Last fall Family Roots Publishing ran a highly-successful promotion on the new The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe – Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in Europe – 2nd Edition. Based upon that experience, I’ve concluded that a promo of this book, bundled with the also popular Tracing Your Eastern European Ancestors would be an excellent value for my readers.
Both of these books are written and edited by knowledgeable folks, most of whom I know well enough to call friends. The principal editor of The FamilyTree Guidebook to Europe is Allison Dolan – Editor of Family Tree Magazine. She’s assisted by numerous writers – folks who are intimately acquainted with the subject countries that they are writing about in this volume. There was a Family Tree Guidebook to Europe published by F&W a decade ago, but this book bears little similarity to it. Although the 2003 book filled a need, this volume goes way beyond what the earlier book did. The author of the majority of Tracing Your Eastern European Ancestors is my friend, Lisa Alzo.
Since I love both of these books, Family Roots Publishing purchased a large quantity of them, and is making them available as a bundle as our current FRPC Exceptional Bargain Offer for 29% off. Usually $36.94 (plus $9.50 p&h if purchased individually), we’re blowing them out as a bundle for just $26.23! (plus $5.50 p&h). This offer ends at midnight MDT Friday, February 14, 2014. Better yet, add another book or two to your order, and we’re offering FREE USA shipping on all Website-placed orders of $50 or more, also through midnight MDT Friday, February 14, 2014.
Note that we’re also offering the books individually at 15% off during the sale. Click on the links for the individual books to purchase just one or the other at 15% off. However, to get the bundle price, and save on shipping, be sure and purchase the bundle.
Following are reviews of both books
The FamilyTree Guidebook to Europe
Although I didn’t usually list them in the table I’ve created below, the various chapters detail the types of records used for doing genealogy in any particular country covered in that chapter. These include vital records, military records, census records, and such. Every country is different as deals with what records are available, and how useful those records might be.
The use of the word “tips” is found extensively throughout the book. Don’t let the small word give you the idea that these are small sources of information. They typically are not. I was amazed at how extensive and useful most of these tips turned out to be.
Excellent maps, as well as timelines for each region are included. The Resources sections of most chapters includes Organizations and Archives, Books, Periodicals and Websites. These are pretty extensive and include a lot of excellent information.
Following is a non-exhaustive table of contents for the book, along with the name of the contributing editor for each portion:
Introduction – by Lisa A. Alzo
A Guide to European Research – with 11 Tips
Step 1: Exhaust US Sources First
Step 2: Get the Immigrant’s Name Right
Step 3: Learn Naming Practices
Step 4: Brush Up on History
Step 5: Study Geography
Step 6: Bypass Foreign-Language Barriers
Step 7: Find Online Records
Step 8: Use FHL Microfilm
Step 9: Write to Archives
Step 10: Hire a Pro to Get What You Can’t
Step 11: Take a Research Trip Abroad
Ireland – by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Regional History – with 7 Tips
Step 1: Learn a Wee Bit of History
Step 2: Know What You’re Up Against
Step 3: Understand Ireland’s Geographic Divisions
Step 4: Pinpoint the Place
Step 5: Search for Descendants
Step 6: Get Your Hands on Records
Step 7: Resources
England and Wales – by David A. Fryxell and Lise Hull
England
Locating Places
Censuses
Birth, Marriage and Death
Church Records
Wills and Probate
Military Records
Wales
Emigration to America
Naming Conventions
Parishes and Counties
Resources in Wales
England Resources
Wales Resources
Scotland – by Nancy Hendrickson and James M. Beidler
Regional Guide
In the Rough
Migration Patterns
Research Tee Off
People’s Choice
Alternative Access
Scots-Irish Origins
Scotland Resources
Scandinavia – by Diana Crisman Smith
Search at Home First
Understand Those Pesky Patronymics
Utilize Geographic and Language Aids
Recognize that Parish Records are Key
Parish Records
Always Work in Families
Scandinavian Censuses
Scandinavia Resources
Sweden Resources
Denmark Resources
Finland Resources
Norway Resources
France – by Nancy Hendrickson and Maureen A. Taylor
