A Short Bibliography of Family History Books

Despite the plague of apathy currently dominant about the subject of family history, there are glimmers of hope. One background issue is whether or not the skills necessary to do serious family history will be taught and preserved past the now elderly generation of researchers. As usual, my attitude in writing any given post is determined, to a large extent, by recent conversations and experiences. On one hand we have the positive promise of projects such as The Family History Guide. On the other hand, I regularly encounter, not just apathy, but active antipathy and some rejection that verges on persecution. I could be shortsighted and blame that on moving to Utah Valley, but in fact, during the past 10+ years, I have been almost completely surrounded by those who go beyond a lack of interest in family history, but also actively impede its progress.

This morning, I decided to provide a short list of published resources about family history with an emphasis on those pertaining to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My goal here is not just to provide a list of books and other materials, but to demonstrate that there really are a lot of positive writings about family history. Perhaps, some of the "technologically savvy" youth will find the time in between texting to their friends to read a book on the subject of family history and start the learning process that will provide some excellent research in the future?

Here are a few suggested books for those who still read books:

• Allen, Desmond Walls. Family History Detective a Step-by-Step Guide to Investigating Your Family Tree. F+W Media, 2011. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=799238.
• ———. First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Family History. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
• Anderson, Chris, and Ernest Thode. A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your Germanic Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
• Annal, David. Easy Family History: The Beginners Guide to Researching Your Family History. London: A. & C. Black, 2012.
• Arthur, Stephen, and Julia Arthur. Your Life & Times: How to Put a Life Story on Tape - an Oral History Handbook. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987.
• Balhuizen, Anne Ross. Getting Started: How to Begin Researching Your Family History. Indianapolis, IN: Ye Olde Genealogical Shoppe, 1994.
• Beasley, Donna. Family Pride: The Complete Guide to Tracing African-American Genealogy. New York, NY: Macmillan USA, 1997.
• Berry, Lesle. Writing and Publishing Your Family History: A Labour of Love. Modbury, S. Aust.: Unlock the Past, 2010.
• Best, Laura. Genealogy for the First Time: Research Your Family History. New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2003.
• Black, Susan Easton. Introduction to LDS Family History: (genealogy). Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 2008.
• Burroughs, Tony. Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree. New York: Fireside Book, 2001.
• Candelaria-Rodriguez, Gloria. How to Start Your Family History: A Guide for the Beginning Genealogist and Family Historian. Port Lavaca, Tex. (P.O. Box 1308, Port Lavaca 77979): Universal Family History, 1982.
• Cass, Deborah. Writing Your Family History a Practical Guide. New York: Crowood, 2012. http://www.msvu.ca:2048/login?url=http://www.msvu.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=953026.
• Chater, Kathy. Family History Made Easy: How to Trace Your Family Tree and Find Relatives in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. London: Hermes House, 2010.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Genealogical Department. Ward, Branch, and Mission Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints up to 1948 (locality Arrangement). Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969.
• ———. Ward, Branch, and Mission Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints up to 1948 (some up to 1951). Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1965.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family and Church History Department. United States and Canada Reference Unit. Tracing LDS Families Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1998.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family History Department. LDS Reference Unit. Founding Fathers Project. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1987.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oshkosh Ward, and Family History Center. A Guide to the Genealogical Research Materials Available at the LDS Family History Center--Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Oshkosh, Wis.]: [Family History Center], 1995.
• Cosgriff, John Cornelius, and Carolyn H Cosgriff. Turbo Genealogy: An Introduction to Family History Research in the Information Age. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1997.
• Croom, Emily Anne. The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
• ———. Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best-Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2001.
• Crowe, Elizabeth Powell. Genealogy Online. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
• Davis, Joann Marie, Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society. How to Begin Your Family History. Detroit, Mich.: Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society, 1989.
