Researcher's Guide To American Genealogy. Third Edition Book

When I started doing genealogy in earnest many years ago, I discovered that I really didn't know what to do after pumping relatives for information. Everything was disorganized, scrawls on the back of envelopes, abbreviated notes scribbled on bits of paper, and it usually was not very well recorded. My recourse was to ask other genealogists for a good how-to book. There were several recommends and most of them added to my learning.

My favorite of these recommendations was The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy by Val Greenwood. What made this source valuable to me was that it spoke to the various types of sources, how they might answer the next piece of the puzzle, and how to keep the materials organized. Even though the current edition of this book is weak in covering online sources, it is invaluable in learning about the many record types and methodology in genealogical research. It is easy to get hooked solely on online services such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. They offer huge general collections that can get us started on most research questions. But they often lead to relying on them exclusively. They are not strong or totally inclusive in some of the most important record groups, such as land, probate, court, and church records. Greenwood's book helps us to understand how these sources, often only available at a local court house or historical society, contribute to finding the evidence we need to build our tree or to slam through your genealogical brick wall.

The chapter "Evaluation of Evidence" is a must read. There are entire books on the subject, but Greenwood gives an excellent concise discussion of the issue. There is also a chapter on successful correspondence. The book encompasses many other aspects of research, such as the impact of the property rights of women.
We often hear presenters talk about what you have in your genealogy toolbox. This book is a good reminder that there are many sources other than the internet. I highly recommend this to everyone doing genealogical research.