Ancestry.com is the #1 online resource for genealogical research. The website is effectively one large program. Instead of installing this program on a computer, the user accesses it through the Internet. On this blog, we try to keep readers appraised of new databases and features when added on Ancestry. However, like with any program, sometimes a user guide can improve the overall experience and facilitate success. To this end, George G. Morgan has written The Official Guide to Ancestry.com, 2nd Edition. (note: this book was first published in 2008. It was out-of-print for a few months, but a new printing has again made this great guide available.)
Morgan uses this handbook to give the reader, Ancestry member or not, a glimpse into the heart of the website. Consider it a tour of Ancestry. The guide covers the basics for navigating the site, gives a look at popular features, and examines other features and databases with instructions for conducting searches and maintaining one’s research. To get an appreciation for all this book has to offer see the full table of contents listed below.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
- What is Ancestry.com?
- What This Book Will Do for You
- What’s New in the Second Edition
Chapter 1 – Getting Around the Site
- Logging In
- Account Information
- Navigating the Site
- Quick Links
- The Tabs
- Home
- Search
- Print and Share
- Community
- DNA
- Learning Center
- Store
- Summary
Chapter 2 – Searching for Your Ancestors
- The Search Basics
- Add Names
- Add Dates
- Add Places
- New Search Overview
- Searching
- Finding a Specific Database Title
- Search Strategy
- Summary
Chapter 3 – Working with Digitized Image Collections
- How to Access a Digital Image
- View Record
- View Image
- The Toolbar
- View in Full Page Mode
- Drag
- Zoom
- Image Size
- Magnify
- Options
- Image Number, Previous, and Next
- Save
- Share
- Help
- Summary
Chapter 4 – Family Tree
- Creating a New Family Tree
- Starting a Tree from Scratch
- Upload a GEDCOM
- Working with Your Family Trees
- Overview
- People
- Family Tree
- Photos
- Stories
- Audio
- Summary
Chapter 5 – Working with Census Records
- United States Federal Census Records
- Searching the Census Records
- U.S. State and County Census Records
- The Nebraska Census, 1854—1870 Records
- Maryland Records
- UK Census Records
- Searching the Census Records
- The Scotland 1841 Census
- Canadian Census Records
- Summary
Chapter 6 – Birth, Marriage, and Death Records
- The Major Record Types
- The Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
- A Sample Marriage Database: Maryland 1655—1850
- Banffshire, Scotland: Parish and Probate Records
- England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837—1983
- Summary
Chapter 7 – Military Records
- Early American Military Databases
- American Civil War Records
- World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917—1918
- U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938—1946
- WW II United News Newsreels, 1942—1946
- Summary
Chapter 8 – Immigration Records
- Immigration Records at Ancestry.com
- Searching the Collections
- Sample Immigration Databases and Titles
- Summary
Chapter 9 – Pictures, Newspapers, and Maps
- Searching for Pictures
- Member Photos
- Private Photos
- Other Great Image Collections
- Searching Newspapers and Periodicals
- The United States Obituary Collection
- Maps, Atlases, and Gazetteers
- An Introduction to Cartography
- Working with the Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers Collection
- Summary
Chapter 10 – Stories, Memories, and Histories
- Searching and Browsing the Collection
- Exploring Different Types of Books from the Collection
- A Family History
- A Local History
- American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)
- Slave Narratives
- Dawes Commission Index
- Summary
Chapter 11 – Directories and Member List Records
- Searching a City Directory
- U.S. School Yearbooks
- U.S. Public Records Index
- UK and U.S. Directories, 1680—1830
- British Phone Books 1880—1984
- Summary
Chapter 12 – Court and Land Records
- Searching the Databases
- Summary
Chapter 13 – Reference and Finding Aids
- Searching the Reference and Finding Aids Records
- Searching Books
- The Periodical Source Index (PERSI)
- Summary
Chapter 14 – Printing and Sharing
- Getting Started
- Making a Family History Book
- Working with Your Project
- Workspace
- Thumbnails and Main Toolbar
- Editing Page Elements
- Previewing and Ordering
- Sharing Projects
- Printing Records
- Summary
Chapter 15 – Ancestry Community
- The Components of the Ancestry Community
- My Public Profile
- Message Boards
- Format
- Searching the Message Boards
- Member Connections
- The Member Directory
- Summary
Chapter 16 – DNA
- Testing at Ancestry.com
- The DNA Homepage
- Your DNA Test
- Looking at Your Test Results
- DNA Groups
- Summary
Chapter 17 – The Learning Center
- Welcome to the Learning Center
- Find Answers
- Build a Tree
- Join the Community
- Discover More
- Keep Learning
- Searching the Archives
- Summary
Chapter 18 – The Ancestry Store
- Books
- Records
- Software
- Photos
- Maps
- Gifts
- Ordering
- Summary
Chapter 19 – Putting it All Together
- Traditional versus Electronic Evidence
- Using the Help Tool At Ancestry.com
- Ask Ancestry
- Email Ancestry Support
- Videos
- Webinar
- Happy Hunting
Clearly The Official Guide to Ancestry.com reveals an in-depth look into the website. Ancestry members may find features they were previously unaware of and how to access those features. For the nonmember, perhaps this is the overview you have been waiting for, a guide to help you decide if Ancestry is worth your time.
GenealogyBlog.com is proud to have an affiliate relationship with Ancestry.com.
To order Morgan’s The Official Guide to Ancestry.com for yourself or as a gift for someone else, please visit Family Roots Publishing at www.familyrootspublishing.com