Genealogy Boot Camp – Quick Tips

Genealogy Boot Camp Here are a few tips that every genealogist should know. Using an online index Researchers using an online index sometimes try to tell the computer everything they know about their deceased ancestor. Assuming that the computer will sort through all of the facts and narrow down the hits to just their... (Read More)

Genealogy Boot Camp: Getting Started

OK Team – it’s time to get down to basics and make sure we haven’t missed clues and information that would help us to accurately document our family tree. Welcome to Genealogy Boot Camp: Core training Day 1. Home SourcesOK recruits – you will need the basic equipment. First – get that old laundry... (Read More)

Who Do You Think You Are?

Mark your calendars. It is not often that prime time television has a series about family history.Friday, March 5th – NBC is starting the popular series: Who Do You Think You Are? Gather the family – watch the show and then dig in to GenealogyBank to find your ancestors. Discover the stories of their... (Read More)

Books of the Week – Donald Lines Jacobus

Millions of books are going online. Entire libraries – that never close; available 24/7. It is now possible for genealogists to read, download and keep genealogies, local histories – publications of all types and sizes. Instantly accessible online and easily stored on your personal laptop or handheld computer. Donald Lines Jacobus (1887-1970) – well... (Read More)

City Directories

Thousands of city directories are going online. City directories are a basic tool for genealogists. City directories are like an annual census of the cities and towns across America. Now – thousands of them are being digitized and put online.   Read about the history of city directories here: Williams, A.V. Growth and Development... (Read More)

GenealogyBank – Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I had a basic question yesterday that reminded me of one of the core values of GenealogyBank – it’s flexible search engine. A woman wrote asking for the obituary notice of her father – who had died in December 2008 – but she had not included her father’s name. So I wrote back asking... (Read More)

Fred Q. Bowman (1916-2009) Genealogist, Author

Fred Q. Bowman (1916-2009) Frederick Quimby Bowman, 93, passed away in Albany, NY earlier this week. Well known genealogist and author – Fred was a relied upon source of early New York vital records. He was a genealogist who made a lasting difference. Obituary: Times Union (Albany, NY) – November 9, 2009 He is... (Read More)

I am not finding my great-grandfather, what do I do now?

The steady flow of newspapers, records and documents going online on GenealogyBank gives family historians a lot to search and comb through.   These newspapers and documents were published over the past 3 centuries – so sometimes it takes a little detective work to find our ancestors.   Here are a few tips: 1.... (Read More)