Gifts Can Beget Gifts: Resources help family history writers ultimately give the gift of their written stories and sagas
When my mom and sisters inquired about what I wanted for my birthday, I gave them a handful of reference book titles my family history writers group members had suggested. Gently used books were perfectly fine with me. I didn’t feel selfish asking for resources that will help me hold on to my conviction that our family history and stories matter.
Each present I received provided me with an unexpected gift.
Confidence
Since 1992, I’d written and shared my family’s stories with kinfolk at Christmastime but had relied on two aunts’ research when I included genealogical information. However, in 2019, I accidentally backed into genealogy when researching a friend’s family history. Shortly afterwards, encouraged by both aunts, I dabbled in researching my family’s genealogy, too.
Overwhelmed by what I didn’t know, I attended workshops sponsored by my local genealogy society, FamilySearch RootsTech online conferences, and lineage research training. I learned from each workshop, but I felt I didn’t have a grasp of the basics.
For my birthday, my older sister gave me The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 4th Edition, by Val D. Greenwood. It’s 778 pages long, and many people might dip into it to learn more about the background of research or specific types of records and their use. But I took my time and read it cover to cover—as my DIY Genealogy Research 101 class. When I read the last page and closed the book, I felt more confident. I now have a better understanding of basic genealogy research.
When I wrote last month’s blog article about federal land purchases (Focus on Finding Earlier Transaction Dates Connected to Ancestors Federal Land Patents) I revisited several chapters of The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy to better understand some nuances of the topic. Because Greenwood’s information has helped me so much, I included the book’s title as a resource to the readers of the blog article.
Clarification
My writers group also recommended Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, 3rd Edition, edited by Alice Eichholz and published by Ancestry. My mom gave me the book on the same birthday.
I could probably find much of the information online. However, it’s easier for me to refer initially to Red Book, especially when I’m brainstorming how to research a location. When I’m searching for a specific type of record, the surrounding material provides more information about that item, as well as other records that might better serve me.
Perusing a chapter about a specific state gives me an informed bird’s-eye view of a treasure map of what to look for and where to look for it. I appreciate being able to read a state’s brief history, background sources, and an overview of various types of records I might find. I’m introduced to the names of periodicals, newspapers, and manuscript collections that might help. If needed, I have a list of archives, libraries, and societies, and special focus categories. A map of counties helps me see the general location where my ancestors lived within a state. The listing for each individual county shows me its contact address; date formed; parent county; and the year vital, land, probate, and court records first became available.
The overview provided by Red Book gives me more clarity as to information that might be available and where I might find it. These insights then direct my efforts onto more productive treasure-hunting paths and reduce the likelihood I’ll bumble around in willy-nilly research. Although finding treasures quite by accident is always a thrill, having a clearer direction makes me more efficient and effective in my pursuit of records and information.
Competence
Several of my family history writers group members have taken “Research Like a Pro” e-courses and studied Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer.
My younger sister gave me this book as a birthday gift. It lays out a step-by-step approach from research objects through analyzing sources, locality research, research planning, source citations, research logs and report writing. For me, it is not so much an instructive read as it is an experience in on-the-job training. I read a little and then experiment with the concept, such as my bugaboo, research logs. I practice, practice, practice the concept while working on my current project. The book also includes assignments, useful templates, and work samples.
I’m unlearning some bad research habits and learning some good ones, hoping they will become second nature. Yet, a small step at a time, I feel I’m becoming a more competent family history researcher and writer.
Courage
BookBub introduced me to History Matters by David McCullough. This gem of a book was published after his death and edited by his daughter, Dorie McCullough Lawson, and his longtime researcher, Michael Hill.
Reading it encouraged this family-history writer’s heart. And what writer doesn’t need encouragement as we develop stout hearts to begin, finish, and share what we’ve written?
McCullough is one of my favorite historians for readability. In History Matters, he also became my one-on-one teacher. I felt he brought me alongside and treated his readers respectfully as he shared some of his thoughts, strong opinions, and guiding principles about history, writing, and writing history. His insights shifted my mindset and sparked story possibilities. They also inspire me to be respectful of the people I’m writing about and the context of time and place in which they lived.
The four books listed above provided more than mere information. Each contributed in its own way, whether that was in understanding basic genealogy research, working smarter not harder, encouraging good work habits, or reshaping the landscape of my heart.
They also provide my kinfolk with ongoing dividends as I research, write, and send them printed copies of family stories and histories as gifts.
If someone asks you for ideas for gifts to give you, consider what resources you want or need to find, capture, and share your family stories and history. I asked for what I needed most to shore up one of my weakest skills. The above books might meet you where you’re at. If so, I suggest you preview them at a local bookstore or public library or read samples online to see if you’d like to add them to your wish list.
Or maybe what you need most is a photo of your grandchildren or your great-grandparents to motivate you to research, write, and share. If baroque music quiets your soul and helps you become a more focused and productive researcher and writer, perhaps you’d like a new set of headphones. Maybe you can ask a family member to take your children out to play for a few hours each week and give you the gift of uninterrupted writing time. Or some other book, subscription, course, membership, software, or tech support might meet your greatest need.
My family history writers group members have become friends, and I’m thankful they suggested three of the above resources they’ve learned from and leaned on. And I am pleased I can repay them in kind, for I can recommend to them the fourth resource, History Matters.
[Debby, Yellow Line Here]
- What reference books or other resources are on your wish list that will help you collect, write, and share your family stories and histories?
- What resources do you recommend to others that have helped you research, document, and gift family stories and histories?