According to the author of Bringing Your Family History to Life Through Social History, family historians are social historians who study "ordinary people’s everyday lives." In chapters focused on home sources, culture, photographs, oral history, correspondence, the college library, and writing a family history, she shows how applying social history can add to our knowledge about a person, a record, or an event.

The pages in this book overflow with examples, techniques, suggestions, and references that help family historians recreate the life of an ancestor. The simple guidelines for research, note taking, organizing, and evaluating sources will work for anyone who wants to do a better job of interpreting and using evidence. Researchers will find themselves heading back to their files to re-examine old research.

One Memory at a Time motivates readers in the gentlest way to write a family story. It targets individuals who are absolutely certain they don’t have a memory or experience worth sharing. In a clear and concise manner, the author uses short narratives to explain that there are no rules for family history preservation projects. Writers must simply remember the moments, and the writing will follow. Practical tips and thoughtful questions included in the text show individuals how to begin writing a family story.

Full-color illustrations on fine-quality, slick paper makes Caring for Your Family Treasures a treasure in itself. The authors suggest ways to preserve an impressive array of materials, such as books, letters and diaries, photographs, (and daguerreotypes, tintypes, or ambrotypes), paintings, fabrics, furniture, clocks and watches, sliver, musical instruments, military mementos, dolls and teddy bears, and home movies. There are also instructions on matting and framing treasures, preserving a new wedding dress, and keeping jewelry looking its best. Each section ranges from three to seven pages, and ends with a checklist for quick reference. The authors discuss the practical aspects of professional help, security, and insurance, and they include a list of books with other resources and addresses from which preservation materials may be ordered.

Hugh McGary’s life was an intriguing one. He crossed the Cumberland Gap with Daniel Boone, was an associate of George Rogers Clark, and testified in the 1793 divorce trial of Lewis and Rachel Robards. He also participated in the Battle of Blue Licks, the so-called "last" battle of the American Revolution. The author takes the reader through these and other events while explaining how to find clues and debunk myths. Throughout the book, the author reveals any evidence that was inconsistent, contradictory, or inaccurate, along with the methods she used to examine and correlate the evidences. Any researcher will want to read this book to learn how to reconstruct and preserve the story of a family or individual.

Web Publishing for Genealogy begins with an introduction that describes the Web, explains why it is useful for genealogists, and details how Web pages work. The text then focuses on software and tools, such as GEDCOM conversion devices. The selection and organization of information for a Web site includes examples of good and bad designs and legal and ethical issues. The author explains how to create pages with a step-by-step formula. "Going Public" covers publishing Web pages, attracting readers, and maintaining and improving a site. There is a section on advanced Web facilities and appendixes that include how to get Web software and a listing of online resources. The print is large, the book lays flat, and the text is lucid.

This is a keepsake diary for the entire family to create and treasure. Each family member is encouraged to contribute text or art weekly to produce a permanent family record. The pages are not dated, so that a family can begin the diary any time, and the diary is organized with facing pages that reflect one week. The captions are designed to include weekly highlights, important news events, and family wisdom (family quotes, inspirational moments, or personal experiences). At the beginning of the book is an introduction that offers participation suggestions for everyone. The goal is to construct a family keepsake using the words of immediate family members, kin, friends, and significant others. The diary is durable, attractive, printed on acid-free paper, and spiral-bound to lay flat. It is a unique tool for preserving current family history.

Sandra H. Luebking, FUGA, a genealogical and historical researcher and lecturer, is the editor of the award-winning Forum, the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ quarterly magazine, and co-editor of The Archives and the revised edition of The Source.

Return to the May/June 2001 Table of Contents.