Advances in DNA research over the last decades have had huge implications for the field of genealogy. By testing your DNA and comparing the results to a database of other individuals, you can better understand your origins, confirm lines of descent, test hypotheses, and connect with distant relatives. When it comes to studying your own DNA, understanding your options and test results are crucial.
Since the seventeenth century, new arrivals to America have been expected to show their allegiance to their new land. Over time, that expectation has developed into the naturalization process of the present day. Naturalization records are important sources of information to the family historian. They tell of the origins of the immigrant, age or birth date, and approximate arrival to the U.S. This Portable Genealogist will help you understand the history of U.S. naturalization, what records are available, and how to access those records.
Prior to 1700, the European population of New England was still sufficiently small and compact enough to be manageable from a genealogical standpoint. In many cases, town vital records, church, colony, court, probate, land, military, and tax records not only have survived, but have been abstracted and published. This Portable Genealogist will direct you to the most relevant and useful resources-including study projects, scholarly resources, and finding aids-for tracing your seventeenth-century New England ancestors.
Citations—notes that tell your readers the sources of your information—are an important part of every genealogy and family history, regardless of whether you think your primary audience will be family members or members of the genealogical community. This Portable Genealogist will help you determine how to formulate your reference notes. Numerous examples of both full notes and shortened forms are provided for both print and online sources.
The four-page laminated guide can fit easily in your research binder.
By Kyle Hurst
Beyond the usual problems encountered in genealogy-lost records, inaccurate indexes and transcriptions, and variant spellings (to name a few)-Irish-American research presents a unique set of obstacles. So much of Irish genealogical investigation depends on knowing the exact location of where your ancestor came from in Ireland. The prevalence of common surnames, the lack of a nationwide search capability, and faulty family tradition can make it difficult to discern your ancestor's true origins and will give anyone a genealogical headache.
No matter how monumental the task of organizing your research may seem, a systematic method saves valuable time and creates more accurate work. This Portable Genealogist offers practical advice on how to organize your research and files, keep track of families, and create goals to guide future research. Even if you are a seasoned family historian, it's not too late to incorporate these practices into your work!
The four-page laminated guide can fit easily in your research binder.
By Rhonda R. McClure
New York is a crossroads for many of our ancestors. Some families may have been in New York State for less than a generation on their way farther west, whereas other families became permanent settlers. New York's sources for genealogical inquiry, however, are often lacking-statewide registration of vital records did not start until 1881!
Massachusetts researchers are fortunate to have so many early resources for genealogical and historical research. One source that is often overlooked, however, is the 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts state census. The state census contains valuable genealogical information beyond what is available in the federal census and provides important insight into Civil War-era Massachusetts. This Portable Genealogist will assist you in understanding, locating, and using this key record.
The four-page laminated guide can fit easily in your research binder.
Since the 1600s, people have immigrated to America to escape religious or social persecution, claim a better life, or seek adventure. No matter the reason or time period, finding your immigrant ancestor can be a difficult task. This Portable Genealogist will help you better understand the major waves of immigration to the U.S. between 1607 and 1924 and discuss what records exist, where to find them, and how to learn more about your ancestor's entry into America.
The four-page laminated guide can fit easily in your research binder.
Genealogical writing uses a variety of numbering systems to help organize material and make your research findings accessible to the reader. Whether you are numbering sketches based on descendancy or ancestry, adding generational numbers, or simply numbering a list of children, you should adhere to common standards and styles. This Portable Genealogist will help you navigate and implement these basic numbering systems in your writing.
The four-page laminated guide can fit easily in your research binder.
By Penny Stratton
