Jim Ollhoff created the Your Family Tree series for young readers. These six nonfiction books include material from beginning genealogy to DNA. Beginning Genealogy: Expert Tips to Help You Trace Your Own Ancestors and Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors will be reviewed in this article.
In Beginning Genealogy: Expert Tips to Help You Trace Your Own Ancestors, the author offers five golden rules, example, record the source (p 12). This book supplies no citations or resources. In the chapter on family trees, the author suggests "unknown" be written in blank spaces. Other authors suggest leaving this area blank to call attention to future research. This author suggests that the reader work on direct line only, forget collateral lines at this time. Other authors demonstrate the collateral lines may offer direct family information. On page twenty-eight, the author mentions that talking with cousins may add information on common ancestors. In the family tree on page twenty-five, the date is written 6/1/1979. Is this June 1, 1979 or January 6, 1979? Genealogists teach that dates are written day, month and year, example, 1 June 1979.
In Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors, the author writes eight chapters. Topics covered include birth and death certificates, immigration and naturalization records, news clippings and obituaries, census and cemeteries. The young reader will learn that a primary record is created by an eyewitness to an event. "Primary documents are important because they are the most reliable information about your ancestors." Further explanation is given that a death certificate is primary for death and secondary for birth information. Where to find records? Search Google with the name of the county and type of record. The census is "a unique mix of primary and secondary information...." The author does not give examples of this mix of information.
What makes these books unique?
Ollhoff, Jim. Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing. 2011. quote from pages 4 and 18.
These books lack of citations, resources, bibliography and contain instructional errors. NOT recommended! Too many great books are available.
In Beginning Genealogy: Expert Tips to Help You Trace Your Own Ancestors, the author offers five golden rules, example, record the source (p 12). This book supplies no citations or resources. In the chapter on family trees, the author suggests "unknown" be written in blank spaces. Other authors suggest leaving this area blank to call attention to future research. This author suggests that the reader work on direct line only, forget collateral lines at this time. Other authors demonstrate the collateral lines may offer direct family information. On page twenty-eight, the author mentions that talking with cousins may add information on common ancestors. In the family tree on page twenty-five, the date is written 6/1/1979. Is this June 1, 1979 or January 6, 1979? Genealogists teach that dates are written day, month and year, example, 1 June 1979.
In Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors, the author writes eight chapters. Topics covered include birth and death certificates, immigration and naturalization records, news clippings and obituaries, census and cemeteries. The young reader will learn that a primary record is created by an eyewitness to an event. "Primary documents are important because they are the most reliable information about your ancestors." Further explanation is given that a death certificate is primary for death and secondary for birth information. Where to find records? Search Google with the name of the county and type of record. The census is "a unique mix of primary and secondary information...." The author does not give examples of this mix of information.
What makes these books unique?
- citations NONE
- resources or bibliography NONE
- written for youth
Ollhoff, Jim. Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing. 2011. quote from pages 4 and 18.
These books lack of citations, resources, bibliography and contain instructional errors. NOT recommended! Too many great books are available.
Check area libraries, this book is available at the Gwinnett County Public Library, Georgia. Ask yourself, does this book help me advance towards my genealogy goals? Comments or questions, please contact Selma Blackmon, Thank you!
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