They Came in Ships, revised 3rd edition
By John P. Colletta, Ph.D. Ancestry Publishing, 2003. 167 pages. Softcover. $12.95 plus s/h. Order at www.ancestry.com.

With his trademark style and humor, author John Phillip Colletta outlines the necessary information you will need to begin your search for your immigrant ancestors in They Came in Ships .

You will find essential information on passenger lists before and after 1820 at Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Since many passenger lists have not been indexed, this book contains information on searching unindexed years as well as those passenger lists not at the National Archives. A handy two-page chart in the back of the book will take you through the basic steps of finding the passenger list you need.

Scottish Ancestry: Research Methods for Family Historians, revised 2nd edition
By Sherry Irvine, CGRS, FSA Scot. Ancestry Publishing, 2003. 251 pages. Softcover. $19.5 plus s/h. Order at www.ancestry.com.

Author and genealogist Sherry Irvine thoroughly discusses everything you need to know for Scottish family research in this revised, second edition of Scottish Ancestry: Research Methods for Family Historians .

She begins with civil registration searches (in Edinburgh, with ScotlandsPeople, and at FamilySearch) as well as manual searches, and the improvements to using GROS census and other census records. Use of the records of the Church of Scotland, the Secessionists, and other denominations is covered as well as examining tax records and the registry of deeds. The author discusses the online index to testaments and how to access testamentary records as well as trades and occupations, migrants, records of the poor, lawbreakers, and more.

Holiday Scrapbooking
By Vanessa Ann. Sterling Publishing, 2003. 128 pages. Hardcover. $24.95 plus s/h. Order at www.chapelleltd.com.

For individuals and families who wish to record special occasions with an extra flair, Holiday Scrapbooking offers 200 full-color page designs complete with supply lists for birthdays and major holidays, including New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's and Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Kwanzaa.

The author briefly discusses the use and effects of adhesives and dimensional objects, such as beads, buttons, brads, and ribbons. Journaling is also discussed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of handwritten versus computer-generated journaling. Helpful hints are sprinkled throughout the book.

Home Publishing
By David Hoye. Level Press, 2003. 225 pages. Softcover. $19.95 plus s/h. To order, call (877) 712–8100.

For writers who have a book but no publisher, this book may be a resource to consult. In Home Publishing, author David Hoye describes how to make your own books at home using electrostatic copiers, inkjet printers, or offset printing presses.

Hoye discusses ink, adhesives, colors, duplex copying, binding, marketing, packing, and shipping—in short, everything writers need to know about creating their own books and making them available—without a publisher. Although little attention is given to the writing process itself, some hints are given to help writers tackle the organization of the whole book.

Ancestor Hunt: Finding Your Family Online
By Nancy Shepherdson. 144 pages. Hardcover. $29.50 plus s/h. Order at www.scholasticlibrary.com.

Ancestor Hunt: Finding Your Family Online is a resource for adolescents who are just starting to become interested in their ancestors. While the focus of the book is on Internet research, the book begins with the suggestion that readers gather information by interviewing living relatives. Instructions are also given on contacting other researchers through message boards and e-mail lists and researching ancestors through search engines. The chapter on offline research discusses vital records and census research, specifically how to use Soundex, although there is no mention of the many census records available online. Genealogy software programs are also discussed and ideas are given for creating your own webpages. Lots of examples and stories make the book especially fun to read, and a helpful glossary is included along with a family group sheet and research calendar to copy and use.

Return to January/February 2004 issue of Ancestry Magazine.