Book Review: Your Stripped Bare Guide

Having earned a Ph.D., worked as a professor, and published research, I know that citing sources is essential in academic work. Having published in multiple disciplines, I have used different styles of citations and variations of those styles. Students can usually understand why direct quotations need to be cited, but do not always grasp why the facts they use in their writing must also be attributed. The methods in technical papers are explained so that they can be reproducible. For a technical discipline, citations can be used by readers to go upstream to the authoritative sources and investigate the source material for themselves. Those sources are typically published and readily accessible.

Genealogical writing is different. Using historical sources can be far more complicated. They are evidence of the past events, which support interpretations of that past. The access to an historical source may limited. A source may exist in one location with restrictions limiting its physical access, which means that readers may not be able to examine the source themselves. A source may have been destroyed or lost, leaving us with only an image or description of it. It may exist only in the private files of a researcher or in unpublished manuscripts. Primary sources may also be subjective, which introduces another layer of evaluation. Therefore, citations of historical sources need to convey to readers the information about the source and the implications about its reliability.

This is where Your Stripped Bare Guide to Citing & Using History Sources becomes invaluable. Ms. Mills wants us to understand why and how to do this effectively. Improving how we cite our sources will result in better products. As we evaluate our sources our citations present evaluation of their reliability to others. She guides us as we turn our evidence into proof.

There are sobering thoughts throughout this book. Without DNA evidence, attributing relationships between individuals in the past is built on trust in the informants. The authenticity of a tombstone image downloaded from an online cemetery website differs from that of an image we photographed on our own in-person visit to a cemetery.

All sources are not created equal, nor do all have the same weight when considered as proof. From the very start of our research, we need to not only be tracking where our sources come from but evaluating them as we collect them. We must also be wary of bad data; multiple references to it should not be mistaken for proof of its veracity. There is a good reminder to put full citations on the front page of all our notes or copies of documents.

Enjoy the guidelines for analyzing evidence. The book also includes universal templates and construction notes for our use, including templates for the daunting layered citations with an explanation of why they are important. While you might be tempted to ignore Appendix One until you need to define terms, I recommend that you review it early to make sure that you understand the language of citing and using historical sources. (The first term you look up should be “q.v.”)

Consider allowing Ms. Mills to guide you toward stronger, clearer, more reliable research!

The book can be found at: https://genealogical.com/store/your-stripped-bare-guide-to-citing-using-history-sources/

Note: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Book Review: Genealogy in Reverse

Have you ever wanted to look at the playbook that someone who specializes in finding living descendants has created? Have you wondered what resources a researcher would employ online and in the real world? Have you wanted to use such a playbook in your own reverse genealogy efforts? Within its 54 pages, Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living lets you have your own copy of concise notes written by Ms. Passey. She does this professionally and her impressive credentials include working as a subcontractor in the important genealogical work involved in repatriating the remains of WWII service members.

I have a cybersecurity certification in ethical hacking, and my favorite phase of the process is reconnaissance. Although DNA is not a part of the hacking methodology (yet), and the goals are different, the skills I have learned have assisted me in finding heirs and helping a museum find living descendants of a person that they planned to honor. These efforts made me curious about seeing that playbook, too.

The methodology and guidance for finding the living that are presented in the book are based on sound principles. Those principles are shared with the reader. There are instructions and screenshots for importing and exporting family trees between Ancestry.com and Legacy Family Tree Software, and how to split off a separate tree in Legacy Family Tree Software. The use of online databases and websites is part of the process, as is research at real-world locations. The value of newspapers is shown; helpful details may be tucked within their pages. Suggestions about contacting living people are also included. The final chapter contains a brief anonymized repatriation case. 

The book is intended to benefit all levels of genealogists. To make the most of the tools, methods and guidance introduced, I would recommend that a genealogist be comfortable with the individual parts of the process. It would be beneficial for a genealogist to be comfortable with using online family trees and/or a family tree software program of their choice, have a little experience with newspaper research, and a good understanding of DNA types and testing plans.

The book can be found at: https://genealogical.com/store/genealogy-in-reverse-finding-the-living/

Note: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Book Review: Greetings from Camp Davis

Greetings from Camp Davis: The History of a WWII Army Base, now in its 2nd Edition, is described by the author as a general history of Camp Davis. It hits the mark. Although the Camp’s operational history only spans a short time, its story is large. Its contribution to the Army and its impact on the local area was immense. The effort to build such a large base quickly on property that had no infrastructure echoed the ambitions of the United States Army to expand from 9 antiaircraft regiments in 1939 to a goal of having 46 regiments by 1942.

