Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques

This book is a godsend in assisting me to advance my research even further than I had already done! Directed toward the researcher who is either a professional or who has been doing this for some time and is more literate in the field of genealogy than just a beginner, this book helps make us aware of those little known areas of hunting and searching that we might not otherwise have known of. The back cover touts: "* Examine the brick wall in detail to find potential weak spots that can be exploited into a breakthrough * Use brute force techniques that leave no stone unturned * Research the family, associates, and neighbors (FANS) of your brick wall ancestor * Consult with your family, friends, and colleagues to get a fresh perspective on your research * Use crowdsourcing - genealogy societies, online forums, social media, blogs, wikis, and podcasts * Apply technological solutions, including DNA testing and specialized genealogical software * Getting tips on hiring a professional genealogical researcher with the appropriate credentials and references * Revisit your brick wall problem after honing your research skills * Review your evidence, develop a research strategy, and keep a meticulous research log" I found the text insightful and well worth the purchase of this book. I give Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques Five Stars and a big Thumbs Up! ****DISCLOSURE: This book was a private purchase and was under no obligation for review.

Used to help further my research

I love this book. Many useful examples are provided that tell the reader what little things can be important & why. Additionally, this book provides a huge variety of ideas for when you're not making progress. For example, I learned to look at original documents that are available online and not just the description. My great grandmother's death certificate, for instance, is listed with an incorrect name because the handwriting on the original is horrible. If I hadn't looked by approximate date and location and opened up a name that was close to hers, I wouldn't have found that document that confirmed her parents's names. I also love the conversational tone of the book--it's easy to read & understand. Reading the experiences of the authors was enjoyable, as well. This book has been very helpful!

This is a practical guide that is more specific and goes beyond "How to Do Everything Genealogy." The author lays out a variety of strategies that the researcher can systematically apply to attack a particularly tough genealogy research problem. Rather than a shotgun approach, "Advanced Genealogy" describes how and why to use particular strategies for approaching tough problems. The description of various DNA techniques is an outstanding overview that will help the reader determine if these relatively expensive tests will help them solve a particular problem. This book does talk about use of specific online and off-line resources, but is really more about how to approach problems using available resources. This is not for the casual genealogical researcher as much as the goal-directed researcher who has gone beyond, or wants to go beyond the beginner stage. It is well worth having in anyone's personal genealogy library. Even an experienced researcher will find plenty of flashes of insight in these pages.

This is not the first genealogy book for you to read. You just will not appreciate it until you have spent at least a year or two researching your family and have run into problems locating and identifying your ancestors. The brick wall. One important key idea is that if you can't find information about a specific individual, then research their siblings or cousins. Your grandparents cousins may be less important to you, but the odds are they all migrated from the same towns. You may not be able to determine exactly where your grandfather was born, but you might be able to locate a record for the birthplace of his brothers or sisters. Another key idea when trying to locate ship migration manifests is to realize that most immigrants changed their names shortly after they arrived. You probably know their Americanized names. To find the ship manifest you need to know the names they used when they boarded the ship in Europe and you may never have heard those names. One of the keys is to try to find their naturalization papers which will tell you the exact date of arrival and the ship name. If you are lucky, the naturalization papers may tell you the name they used on the ship. Remember too that no matter what you have heard, names were never changed at Ellis Island. The immigration officials at Ellis Island simply copied down the names on the ship manifest that was recorded by the ship's purser in Europe when they purchase tickets.

This book is well written and the information is accurate. I gave it three stars instead of five because of the word 'Advanced' in the title. I expected it to be more advanced than it is. I'd call it a book for intermediate genealogists, and a very good one for people working at that level.

Some techniques i have used in the past. Some i have never done. Good information for all levels of researchers. Liked the links to other sites.

Wow! This has never happened to me, my book came two days early!! But reviews are about products, not service. The book is 195 pages of fabulous. If you can't find your great grandma with help from this book she probably didn't exist anyway. Buy it! Buy one for each of your genealogist friends. Christmas is just around the corner and the decorations are already out in the stores...it is the first week of October, after all. It would make a great Christmas present!

Great research tool

A useful book for those moving on from a basic pedigree of recent generations. It offers advice on a range of problems and how to overcome them. However, it must be noted it is an American publication and the examples and certificates show are all American. Nevertheless it has very useful insights into how to deal with those tough to crack problems you may come up against in your family tree. It also explains the value of giving the social contact to your family so that you can better understand the lives they led by being aware of the social and economic circumstances in which they lived, as well as wars, depressions and other factors that will have affected them.

I am addicted to Genealogy and this book has taught me so much about thinking outside of the box. Although it is Americanised, it is still extremely relevant in helping with research within the UK. I highly recommend it. Although this was on Amazon at full price, I bought it from 'World of Books' (via Amazon) for a fraction of the price. The book has been used but is in very good condition. The book arrived promptly and well packed. I highly recommend both the book and Vendor. Very happy with my purchase.

The book arrived on time and it was an xmas present that the receiver loved!!

Very good book so far, have not quite finished it yet but have learnt things of which I was unaware.