Top tomes for your roots research.
Required Reading: Classic resources you shouldn't research without.
Uh-oh… How can you end up with three different birth-dates from Grandpa Burt? And five possible marriage dates for Aunt Ernestine? Genealogy research is rarely cut-and-dried, and sometimes it's difficult to know which record is most likely correct. But Christine Rose helps you weigh and analyze your sources in Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case (CR Publications, $8.95). This guide packs a lot of solid advice into 58 pages, showing you step by step in case studies how to evaluate evidence and resolve your genealogical discrepancies. It's a must-read for all genealogists.
HOT OFF THE PRESS:New books to heat up your family history search.
1. One day, you'll become an ancestor. What are you leaving for your descendants? In You Don't Have to Be Famous (Writer's Digest Books), Steve Zousmer takes the intimidation out of writing your life story, so you can leave a legacy for future generations. Zousmer's message: Whether or not you've led an adventurous life, your life story is meaningful because it's unique. Get going with this practical guide.
2. Combining history, biography and memoir, Bill Griffeth traces his family tree through the history of Protestantism. By Faith Alone: One Family's Epic Journey Through 400 Years of American Protestantism (Harmony Books) follows Griffeth as he travels to England, the Netherlands and Massachusetts in search of his roots — and discovers how faith shaped his ancestors' lives as well as his own.