Family historians depend upon thousands of people unknown to them. They exchange research with others; copy information from books and databases; and write libraries, societies, and government offices. At times they even hire professionals to do legwork in distant areas and trust strangers to solve important problems. But how can a researcher be assured that he or she is producing or receiving reliable results? This official manual from the Board of Certification for Genealogists provides a standard by which all genealogists can pattern their work.

REVISED AND UPDATED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Family historians depend upon thousands of people unknown to them. They exchange research with others; copy information from books and databases; and write libraries, societies, and government offices. At times they even hire professionals to do legwork in distant areas and trust strangers to solve important problems. But how can a researcher be assured that he or she is producing or receiving reliable results? This new edition of the official manual from the Board of Certification for Genealogists provides a standard by which all genealogists can pattern their work. "Anyone who wants to become a certified genealogist will need to read this book." —Dick Eastman

How do family historians know they are producing or receiving trustworthy results? This official manual from the Board of Certification for Genealogists, essentially a users' guide for family historians, provides standards for genealogical researchers to assess their own and others' work. The revised second edition, published in 2019 with additional revisions in 2021, increases the clarity of DNA and privacy standards. Those standards are especially useful in the twenty-first century, when many genealogists use a complex new tool—DNA testing—and trace living people more often than they did in the past.

A manual for researchers writers, editors, lecturers, and Librarians.

Author Brenda Dougall Merriman takes readers through the genealogical process of research and identification, while examining how the genealogical community has developed standards of evidence and documentation, what those standards are, and how they can be applied.

With millions of records now available online, those interested in their family history have a wealth of information—and misinformation—at their fingertips. In this book, author Kimberly Powell, the About.com Guide to Genealogy, helps both novice and experienced genealogists sort it all out. She shows readers where to search and which key-words they’ll need to create an accurate family tree—from start to finish. With this book, readers will learn how to create an online search strategy, use search engines and Soundex to find kin, reach out to others with peer-to-peer record swapping, discover useful records from around the world, and more. Packed with tips on free databases, search sites, and downloadable government records, readers will have all they need to use the Web to dig out their family’s true tale!

Covering trends, issues and case studies, this collection presents 34 new essays by library professionals actively engaged in helping patrons with genealogy research across the United States. Topics include strategies for finding military and court records, mapping family migration and settlement, creating and accessing local digital services, and developing materials and instruction for patrons. Forewordist D. Joshua Taylor, host of Genealogy Roadshow and president of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, notes: "The increasing popularity of the topic requires that any librarian who encounters genealogical customers remain on the forefront of new developments in the field."

An excellent starting point for both reference librarians and for library users seeking information about family history and the lives of others, this resource is drawn from the authoritative database of Guide to Reference, voted Best Professional Resource Database by Library Journal readers in 2012. Biographical resources have long been of interest to researchers and general readers, and this title directs readers to the best biographical sources for all regions of the world. For interest in the lives of those not found in biographical resources, this title also serves as a guide to the most useful genealogical resources. Profiling more than 1400 print and electronic sources, this book helps connect librarians and researchers to the most relevant sources of information in genealogy and biography.

Presents easy-to-understand strategies for researching family roots online. Featuring detailed explanations, each chapter teaches you how to navigate popular genealogy websites, decipher census data and other online records, and connect with other family members to share your findings. The book also includes tips on using free databases and genealogy apps.

- Up-to-date techniques for navigating the evolving world of genealogical research - Savvy advice for overcoming frustrating obstacles and of research