Mr. Tyndall takes us on a well-researched tour through Camp Davis from its inception, through WWII, to its last occupants after training activities ceased. To take this guided tour, I recommend reading the book from cover to cover. After a timeline of the Camp, travel with the author to observe how the location was chosen, constructed and operated. You will learn how the sleepy hamlet of Holly Ridge, North Carolina, emerged to become the premier Antiarcraft Artillery (AAA) Training Center for basic and unit training, and about its associated AAA School courses. As the tour progresses through time, you will view Camp Davis from various aspects in different parts of the book. Continue along to walk through the details of the daily lives of the personnel at the Camp, and even those who visited it. A scrapbook of images from the activities and times at the Camp are collected in an engaging appendix.

Those interested in the local history of Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as readers of World War II history will enjoy this book. This book is also incredibly valuable to those who had ancestors who were stationed, trained, or employed at Camp Davis. Mr. Tyndall’s tour is as close as we can get to visiting Camp Davis in WWII.

The book is also of value to those interested in the roots of today’s Air Defense Artillery (ADA). For a brief time starting in 1941, Camp Davis was home to the three branches of the Coast Artillery: seacoast, anti-aircraft, and barrage balloons. From the perspective of one Army base, readers can follow when and how the Coastal Artillery, tasked with the mission of protecting our shores, gave rise to the antiaircraft artillery that accomplished both anti-aircraft and ground support functions.

My favorite chapter may be Chapter 3, about Training and Organization.  This chapter explained what happened to the new recruits as they arrived. It described their daily routine and the technical aspects of the equipment the AAA trainees would master. The technical descriptions certainly help us to understand the duties and challenges that these soldiers would face during their operational assignments. As in the other chapters, the personal reflections of those who were at the Camp are also included along with the results of extensive research. Appendix D holds a summary of the AAA weapons’ specifications. In this way, I was able to learn more about my father’s time in training. Knowing that my father was trained at Camp Davis, the appendix listing the units trained there will be useful when combined with Morning Reports from his next organization, for insight into when he moved to Camp Stewart.

Through the other chapters I also learned about what the buildings and food were like at the Camp, and how the lack of transportation and the isolation of the location made recreational facilities so important. For a young man from Brooklyn, New York, such as my father, this had to be a significant adjustment.

Stories about the roles of women and racial integration at Camp Davis hinted at future changes to the military. As expected during that time, there were racially segregated training, barracks, and entertainment facilities; what was unexpected were examples of some fully integrated training and billeting at the Officer Candidate School (OCS) and at certain specialty AAA courses. The groundwork for women’s future roles in military service was paved at Camp Davis. In August 1943, some of the first women who were WAACs (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps) became female soldiers of the Women’s Army Corps (WACs). The Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) learned how to fly tow targets at the Camp, then supported the AAA training.

Your tour of Camp Davis through time finishes in the current day, showing the few remnants of the disassembled Camp that still remain after its deconstruction and the surplusing of everything in it.

The 2024 Addendum includes additional research done since the book’s first edition. Among the topics are more about the construction and labor unrest, the Camp’s post exchange and its Newspapers. We also learn that at least one of the ten female officers (WACs) who were trained in antiaircraft artillery techniques was stationed at Camp Davis.

The book represents Mr. Tyndall’s passion and commitment to telling the story of Camp Davis. The personal stories he gathered through extensive oral interviews add an additional dimension to his wide-ranging research to uncover details of Camp Davis’ story. The chapter notes document the plethora of sources used, and when combined with the selected bibliography, may inspire your own research.

Books such as this make me grateful for the rise of independent publishing, so that valuable information can get into the hands of interested readers.

The 2nd edition of Greetings from Camp Davis is available at local museums and bookstores in Southeast North Carolina and via the author’s book website: www.greetingsfromcampdavis.com. A Kindle version of the 2nd edition is planned for some time in the future.

Note: A review copy of the book was provided by the publisher.

Book Review: The Complete Guide to Lineage Societies

The first thing that intrigued me about this book was how such a thin tome was titled “complete.” It is a thin book that packs quite a punch! I learned that in this thin volume, Dr. Nagy provides readers with information about lineage societies, how to find them, how to learn about their missions, why you might want to join one, and how apply for membership. Rather than a detailed how-to about how to join one society, the book shares general information appropriate to any type of membership application, for any type of society.

