Genealogy Resources at the Library

Westlake Porter Public Library has access to many great online genealogical resources. Census forms, marriage records, as well as naturalization papers and military records help researchers and the curious alike to open up their family’s past and provide new and surprising details about their ancestors. These documents and many, many more are available through our Genealogy databases, some which are only available for use in the library. The library’s genealogy databases can be accessed online from our home page.

Ancestry Library Edition is probably the most popular of the genealogical databases. Featuring access to billions of records that detail births, deaths, marriages, and military service from around the world. There is also a wide selection of high school yearbooks, city directories, and other types of directories to gather information from.

Fold3, named after the manner is which the American flag is folded, focuses on military records. Featuring records from primarily the United States, Great Britain, Canada and other Commonwealth Nations this resource is a treasure trove of information. Records are helpfully categorized by nation and also conflict, going back to the American Revolution.

African American Heritage brings together a number of record types to help African Americans research their history by gathering together census, cohabitation records, draft and military service records.

Conducting the Family Interview

All the records in the above databases can only take us so far. Stories from our parents, grand-parents and other relatives can help fill in certain gaps or add color to the black and white of online digital images. Before you sit down and ask your relatives questions you will need to do some preparation, such as come up with questions. You don’t need to have every question scripted since you want to leave time for unscripted follow ups. However you want to make sure you have all the mainpoints and highlights covered. Following are some sample questions to consider for your interview:

• When and where were you born? Do you have any siblings?
• What were your parents names and what did they do for a living?
• How has your town/neighborhood changed since you were a child?
• What are some of your memories from growing up?
• Were there any favorite family traditions you remember?
• What did you do for a living/job?
• Can you tell me about your grandparents or any aunts and uncles you knew growing up?
• Do you have any advice for future generations?

Titles on Genealogy from the Library

The library owns a large selection of titles, many are available in print and are also available as ebooks.

DNA : a guide for family historians by Graham S. Holton

Provides a clear, accessible introduction to using DNA testing in genealogy, with practical guidance and case studies. DNA research is one of the most important and rapidly advancing areas in modern science and the practical use of DNA testing in genealogy is one of its most exciting applications. This accessible, wide-ranging introduction, the first British publication in this field, has been revised in a completely new edition with new topics and illustrative case studies. It offers a clear and practical way into the subject, explaining the scientific discoveries and techniques and how it can be used by genealogists to gain an insight into their ancestry. The subject is complex and perhaps difficult for traditional genealogists to understand but, with the aid of this book, novices who are keen to take advantage of it will be able to interpret test results and use them to help answer genealogical questions which cannot be answered by documentary evidence alone. It will also appeal to those with some experience in the field because it places the practical application of genetic genealogy within a wider context, highlighting its role as a genealogical tool and suggesting how it can be made more effective.

Writing your family history: a guide for family historians by Gil Blanchard

Gill Blanchard’s practical step-by-step guide to writing a family history is designed for anyone who wants to bring their ancestors’ stories to life. She looks at ways of overcoming the particular problems family historians face when writing a family history — how to deal with gaps in knowledge, how to describe generations of people who did the same jobs or lived in the same area, how to cover the numerous births, marriages and deaths that occur, and when to stop researching and start writing.

Her book provides examples to help readers find their own writing style, deal with family stories, missing pieces of information and anomalies. It also offers advice on key aspects of composition, such as adding local and social history context and using secondary material. The focus throughout is on how to develop a story from beginning to end.

Exercises are a key feature of the text. There is guidance on the various formats a family history can take and how to choose the appropriate one, with examples of format and layout. Production and publishing are also covered — books, booklets, newsletters, websites, blogs and ebooks.

Sharing your family history online: a guide for family historians by Chris Paton

For many enthusiasts pursuing their family history research, the online world offers a seemingly endless archive of digitised materials to help us answer the questions posed by our ancestors. In addition to hosting records, however, the internet also offers a unique platform on which we can host our research and lure in prospective cousins from around the world, to help build up a larger shared ancestral story. In this book, genealogist and author Chris Paton will explore the many ways in which we can present our research and encourage collaboration online. He will detail the many organisations and social media applications that can permit co-operation, describe the software platforms on which we can collate our stories, and illustrate the many ways in which we can publish our stories online. Along the way, Chris Paton will also explore how we can make our research work further for us, by drawing in experts and distant cousins from around the world to help us break our ancestral brick walls, not just through sharing stories, but by accessing uniquely held documentation by family members around the world, including our very own shared DNA.

Mastering census & military records by W. Daniel Quillen

The only book of its kind for amateur genealogists!

This book covers the use of two of the most effective sets of genealogical information available to genealogists: Census and military records. Quillen’s Essentials of Genealogy includes: what they are, how to use them, pitfalls, and issues concerning the information found.

The really, really, really easy step-by-step guide to creating your family tree using your computer : for absolute beginners of all ages by Gavin Hoole

Planting” and growing a family tree is simple with this supereasy guide. It explains where to start this journey of discovery; how to record the information you uncover; how to download and use free forms, charts, and genealogy computer software; and how to search Internet resources and exchange information online. Screen shots guide readers every step of the way, so they can match what they see in the book to what they see on their computer.