Description

Features
18 Adventures in Genetic Genealogy What can you really learn about your family history from a few cheek cells? We sent a professional genealogist on a quest to discover the truth behind the developing science of DNA. By Maureen A. Taylor

26 Keep It Reel
Take action today so you—and your descendants—can always enjoy your family’s audio and video memories. By Fern Glazer
Plus: An award-winning documentary filmmaker shares his secrets for capturing memories now.

33 State Research Guides
Trace your ancestors across the USA! This issue’s special pullout section features how-to articles and resource sheets for:

• Texas
• Rhode Island

Stash these guides in your research binder or tote them to the library—and quickly find the essential facts, resources and advice you need to trace your family tree anywhere in the country.

42 Good Sports
Hit a genealogy home run with our guide to researching athletic ancestors. By Nick D’Alto

48 Swede Success
With our seven winning strategies for tracing Swedish roots, you’re sure to achieve family tree triumphs. By David A. Fryxell

Columns and Departments
5 Out on a Limb
Membership has one less privilege.
By Allison Stacy

6 Making Connections
Readers respond to Family Tree Magazine.

10 Branching Out
What’s new in discovering, preserving and celebrating your family history, including:

• Special report: graveyard neglect
• 411 for Ancestry.com databases
• Wisconsin vitalrecords online
• Less at-home access to HeritageQuest Online.

By Diane Haddad

14 Living History
Sizzling summer heritage events, including: Riding into Iowa history … Feeding cultural consciousness in Wisconsin… Flagging West Virginia’s Civil War past. By Amy Gorin

56 Preserving Memories
Cedar chest safety, tips for antique tomes and more ways to save and share your family’s past. By Anne Wilbur

58 Everything’s Relative
Tales from the lighter side of family history.

62 Now What?
Mulling over Masons and immigrant names: Our experts conquer your quandaries.

64 Photo Detective
A primer on class portraits. By Maureen A. Taylor

66 The Toolkit
Perplexed by the plethora of Web sites with British civil-registration indexes? Read our head-to-head comparison. Plus:

• Hispanic roots Web roundup
• Virus antidotes
• GEDCOM guidance
• Books for junior genealogists.

Edited by Dana Schmidt

72 Time Capsule
The father of Riverdance gets a kick out of his roots. By Michael Flatley