The Part of Tens 221


Chapter 12: Ten (Or So) Handy Databases 223


Chapter 13: Ten Things to Remember When Designing Your Genealogical Website 227


Chapter 14: Ten (Or So) Sites That Offer Help 235


Appendix: A Glossary of Terms 239


Index 253