Review by Booklist Review
Two new books provide invaluable information for novice genealogists. Carmack, a noted genealogist and an admitted cemetery addict, addresses a specialized area of genealogical research that can yield a wealth of historical and ancestral information. To locate an ancestor's final resting place, one must be thoroughly familiar with American death records. After explaining how to access and interpret coroner's records, death certificates, obituaries, wills, prayer and memorial cards, funeral home records, and mortality schedules, the author outlines the often less-than-straightforward process of locating elusive cemeteries and individual graves. Also included are a discussion of American burial customs and an analysis of cemetery artwork and epitaphs. Milner and Jonas, the authors of A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors (2000), now turn their attention to exploring one's Scottish roots. Citing the fact that more than 10 million Americans claim Scottish as their primary ethnicity, they provide tips explicitly tailored to Scottish genealogical inquiries. After reviewing library and Internet research basics that can be applied to any search or ethnicity, they zero in on retrieving exclusively Scottish data. Strategies for accessing and analyzing Scottish civil registration, census, church, and land and probate records are included. A particularly effective device is the incorporation of the authentic records of an actual Scottish family to illustrate how to interpret and employ historical documents. Considering the fact that genealogical research seems to be the new American pastime, both these handy guidebooks will be welcome additions to most collections. --Margaret Flanagan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Slogging through graveyards armed with a camera and notepad may sound morbid, but it is high adventure to most genealogists. Indeed, according to Carmack (Organizing Your Family History Search), cemetery research provides valuable information about the dearly departed, and it can actually become a family tradition. Carmack begins her demystification of the process with a discussion of the various records created at the time of death (death certificates, funeral home records, and more) and the task of locating an ancestor's grave or cemetery. Once a burial site is established, a visit to the cemetery is in order. Carmack details the different kinds of cemeteries, grave decorations, and veterans' markers and explains the benefits of analyzing a cemetery's "community." A very helpful chapter on capturing a tombstone's information follows. Carmack covers American burial customs and the value (and pitfalls) of cemetery transcription and preservation projects. Finally, she offers ways to make cemetery visits a family affair. Examples of the artwork, epitaphs, and poetry found on tombstones are provided, as are an appendix of symbols and their meanings, a historical time line of America's epidemics and disasters, and a medical glossary. Genealogists and local historians of all stripes will find this book invaluable. Highly recommended for public and genealogy libraries. Elaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, IN (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
