Introduction
13(15)
Why Genealogy?
15(3)
Get Started
18(13)
Birth Certificates
18(1)
Graduation Diplomas
19(1)
Newspaper Articles
19(1)
Photographs
19(1)
Government Documents
20(1)
Memorabilia
20(1)
Miscelleaneous
21(1)
Shifting Gears
21(2)
Caution!
23(1)
Other Records
24(1)
Old Letters
25(1)
Old Budgets/Ledgers
25(2)
Family Bibles
27(1)
Photos
27(1)
Old Legal Papers
27(1)
Family Histories/Genealogies
28(1)
More Than a Coin Collection
28(1)
Getting Started Checklist
29(1)
Additional Resources
30(1)
Get Organized
31(12)
Information You Have Found
31(1)
Birth, Death and Marriage Records
32(1)
Correspondence
33(1)
Other Records
33(1)
Photographs
33(1)
Information For Which You Are Searching
34(1)
Forms
34(1)
Research Log
34(2)
Family Group Sheet
36(4)
Pedigree Charts
40(1)
Get Organized Checklist
40(2)
Additional Resources
42(1)
What's in a Name?
43(6)
Physical Characteristics
43(1)
An Animal Connection
43(1)
Patronymics
44(1)
Occupations
45(1)
Geographic Locations
46(1)
Mother's Maiden Names
46(1)
Don't Assume...
46(1)
Spelling Woes
47(1)
What's in a Name? Checklist
48(1)
Additional Resources
48(1)
Vital Records
49(5)
Where to Look?
50(1)
What Do I Say?
50(2)
What Do the Records Cost?
52(1)
Friendly Caution
52(1)
Vital Records Checklist
52(1)
Additional Resources
53(1)
Genealogical Societies
54(5)
Genealogical Societies Checklist
57(1)
Additional Resources
58(1)
Genealogical Collections in Libraries
59(10)
Family History Library
59(1)
State Libraries
59(1)
County Libraries
60(1)
Genealogical and Historical Society Libraries
61(1)
University Libraries
61(1)
National Archives
61(3)
The Hunt Begins!
64(1)
Vital Statistics Records
64(1)
Census Records
64(1)
Biographies
64(1)
Obituaries
65(1)
Old Newspapers
66(1)
Land Records
66(1)
City Telephone Directories
66(1)
Histories
67(1)
Cemetery Indexes
67(1)
Befriend the Librarian!
67(1)
Collections and Libraries Checklist
67(1)
Additional Resources
68(1)
Computers and the Internet
69(15)
The Internet
69(1)
Genealogy Websites
70(8)
Genealogy Software
78(5)
Computer and Internet Checklist
83(1)
Additional Resources
83(1)
Using the LDS Church
84(9)
The Family History Library
84(2)
Getting Around Salt Lake City
86(1)
Family History Centers
87(1)
Getting the Most Out of Your Local Family History Center
88(1)
Prepare
88(1)
Call Ahead
88(1)
Have Patience
89(1)
Share Your Success
89(1)
FamilySearch
89(1)
Ancestral File
90(1)
Family History Library Catalog
90(1)
International Genealogical Index
90(1)
Other Resources
91(1)
LDS Church Checklist
91(1)
Additional Resources
92(1)
Census Records
93(18)
Who, What, When, Where, Why & How...
93(2)
Questions, Questions, Questions
95(6)
Soundex
101(1)
Soundex Coding Rules
102(2)
Soundex Cards
104(1)
The Census
105(1)
Write it Down!
105(1)
What Next?
106(3)
Finding the Censuses
109(1)
Mortality Schedules
109(1)
Census Records Checklist
109(1)
Additional Resources
110(1)
Military Records
111(8)
Motivation
111(1)
American Wars
111(1)
Where to Begin
112(1)
The National Archives
113(1)
Enlistment Records
113(1)
Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR)
113(1)
Pension Records
114(1)
Record of Events
115(1)
Confederate Records
115(1)
Bounty Land Warrants
115(1)
Other Resources
115(1)
Ok--So Where Do I Find These Wonderful Records
116(1)
The Internet and Military Records
117(1)
Military Records Search Checklist
117(1)
Additional Resources
118(1)
Ethnic Research
119(21)
African-American Research
119(3)
Native American Research
122(3)
Jewish Research
125(5)
Hispanic Research
130(2)
Irish Research
132(6)
Ethnic Research Checklist
138(1)
Additional Resources
139(1)
Is Anyone Out There?
140(4)
The Internet
141(1)
Message Boards
141(1)
Magazine Queries
142(1)
Be a Detective!
142(1)
Is Anyone Out There? Checklist
143(1)
Professional Genealogists
144(5)
Is Now the Time?
144(1)
OK -- It's Time
145(1)
The Board of Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
145(1)
The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGEN)
146(1)
The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
147(1)
What Will it Cost?
147(1)
Professional Genealogists Checklist
148(1)
Help Your Descendants!
149(6)
Writing a Personal History
149(1)
Chapters
150(1)
Set a Regular Time
151(1)
Additional Help
152(1)
Keep a Journal
152(1)
What Do I Do Now?
153(1)
Help Your Descendants! Checklist
153(1)
Additional Resources
154(1)
In Summary
155(4)
Appendix A -- Glossary
159(4)
Appendix B -- State Libraries and Archives
163(8)
Appendix C -- State Departments of Vital Statistics
171(6)
Index 177