Authors: Tony Burroughs
ISBN-13: 9780684847047, ISBN-10: 0684847043
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Date Published: February 2001
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Tony Burroughs is an internationally known genealogist, and author, who teaches genealogy at Chicago State University. He lectures throughout the United States on all aspects of genealogy, serves on the Board of Trustees for the Association of Professional Genealogists as well as other national boards, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Genealogical Society. He has traced two family lines back seven generations. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Trace, document, record, and write your family's history with this easy-to-read, step-by-step authoritative guide.
Finally, here is the fun, easy-to-use guide that African Americans have been waiting for since Alex Haley published Roots more than twenty-five years ago. Written by the leading African American professional genealogist in the United States who teaches and lectures widely, Black Roots highlights some of the special problems, solutions, and sources unique to African Americans. Based on solid genealogical principles and designed for those who have little or no experience researching their family's past, but valuable to any genealogist, this book explains everything you need to get started, including: where to search close to home, where to write for records, how to make the best use of libraries and the Internet, and how to organize research, analyze historical documents, and write the family history.
This easy-to-use, easy-to-read guide simplifies a seemingly mammoth task into accomplishable baby steps. Down to the AA batteries for the tape recorder, Burroughs helps the reader prepare, organize and start the process of recording his or her family history.
Preface: Why a Need for This Book | ||
Introduction | ||
Part I: Preparing to Research | ||
What is Genealogy? | ||
Why Research Genealogy? | ||
Fundamentals: The Building Blocks of African American Genealogy | ||
Organizing Before it Gets Messy | ||
Preserving the Past and the Present | ||
Managing Your Research | ||
Part II: Beginning Steps | ||
Oral History-The Most Important Thing You Can Do | ||
The Family Archives-Researching Family Records | ||
Family Group Sheets | ||
The Pedigree Chart | ||
Records in Cemeteries | ||
Records in Funeral Homes | ||
Vital Records | ||
Going to the Library | ||
Social Security Records | ||
U.S. Census Records | ||
Part III: Stepping into the Future | ||
Electronic Genealogy: Computers and the Internet | ||
Writing the Family History | ||
I Can't Stop Now: Continuing the Search | ||
Putting It All Together | ||
APPENDIXES | ||
Glossary | ||
Acronyms | ||
Biography of Robert Elliott Burroughs | ||
Traps | ||
Directory of Sources | ||
Bibliography | ||
Index |