• El Paso Genealogical Society. Genealogy Workshop, Level 1: For Beginning Genealogists. El Paso County, Tex.: The Society, 1993.
• Ewell, Barry J. Family Treasures: 15 Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for Discovering Your Family History, 2012.
• Fifer, Susan. Family History for the Older and Wiser: Find Your Roots with Online Tools. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.; Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
• Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History. S.l.: s.n. http://www.genuki.org.uk/gs/#Genealogy.
• Hunter, Nick. Finding Out About Your Family History., 2014. http://www.freading.com/ebooks/details/r:download/OTc4MTQ4NDYwMjQzMA==.
• Kempthorne, Charley. For All Time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Publishers, 1996.
• Kovacs, Diane K. Genealogical Research on the Web. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2002.
• Kurzweil, Arthur. From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
• Larsen, Paul. Crash Course in Family History for Latter-Day Saints: A Step-by-Step LDS Guidebook to Temple and Family History Work Using the New, Easy Way. Orem, Utah: Fresh Mountain Air Pub. Co., 2003.
• L.D.S. Individual Histories, Utah County: Provo, Mapleton, Vineyard, Springville. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1944.
• Maxwell, Ian. How to Trace Your Irish Ancestors an Essential Guide to Researching and Documenting the Family Histories of Ireland’s People. Oxford: How To Books, 2009. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=471321.
• McLeod, Marilyn. Clues to Your Past: Beginning Your Search for Family History : A General Guide to Resources Available in Boone County, and Callaway County, Missouri. [Columbia, Mo.]: [Daniel Boone Regional Library], 1992.
• Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze. Family History 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Ancestors. Cincinnati, OH: Family Tree Books, 2005.
• Morgan, George G. How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004.
• Nichols, Elizabeth L. Genealogy in the Computer Age: Understanding FamilySearch. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Educators, 1994.
• Ogden Regional Family History Center Records. J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah Manuscripts Division. http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/UU_EAD,3452.
• Owen, William, Tay Valley Family History Society. Index to Family Group Sheets, Membership List and Beginning Your Family History Research in the Tay Valley a Where to Guide. Dundee: Tay Valley Family History Society, 2000.
• Pelling, George, and George Pelling. Beginning Your Family History in Great Britain. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1989.
• Peterson, Ann H, and Ginger Hamer, Minnesota Genealogical Society. Journey into Your Past: How to Begin Tracing Your Family History. St. Paul, MN (P.O. Box 16069, St. Paul 55116-0069): Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1985.
• Powell, Kimberly. Everything Family Tree Book Research And Preserve Your Family History. F+W Media, 2010. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=805208.
• ———. The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Use the Web to Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create a Family Tree. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2011.
• ———. The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Use the Web to Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create a Family Tree, 2014.
• Presnell, Jenny L. The Information-Literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Richley, Pat. The Everything Online Genealogy Book: Use the Web to Discover Long-Lost Relations, Trace Your Family Tree back to Royalty, and Share Your History with Far-Flung Cousins. Holbrook, Mass.: Adams Media Corp., 2000.
• Shepherdson, Nancy. Ancestor Hunt: Finding Your Family Online. New York: Franklin Watts, 2003.
• Sperry, Kip. A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources. Provo, Utah: Ancestry Pub., 2007.
• ———. Introduction to LDS Family History (genealogy): Religion 261, Student Syllabus. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Departmant of Church History and Doctrine, 1999.
• Sterling, Dorothy. We Are Your Sisters: Black Women in the Nineteenth Century. New York: W.W. Norton, 1984.
• Stryker-Rodda, Harriet. How to Climb Your Family Tree: Genealogy for Beginners. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1983.
• Szabados, Stephen. Basic Genealogy: Saving Your Family History. Lexington, KY: [CreateSpace], 2013.
• ———. Find Your Family History: Steps to Get Started. Lexington, KY: [CreateSpace], 2012.
• Tracing Your Family History Made Easy. London: Which?, 2011.
• Warren, Paula Stuart. How to Start Gathering Your Family History. St. Paul [Minnesota]: Warren Research & Marketing, 1990.
• Webster, S. M, ed. Genealogy for the Beginner. Charleston, SC: PeeperPub, 2013.
• Wenzerul, Rosemary. Tracing Your Jewish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Family History, 2008.
• Wilkes, Sue. Tracing Your Ancestors’ Childhood: A Guide for Family Historians. South Yorkshire [England]: Pen & Sword, 2013.
• Willard, Jim, Terry Willard, and Jane Wilson. Ancestors. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
• Wolfman, Ira, and Michael Klein. Do People Grow on Family Trees?: Genealogy for Kids & Other Beginners : The Official Ellis Island Handbook. New York: Workman Pub., 1991.