Leo T. reviewed on + 1775 more book reviews
This is a solid book and includes many exemplars drawn from Mr. Morgan's work on his own lines. He apparently earns a living with lecture appearances, a podcast, and published articles. It is not easy to turn an avocation into a vocation.
Chapter 5 includes good detail on using census returns, including explanations of who and how the information was gathered and pitfalls. For example, misspellings occur, the census takers were long paid almost nothing, and some returns are missing. Mr. Morgan suggests when you find your people on one census to note half a dozen names of near neighbors in order to have extra clues when searching for the next or previous census entries.
The last chapter is especially impressive as it has succinct descriptions of several software programs and some even work on your i-phone. There are also several paragraphs on effective use of digital cameras.
The use of genealogical DNA tests is explained at length, it using less markers than forensic DNA tests. It is about the only way to reach back beyond the Modern Era (16th C.). However, while Mr. Morgan mentions trying to get your cousins, etc. to be tested to further your research. He fails to mention the way law enforcement is co-opting such research to build a case against your relatives.
After starting with the essentials, i.e. getting what you already know organized and hitting up near relatives for information, there are several chapters on how to root out vital records, military records, church registers, etc. The author goes far beyond most books of this sort by explaining how to use the Freedom of Information Act or ontain a court order to open sealed records.
There is a good chapter on using Internet postings.
Figure 7-20 is the letter informing a LT that he was promoted to CAPT in 1946 and urges that he keep the War Department informed of his address. The last sentence: "Unless an officer can be communicated with when necessity arises, his services cannot be utilized and his commission ceases to be of value to him or the government." So my dad, an AAF navigator (ETO) received 'greetings' from HST on 14 February 1952 and he was recalled to active duty. Mom cried and cried and would not say why. She was right to cry as we were never again as prosperous after we left Portland, although he did not go to Korea and it was less than two years active duty. I did see much of the West but went to ten different schools.
Index and many books, etc. recommended with each chapter.
Chapter 5 includes good detail on using census returns, including explanations of who and how the information was gathered and pitfalls. For example, misspellings occur, the census takers were long paid almost nothing, and some returns are missing. Mr. Morgan suggests when you find your people on one census to note half a dozen names of near neighbors in order to have extra clues when searching for the next or previous census entries.
The last chapter is especially impressive as it has succinct descriptions of several software programs and some even work on your i-phone. There are also several paragraphs on effective use of digital cameras.
The use of genealogical DNA tests is explained at length, it using less markers than forensic DNA tests. It is about the only way to reach back beyond the Modern Era (16th C.). However, while Mr. Morgan mentions trying to get your cousins, etc. to be tested to further your research. He fails to mention the way law enforcement is co-opting such research to build a case against your relatives.
After starting with the essentials, i.e. getting what you already know organized and hitting up near relatives for information, there are several chapters on how to root out vital records, military records, church registers, etc. The author goes far beyond most books of this sort by explaining how to use the Freedom of Information Act or ontain a court order to open sealed records.
There is a good chapter on using Internet postings.
Figure 7-20 is the letter informing a LT that he was promoted to CAPT in 1946 and urges that he keep the War Department informed of his address. The last sentence: "Unless an officer can be communicated with when necessity arises, his services cannot be utilized and his commission ceases to be of value to him or the government." So my dad, an AAF navigator (ETO) received 'greetings' from HST on 14 February 1952 and he was recalled to active duty. Mom cried and cried and would not say why. She was right to cry as we were never again as prosperous after we left Portland, although he did not go to Korea and it was less than two years active duty. I did see much of the West but went to ten different schools.
Index and many books, etc. recommended with each chapter.
