Genealogy

[Superman]

Any good tools or books that would help somebody research their genealogy? My Mom has really got into this and I would like to get her something related to it for Christmas.

[3rd24thindian]

A subscription to Ancestry.com is pretty awesome. You can also call your local archives or historical society, they may have local genealogy books.

[peejman]

[quote name='3rd24thindian' timestamp='1354597471' post='854675']
A subscription to Ancestry.com is pretty awesome. You can also call your local archives or historical society, they may have local genealogy books.
[/quote]

Yep. One of my aunt's got on ancestry and traced my Dad's family back 9 generations to the 1740's, two generations before they came across the pond. Really neat stuff.

[Glenn]

+1 on the Ancestry subscription. Also, a computer program such as Family Tree Maker (PC) or Reunion (Mac) will really help with organization.

[UncleJak]

I agree with the ancestry.com suggestion. I have also seen blank family tree books at book stores that you can fill in yourself, after the research is complete.

[vontar]

allot of libraries have genealogy research aids available. A library in Knoxville told me if you have a name of a relative that fought in the Civil war they could probably locate information.

The one I am thinking of is between the Worlds Fair Park and Gay Street. I don't know the exact address. I can find it if I am driving.

Searched I believe it is
Knox County [b]Public Library[/b] - Lawson McGhee [b]Library[/b]
500 West Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN

I have been meaning to go look up some people. Edited December 4, 2012 by vontar

[Djay3]

I sure can vouch for treasures to found via [i][b]Ancestry.com[/b][/i]! Just be careful about the type of subscription you might select for her. If not canceled proactively you'll get billed anew asap when your trial period or subscription ends (voice of experience) : (

Also suggest her googling various Military and Civil War genealogy sites. Thanks to such sites, I now have treasured photocopies of my great grandfather's signed "expense voucher" for ferry crossing fees and horse fodder while rounding up Confederate deserters in Arkansas. My grandmother had simply told me he had served as a Confederate Hospital Steward when she showed me his "saw bones" kit. My late father likely never knew of that family nugget.

Your Mom is in for a fascinating adventure. I hope she is comfortable with internet searches since it has expanded the wealth of genealogical data literally at our fingertips!

[Superman]

I got her an ancestry subscription last year for Christmas. She is definitely hooked, I have never seen her so interested in something.

[3rd24thindian]

If you have family that was in Rutherford County let me know... I do this stuff for a living for MTSU/ Rutherford County and can look into it genealogy stuff for free.

[Djay3]

Here is a "left field" "tongue in cheek" suggestion.

Some hard core genealogy fans are using Gene Sampling scan services (mouth swab) from sites such as Genealogy.com. They then get a report mapping their genetic heritage mix based upon world regions.

Ex: British isles - 37%
Scandinavia - 37%
Asia - 16%

Related note to that. A few years ago there was a small English village where the genetic material was taken from a prehistoric caveman's remains found in a nearby cave close to the village. The villagers submitted swabs and amazingly a teacher living in the village proved to be a direct "genetic descendant" to the caveman!

Often wondered if that teacher had a long arms and very bushy eye brows. ; )