"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Often referred to as the Genealogy Bible, “The Handybook for Genealogists” began in 1947 and contained only 205 pages. This year, Everton’s Family History Network published the tenth edition containing over 900 pages. Imagine, a book that helped so many people over the last 55 years find the connection to their ancestors still printed and bought for its accurate and useful information!
It begins with the Introduction guiding the reader through the various ‘keys,’ abbreviations and definitions necessary to use it to the fullest.
The look of the tenth edition is different than the earlier ones. The font seems more defined, punctuated by the bolded counties, the map index, and so forth, which lead the reader easily through the information. Especially helpful are the Internet addresses for each county as well as the address and phone number. The last page for each state has a blank page for notes making it no longer necessary to write additional information in the margins. The words on the maps are clearly defined on the shiny white pages. A nice addition is the state flower in color on the first page for each state.
This edition contains foreign country information as well as the migration trails that I personally appreciate, even though the “Handybook” continues to exclude trails beyond the Mississippi River. Hopefully someday Everton’s will incorporate the Westward Movement across the great expanse of the United States and include Texas and the West coast.
Purchase “Handybook for Genealogists” from Everton’s by calling 800-443-6325, or from the Internet at www.everton.com/shopper/index.php for $59.95 plus $6.99 shipping and handling.
Inspirational Stories
This year has been a good year in that I have honored my ancestors in so many ways by displaying their pictures and other memorabilia, publishing their stories, and handing down baby items that belonged to my husband or to me so long ago. We delight from giving and sharing these items so precious to our memories.
Our youngest child was delighted to receive the booties and clothes worn home from the hospital. Our oldest was tearful when the little rocking chair arrived this week that I had rocked in so many times as a little tyke. Now the grandbaby is rocking in that same chair.
Preparation for moving into my new office included one entire wall dedicated to ancestor’s pictures. It is divided into halves: one half is for my spouse’s ancestors and the other half for mine. Included within the pictures is a drawing of Shakespeare by our youngest when in the seventh grade and our oldest child’s first Mother’s Day gift made in Sunday school. Moving an office into a larger space is exciting, but moving a genealogy office occupied for the last 15 or so years is overwhelming!
I relived this sharing and honoring of ancestors when I read Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak’s new book, “Honoring Our Ancestors.” It is loaded with stories with which a seasoned genealogist can relate. From the chapters on cemetery stories, heartwarming parents’ examples, custom quilts, to the one on ancestors’ shrines within the home, it intrigues and inspires the creative researcher to honor their ancestors. It is certainly a good book to read during Family History Month in October, or to give as a gift to a friend teetering on the brink of beginning their family search.
Order “Honoring Our Ancestors” over the Internet from http://Ancestry.com or by telephone at 800-262-3787 for $12.95.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor’s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