Even though I have researched and successfully completed applications for the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), which was formed by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) as its successor, I admit to dragging my feet on a more involved membership application. I have been concerned about the quality of proof that I have gathered to document a couple of links in the generations of that application. This uncertainty has made me reluctant to begin the formal application process, so I was interested in reviewing this book.

An important part of applying for a society is understanding the eligibility requirements. The book gives general information about beginning membership application process, then documenting lineage or an ancestor’s qualifying service, and finally completing the application. There is also information about the types of membership that may be available in these societies. At the end of the book is an appendix with selected societies and a brief bibliography.

At the core of applications is the documentation of lineage or service. We are cautioned that applications for lineage societies may require updating the documentation of existing applications lineages to meet current genealogical standards. A valuable part of the book is a summary of documentation to seek when preparing an application: vital records, their substitutes, and qualifying service information. Each entry in the documentation categories might easily be the subject of a course or a book, but having a list of sources to examine in one place is helpful. Some of the valuable advice was to use online family trees as clues.

Dr. Nagy offers valuable advice, as she is a former Registrar of several lineage societies. In the preface, she tells us that compiling an application for a lineage society will use sound genealogical principles, but that it will employ skills that usual genealogy lectures do not cover.

Case Study 1

A family member of mine previously attended an annual Moby Dick Marathon in New Bedford, Massachusetts, so I decided to use the information in the Selected Society Listing Appendix to check out the Descendants of Whaling Masters. Their membership categories include descendants and relatives of masters and crew, but there is also a contributing membership level for interested individuals and youths who are not descendants. The website had a lineage outline form and an application for membership. The application contained information about the sources the society uses for verifying the Whaling Master Ancestor.

Case Study 2

I have been researching ancestors and collecting documentation for a membership application for a large hereditary society, with the intent that I will be well prepared to submit the application. I must confess that I have been uncertain about the quality of “proof” of the collected documentation links between a few generations, which made me hesitant to dive in and begin the process. Interestingly, while researching one of the challenging links, my work was able to provide documentation of a missing link for siblings of that ancestor. Sadly, that record did not explicitly state that the ancestor was linked to the siblings. Given that newspapers may be considered a substitute for vital records, filing that application may be in my near future.

While I know there are always people within a society willing to support applications, I have always wanted to ensure I enter any process on firm footing. Having someone to offer guidance on finding societies, seeking out sources, and navigating the application process can be invaluable. This book fulfills that role and helps you understand what to expect.

The book is available from Genealogical.com at https://genealogical.com/store/the-complete-guide-to-lineage-societies/ and other booksellers.

Note: A review copy was provided by the publisher

Book Review: Evidence Explained, Fourth Edition

It is difficult to tackle a review of such a definitive classic tome, but this newest edition does warrant the work involved in such an undertaking. Elizabeth Shown Mills has certainly invested the time to document what can be a daunting process to many, and to eliminate confusion about the topic with clear explanations.

New technology means more and different sources to cite, and the book has been expanded to conquer them all. It is difficult to imagine how this magic has been done, given that the page count of the book has been reduced from the 892 pages of the Third Edition (Revised) to 739 pages. Ms. Mills has accomplished this seeming legerdemain, not with a slight of hand, but through the use of templates.

The Fourth Edition now contains 14 templates, which are more general and concise than the Quickcheck Models of the previous edition. In each template, there is a first reference note, followed by construction notes explaining each part of the citation. These templates allow a user to build up their citation in a way that makes sense for their source, and for other sources that may not even exist yet.

While other reviewers have shared their views about the undeniable strengths of the evidence analysis process presented in this book, this engineer proposes to evaluate it under actual use conditions. For a book like the newest edition Evidence Explained, the best way to review it is to spend a little time using it.

The first thing I did was make sure I could still locate the straightforward information about which part of ships’ names are and are not italicized. For some reason, this is something I always need to double check. This small piece has remained the same between versions.

On a couple of recent occasions, I needed citation support that was beyond other sources, so I had good opportunities to work with the newer elements of the book.

I found myself needing to cite a college newsletter and yearbook for a very brief project. Wanting to make a good impression on the recipient, I needed Ms. Mills help, and her book did not disappoint me. Undoubtedly investing time in reading the book from cover to cover will yield a good return, but prior to completing that task I searched in the index for help.

Although I first thought to cite the yearbook and school newsletters, it was clear that this approach was flawed. The items requiring citations were in an online virtual archive, which is a Digital Collection. Using Section 4.15 and its examples within Online Images: Empasis on Document was the help I needed. This led me to more help offered by Template 10, Online Image (No Named Database), which was immediately bookmarked (with a sticky note).

