Category Archives: Genealogy Reference

Title: The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy Author: Blaine T. Bettinger Format: Paperback, Kindle Published: 2016 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Spring 2017); reprinted with permission. Blaine Bettinger has put together a wonderful book that encompasses all facets of genetic genealogy. The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy is geared toward genealogists of all levels and is meant to serve as a primer for DNA testing, analyzing results, and how to use results […]

Title: German Census Records 1816–1916: The When, Where, and How of a Valuable Genealogical Resource Author: Roger P. Minert Format: Paperback Published: 2016 My Rating:   The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Winter 2016); reprinted with permission. Census records are a keystone for those researching ancestors in the United States, as well as Canada, England, and other European countries. But for those working on their German roots, census records aren’t more than a brief mention in most German genealogy how-to books, if at […]

Title: Map Guide to Luxembourg Parish Registers Author: Kevan M. Hansen Format: Paperback Published: 2016 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Winter 2016); reprinted with permission. Kevan Hansen has a spectacular series of books, Map Guide to German Parish Registers, that to date has over 50 volumes covering various places in Germany (both present-day and historical). Earlier this year, Hansen released a similar book specific to Luxembourg, a small country surrounded by Germany, France, and Belgium.

Title: Trace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy Websites Author: James M. Beidler Format: Paperback, Kindle Published: 2016 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Winter 2016); reprinted with permission. Trace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy Websites by James M. Beidler can be considered a companion to Beidler’s earlier book The Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How To Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in Europe (Family Tree Books, 2014). While there are a few […]

Title: A Recipe for Writing Family History By: Devon Noel Lee Format: Kindle Published: 2018 My Rating: Devon Noel Lee has put together a wonderful, practical guide outlining a simple seven-step process to get people over the hump of writing their family history. Using the recipe analogy, she likens the writing process to preparing a dish—“you will gather your ingredients and mix them together and have something worth sharing at the end (location 145). Written in an upbeat, conversational tone, Lee guides you through her writing process, which is actually […]

Title: New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer Edited by: Naomi Joshi, et al. Format: Paperback Published: 2015 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Fall 2016); reprinted with permission. Note: This review is based on the original edition. A revised edition was released in 2017. Those who have New York ancestors no doubt understand the challenges associated with researching them. While there are materials out there to assist genealogists with researching in New York, there wasn’t one resource to cover […]

  Title: Luxembourg-America: 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries Edited by: Brain&More Format: Hardcover Published: 2015 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Summer 2016); reprinted with permission. Being a descendant of Luxembourg immigrants, I’m always on the lookout for resources to learn more about the history and culture of this small European country. I can tell from my genealogy research that my immigrant ancestors were very proud of their Luxembourg heritage; I guess they took the motto to heart: “Mir wëlle bleiwe […]

Title: Endogamy: One Family, One People Author: Israel Pickholtz Format: Paperback Published: 2015 My Rating: The following review first appeared in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine (Fall 2015); reprinted with permission. The world of genetic genealogy has grown considerably over the last several years. The testing of one’s DNA and comparing the results to others has no doubt crumbled a few brick walls. As more and more people test their DNA, resources that help navigate the DNA pool are in high demand. Many of the top genetic genealogists […]