Product Description

Complications arising from incomplete or missing records, census irregularities and individuals of the same name occur more often than non-genealogists might think. The author, a respected genealogist, helps intermediate to advanced researchers break through these "brick walls" by breaking down each researcher's common problem into a chapter with straightforward solutions. Readers will: Go straight to the answers they need without wading through theory or irrelevant records overviews; Find explanations and case studies easily understood and useful for intermediate or advanced genealogists; Learn what NOT to do in research to avoid hitting brick walls in the future. The result is the best and most accessible book on the market about overcoming obstacles, from Family Tree Magazine and Family Tree Books, the sources of genealogy's most popular publications.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35739 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From Booklist
Rising immediately warns that this genealogical troubleshooting guide is not for the novice family historian. However, those already involved and well versed in genealogical research will benefit greatly from these handy problem-solving techniques, tools, and methods. After hitting an "inevitable brick wall," even knowledgeable researchers are apt to give up too quickly. To avoid this frustrating scenario, the author provides tips for locating missing documents; overcoming census omissions; recognizing and availing oneself of "collateral kin" and neighbors; interpreting court, probate, and property records; distinguishing among individuals of the same name; and finding elusive ancestors who lived before 1850. Although beginners will need to consult more basic handbooks, advanced genealogical investigators will welcome this valuable resource. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Marsha Hoffman Rising is a highly respected author, lecturer and researcher, and the recipient of the National Genealogical Society Award for Excellence, given for outstanding articles. She has been in the genealogy field for more than 20 years and lives in Springfield, Missouri.

Customer Reviews

Excellent, recommended
Excellent resource for American ancestors from 1800-1900. She discussed techniques and common pitfalls that were very helpful despite my having many years of good solid experience.

Excellent book for planning / evaluating genealogy research
This book is a cut above many popular genealogy "how to" books.

I'm really picky about genealogy books, and this one is excellent. Most books don't discuss carefully evaluating evidence and really thinking through problems associated with conflicting information, burned counties, brick walls etc. The "thinking" in this book and the examples of alternative sources one may not be familiar with are what is outstanding. In addition, Ms. Rising's examples are clear, easy to follow and informative, and there are many of them. Her research methods are applicable to ANY time period you are working in. I disagree with another reviewer who complained that this book won't help someone with "late" immigrant ancestors.

I'm an experienced genealogist and a trained researcher who has been working for 25 years on my family lines. The land chapter, in particular, and the chapter on working in the years between the Revolutionary War and 1850, gave me several directions to go in knocking down some brick walls.

Beginners as well as experienced researchers will benefit from this book. What will help doing genealogy research most of all is knowing how to evaluate what you have and how to recognize what else you need. This book does much more!

No Index
As a genealogy reference or guide I found this book to be a dud.

It has almost the worst Index I have ever seen. Sources that are mentioned in the text are not in the index nor clearly explained.

As an example the source I know as the "Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature" was mentioned, more than once, under an odd acronym and I did not find any explanation or comment on the acronym or the different title.