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If you're new to genealogy, you are probably eager to climb right out and start finding some ancestors. Fortunately, the fact that you're reading this means that you are willing to take some time to learn! Web SitesLots of web sites talk about getting started. The best are usually associated with a historical society, but not always. You can do a search on Yahoo! or Alta Vista, or you can simply do what most genealogists do and go to Cyndi's List.Cyndi Howells is a committed webmaster who has put together some of the best pages organizing links about genealogy. Her how-to page is full of links to various web sites. Look through these to learn more about genealogy. Another great how-to resource is the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) web site. The Church can be incredibly helpful and their recourses are extensive. Don't worry about any conversion efforts - the help offered comes with no strings attached. More advanced articles can be found at the Board for Certification of Genealogists website. NewsgroupsNewsgroups, or USENET, are another great starting point. Several newsgroups cover genealogy. Pick one or two to "follow" for a while. The alt.genealogy one is unmoderated and can sometimes be a little overwhelming. The soc.genealogy.methods is moderated and while fairly sparse, usually has worthwhile posts. Read all of the posts in at least one group for about a month before posting your question. (This is proper netiquette for any newsgroup.) You will learn a lot, just by reading other people's questions and the answers. You may even discover answers to questions you didn't know you had.Mailing ListsE-mail is probably the most underrated part of the Internet. Again, from Cyndi's List you can find mailing lists to join that will cover beginning genealogy. And again, netiquette dictates a "lurking" period during which you only read.Internet Relay ChatSince the advent of web-based chat, IRC has lost its popularity amoung new comers. However, this real time chat aspect of the Internet is still well visited by genealogists and can be a good place to ask for help. Perhaps the most popular software is the mIRC. Their page explains how to install their software and use IRC. Once on, just go to the #genealogy room, you will probably find people there during the evenings (US time).BooksYep, I mean the hard-copy kind. One or two good reference books can prove indispensable. The one I have is The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood. Another popular book is Cite Your Sources : A Manual for Documenting Family Histories and Genealogical Records by Richard S. Lackey (Editor). (These are simply my preferences, not hard and fast recommendations. Explore and discover the books that fit your needs best.)No need to go online for these though. Just go to your local library. (Okay, okay, you can buy them online. Go to http://www.barnesandnoble.com.) Outside LinksCyndi's List How To - Getting Startedalt.genealogy soc.genealogy.methods Cyndi's List How To - Mailing Lists Amazon Books |
