"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.)
UNCOVERING SKELETONS AND TREASURES IN YOUR FAMILY TREE
by Brenda Kellow, BA, CG
Once and for all let’s prove or disprove that those family legends saying we descend from an Indian princess, Europe’s nobility, an American president, or a famous, or infamous, outlaw. To help you uncover the truth is the newly published book by Betterway Books and written by Rhonda R. McClure, “Finding Your Famous {and Infamous} Ancestors.” You may recognize her name. She has researched the subjects presented on A&E’s popular “Biography” television series. What better credentials are needed to help us determine our family’s rumors of blue bloods and rogues?
Proving the relationship to the elite or the scoundrels is made easy by presenting a variety of sources to consult both online and at libraries. She suggests keeping an open mind. Pitfalls are noted throughout, as are creditable publications, and some that are not. In any case, she advises that we use sources as guides and always verify it. Since it is the female lines that uncover the most ‘hidden’ names, she suggests tackling the lines of the women on the family tree.
She uses real examples in the search for some Hollywood actors such as Brad Pitt, Jack Nicholson, George Clooney and Goldie Hawn. If you are related to Prince William, you should be able to expand your skills to prove it using her guidance and case histories. She begins her research with biographies for clues on the subject and family members as well as for the sources cited within. Other items searched are family histories, biographical dictionaries, who’s who publications followed by research in the local area where the subject lives or lived. A favorite publication from high school days is “Wilson Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature.” I could go on and on naming the suggested sources to search, but I won’t. You have to read it for methods to uncover skeletons and treasures in your family tree.
The 232-page soft cover book is available at your local bookstore for $21.99.
FAMILY TREE GUIDE BOOK TO EUROPE
Do you get bogged down when you search for your European roots? Now you can get back on track to tracing your roots in the Mother country with another Betterway Books publication, “The Family Tree Guide Book to Europe, Your Passport to Tracing Your Genealogy Across Europe,” by the editors of Family Tree Magazine.
There are 14 chapters, each covering a country by one of the authors who have personally researched in the area. The countries covered are: Ireland; England and Wales; Scotland; Scandinavia; France; Benelux (includes Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands); the Germanic regions (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland); Poland; Eastern Europe; Russia and Baltic region; Italy; Greece and the Mediterranean; Spain and Portugal; and lastly, finding your European Jewish Ancestors.
The book features many maps and black and white pictures which give a feel for the area. The methodology is beginner-friendly, as is the book’s layout. The reader will find instruction on finding genealogical records, Web sites loaded with data, addresses of organizations, archives, and Family History Centers, and time lines for context.
The 288-page book is full of information. It sells for $22.99 at local bookstores.
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.
