South Bay Cities Genealogical Society

Promoting Genealogical Education and Research in Southern California's South Bay

Beginner's Basics

Dollars and Sense

by Connie Moretti

These days, funds are tight for everyone so it's important to spend our discretionary dollars wisely. There are hundreds of rivals for your genealogy dollars; lets look at where spending makes the most sense.

Genealogy Software — This is an important and vital investment. A good database program will help you keep your research organized, make it easy to share information with relatives (either on line or by printing and mailing reports), and help you set goals for your next searches. The major software publishers offer free-trial downloads so you can try before you buy. Then choose one that you find comfortable and stick with it.

Learning Resources — There are dozens of good how-to books for genealogy. Additionally there are wonderful tutorials available at no cost online. FamilySearch.org offers excellent research guides for every state and most foreign countries. These can be found under the "Research Helps" tab on the main screen by clicking "guidance." For those who prefer a more active learning, there are excellent videos available online. Two of the best sources are RootsTelevision.com which offers a huge variety of short lessons and FamilySearch whichoffers "classes online" under "Research Helps."

Commercial On-line Databases — When you are first getting started, this is an investment that can be postponed. Besides the many sites competing for your funds, there are hundreds if not thousands of online services that are available free. After you have exhausted the resources of Rootsweb.com, Linkpendium.com, CyndisList.com, FamilySearch.org, and Heritage Quest Online, you may want to subscribe to a fee based service, but don't be in a rush to spend your precious dollars on subscription services. Try the major ones out at a Family History Center in order to determine if each meets your needs.

Periodical Subscriptions — Many excellent genealogical periodicals are available. You can probably browse a number of them at a good-sized bookstore in order to get an idea of what appeals to you. The best ones feature details on useful web sites, case studies of others' research, reports on various localities, and reviews of the latest genealogical products. Some of the more scholarly periodicals are a feature of membership in such organizations as The National Genealogical Society and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. You can browse these in the periodical collection in our South Bay Cities Genealogy room at the main Torrance Library. While you are there, look over the many newsletters and quarterlies from around the world and consider a subscription to one dealing with your ancestral geographic area.

Online News Subscriptions — Daily and weekly newsletters and blogs offer a world of information. Some good ones are Dick Eastman's daily (or nearly so) newsletter at eogn.com, which features frequent articles on the intersection of genealogy and technology and Genealogyintime.com is a weekly review of new websites and interesting information. Both of these will point out other blogs and web sites that may be of value to you.

Spend in the places it makes sense — vital records, copies of documents, and resources that give you the most bang for your buck!

[First appeared in The Beacon, September/October 2010.]