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The modern world of genealogy combines the traditional methods of research with the awesome power of computers and the Internet, a combination so powerful that it has transformed the way we do genealogy. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to train the researcher in this new methodology, tying the fundamentals of genealogical research to the infrastructure of computers and websites. In other words, it is a manual for modern genealogy--designed for the beginner but useful even to the most seasoned researcher.

With our growing reliance on electronic databases, computer programs, and Internet resources, genealogical research, for all practical purposes, will never be the same. And yet in many respects it will be the same, for the principles of sound genealogical research are immutable, and this book shows how to combine traditional research methods in the National Archives, the LDS Family History Library, and other major resource centers with today's technology; how to conduct research in courthouse records, censuses, and vital records using techniques unheard of just a decade ago. It shows you how to get started in your family history research; how to organize your family papers; how to enter information into a genealogy computer program so that you can easily manage, store, and retrieve your data; how to analyze the data and place it in various tables, charts, and forms; and how to put together a family history notebook--all the while using conventional records sources with a modern search and retrieval system.

Furthermore, the book contains guidelines for using public libraries, courthouses, and archives. It also explains how to use LDS Family History Centers and the Regional Records Services Facilities of the National Archives, and it provides a step-by-step guide for using the records in each facility, including background information showing how to obtain vital, probate, military, immigration, and census records--all carefully coordinated with the ever-present backdrop of computers and the Internet.

The new updated edition contains references to current URLs and databases, discusses new genealogy software options, describes the latest procedures at FamilySearch, and includes a revision of the census chapter to reflect the release of the 1930 census.


Instructional Manual

Mrs. Clifford's new book is also designed as an instructional manual, and each chapter of the book is a self-contained teaching module containing the following elements:

*The main body of the text provides instruction supported by illustrations, charts, and examples.
*"Your Turn" activities serve as prompts, asking the reader to apply the instruction to his or her own research needs.
*Chapter assignments serve as review and comprehension checks.
*Computer checklists give the reader hands-on experience with his or her own genealogy computer program.
*Website addresses listed at the end of each chapter guide the reader to valuable Internet resources related to the topics.
*Entries in chapter bibliographies serve as resources for further study.


About the Author

Karen Clifford is an Accredited Genealogist and the President/CEO of Genealogy Research Associates, a California corporation with offices in Utah. She has developed and taught multiple online genealogy courses at colleges in California and Utah, long before distance learning became popular. Karen has authored college textbooks covering both traditional and electronic genealogy research. She has served as President of the Utah Genealogical Association and as Vice President and Chair of many committees of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She is past Vice Chair of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen); she continues to chair both the Test Development and the Test Quality Control subcommittees for that organization. She was the founding President of the Monterey County [CA] Genealogy Society and was a Director of the Family History Center in Monterey County for twelve years.
ALSO BY KAREN CLIFFORD:
Genealogy and Computers for the Complete Beginner
Genealogy and Computers for the Advanced Researcher
Genealogy and Computers for the Determined Researcher