Another case was the need to cite a private message sent to me via Facebook. Messages like this are interesting sources. Of course, they do not have the benefit of peer review or public review. They are unrecoverable by a reader. In this case, I needed to use a quote from the private message, and it was clear from the context and the subject area that it contained subjective data.  

Checking the index for social media led me to explore the complexities of citing social media posts, but that was not what I needed for this citation. So, I located correspondence, personal in the index and investigated. This led me to Section 4.41 about Email & Instant Messages. One of the examples was for a Facebook direct message, which was exactly what I needed. Even though the example was sufficient for me to build the citation, this whole section sent me to Template 7 Private Holdings (Artifact or Manuscript Document) where further explanation could be found.

Citations accomplished!

I recommend checking out Section 2.10 for the Symbols & Terms that are used to flag citations. The symbols are good flags for the types of citations that I often use, and knowing where to start can be confusing without a reference. As we learn in the footnote, there are fewer examples for type CD-ROM, which makes sense because we are using them far less than we might have in the past in favor of their online replacements.

The sticky notes that were accrued in the Third Edition during my ProGen days have now been migrated to the Fourth Edition, and new sticky notes have joined them. I often return to my most used templates and the chapters that I seem to be needing a lot lately, Archives & Artifacts and Business & Institutional Records.

The Templates are a very useful update for this classic work, and the section about Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one more way that Ms. Mills demonstrates that this reference does support you from artifacts all the way to cyberspace.

The book is available at Genealogical.com and other booksellers.

Notes: A review copy of the book was provided by the publisher. Like many other genealogists, I am a fan of Ms. Mills and recognize her service to the genealogical community.

Book Review: “Generation by Generation”

With a wealth of knowledge and experience in researching, lecturing, and teaching others, Drew Smith has now turned his efforts to create a book for those who are beginning their genealogical research in the United States. “Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy” is a concise way for new genealogists to benefit from Mr. Smith’s wisdom as well as enjoy his warm and approachable manner. He makes good use of analogies and examples so that the content is manageable by even the most novice researcher.

Part I of the book lays a solid foundation of key knowledge and skills a reader needs to conduct successful genealogical research. In Part II, readers are guided while they actually research their own ancestors. The book lends itself to navigating through its sections in order, supporting the reader with both a table of contents and an index.

The topics covered in Part I are important to understand and practice for successful research outcomes. Given that understanding cousin relationships can be tricky, the book is specific with regard to those relationships. Topics from changing calendars to DNA are presented clearly and painlessly throughout. As I was reviewing this section the book, I found that just as I would wonder, “will he tell beginners about…,” he did! The breadth of those examples ranged from genetic recombination and to ethics of DNA testing to the fact that the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau also include records of employees. The importance of introducing the genealogical research process and the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to new genealogists cannot be overstated. The book conveys an appreciation of citing sources, while eliminating the fear of them.

A key part of researching using “Generation by Generation” is helping a new researcher travel back in time, organizing how they will research within each time frame of generations of ancestors. The book provides descriptions of which records are appropriate for each time frame. With Mr. Smith’s guidance, the researcher steps backwards through their US ancestors’ generations who lived during the time periods: 1950 to now, 1880-1950, 1850-1880, 1776-1850 and pre-1776 British America. Mr. Smith also supports readers as they start to tackle researching their ancestors back to their European or Canadian roots. These divisions are logical, and it would be straightforward to follow the book’s structure to approach personal research or formulate a syllabus for a class or study group.

Another feature is due to the printing process. The chapters that contain an odd number of pages include a blank page at the end. These blank pages are an ideal location to enter notes and record questions.

This is a book to both read and use. It is a way for a reader to bring Mr. Smith home and have him alongside while taking significant steps to research their family history. Using Part I to learn the main ideas and terminology, and pitfalls, prepares the reader to be ready to do their own research using Part II, and have a good foundation before advancing into more detailed research.

The book is available at Genealogical.com and other booksellers.

Notes: A review copy of the book was provided by the publisher. Like many other genealogists, I am a fan of The Genealogy Guys podcast, and recognize both of its hosts for service to the genealogical community.

This blog post is copyright ©2023 by Margaret M. McMahon. All rights reserved. No part of this post may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. All copyrights and trademarks mentioned herein are the possession of their respective owners and the author makes no claims of ownership by mention of the products that contain these marks.