Recommended Reading
As genealogists, we normally spend a lot of time reading Census Records or Birth Certificates or the like, but we seldom spend time reading books that are not about our ancestors. I would like to offer a suggestion to anyone who is serious about the quality of the results of their research. Go and read "Sustainable Genealogy" by Richard Hite. With luck your local library has a copy. I discovered this gem after being handed a copy from the Hudson Library Archivist, Gwen Meyer, as part of her effort to increase circulation at the library.
It is a small book, but it has a wealth of knowledge on how to avoid the traps many of us doing research on our family tree can fall into. Topics include:
• Recognizing when identical surnames conceal different nationalities
• Understanding when and why death certificates can be "wrong"
• Respecting the role of geography in establishing ancestral ties
• Accepting that all realtionships must be chronologically plausible
The call number at the Hudson library for this book is "929.1 Hit 2013".
Contents:
Chapter 1. Recurring patterns in oral history -- Chapter 2. Ethnic origins of family names -- Chapter 3. Maiden names of female ancestors -- Chapter 4. Relationships to someone famous -- Chapter 5. Relationships to royalty, nobility, or wealth -- Chapter 6. Birthplaces of ancestors -- Chapter 7. Military service of ancestors -- Chapter 8. Two or more brothers as immigrants -- Chapter 9. Associations or encounters with famous people -- Chapter 10. Native American ancestors -- Chapter 11. How much misinformation can be crammed into one paragraph?
Get it. Read it, and you will improve the quality and accuracy of the information in your family tree following the advice from the author, Richard Hite.