Regional Guide
Brush Up on Background
Take Care of Translations
Find the Place of Birth
Seek Microfilmed Records
Huguenot History
Open it Up to Other Records
French Naming Practices
France Resources
The Benelux Region – by Rhonda R. McClure and Sunny Jane Morton
The Netherlands
Lay of the Land
Tides of History
Cultural Waters
Immigrant Waves
Stream of Vital Stats
Flood of Records
Beyond the Data Deluge
Belgium & Resources
Luxembourg & Resources
The Netherlands Resources
Germanic Region – by James M. Beidler
Germany
Moving from Micro to Macro
Reviewing the Records
Surveying the States
Switzerland
Austria
Surmounting Language Barriers
German Outside Germany
Germany/Swiss/Austria Resources
Poland – by Cecile Wendt Jensen with Sunny Jane Morton
Regional Guide
Pieces of Palonia
Determining Your Destination
Polish Places
Homing in on Homeland Records
Poland Resources
Eastern Europe – by Lisa A. Alzo and James M. Beidler
Covering the following countries:
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Carpathian Rus
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Macedonia
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Czech Republic and Slovakia
Tracing Immigrants
Researching Names and Places
Finding and Using Records
Hungary
Getting Started
Seeking Sources
Using Church Records
Tapping Government Records
Croatia
Getting Started
Finding and Using Records
Romania and Bulgaria
Romanian Research Tips
Bulgarian Research Tips
Eastern Europe Resources
Bulgaria Resources
Croatia Resources
Czech Republic & Slovakia Resources
Hungary Resources
Romania Resources
Russia and the Baltic Region – by Lisa A. Alzo
Russia
Getting Started
Understanding Names
Studying Geography and History
Surveying Records
Researching Russian Immigrants
Accessing Archives
Learning the Language
Ukraine
Getting Started
Understanding Ukrainian Immigration
Finding Your Ancestral Village
Overcoming Language Barriers
Using Genealogical Records
The Baltic Region
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Regional Resources
Getting Started
Understanding Baltic History
Learning Immigration Patterns
Studying Names
Grasping Geography
Finding Foreign Records
Tapping Online Resources
Regional Resources
Belarus Resources
Estonia Resources
Latvia Resources
Lithuania Resources
Moldova Resources
Russia Resources
Ukraine Resources
Italy – by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Regional Guide
Step 1: Comuni Italiani
Step 2: Social Histories
Step 3: Italian Newspapers
Step 4: Order Sons of Italy in America
Step 5: Naming Traditions
Step 6: Translation Tools
Step 7: Research Guides
Step 8: Italian Genealogical Group
Step 9: POINT
Step 10: Mangia Mangia!
Four Steps to Finding Italian Ancestors
Italy Resources
Greece – by Thomas MacEntee
Regional Guide
History in the Making
It’s All Greek
Greek Census
For the Record
Surname Clues
Going Greek
Greek Resources
Spain and Portugal – by Sunny Jane Morton
Regional Guide
Step 1: Using US Records
Step 2: Translation Tools
Step 3: Geography and Governmental Archives
Step 4: Major Record Sets
What’s in a Nombre?
Spain Resources
Basque Resources
Portugal Resources
Your European Jewish Ancestors – by Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Learn Your History
Follow the Group
Break Down Language Barriers
Trace the Names
Review Available Records
Research in Repositories
Surname Suffixes
Go Genetic
Records at a Glance
Jewish Resources
Appendix A: Online Translators
Appendix B: Passenger Arrival Records – by Lisa Alzo
Step 1: Search at Home
Step 2: Examine US Records
Step 3: Locate Passenger Lists
Appendix C: Ancestry.com’s Immigration Collection – by David A Fryxell
Setting Sail
Anchoring Your Searches
Refining Your Search
Appendix D: Genealogy Glossary: Dutch, French, German, Spanish
Numbers
Dates
Relationships
Index
Purchase an individual copy of The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in Europe, 2nd Ed. at the FRPC website for 15% off – just $22.94. To get the bundle price, and save on shipping, be sure and purchase the bundle.
Tracing Your Eastern European Ancestors
At 82 pages, this new journal offers 15 articles written by a collection of professional researchers and genealogists.
Publisher and editor, Edward Zapletal, does an excellent job in describing the difficulties of Eastern Europeans research:
“For many of us ion the genealogy world who are researching ancestors from countries in Eastern Europe, it’s a know fact that research in the region can, at times, be very difficult. We often start out searching for an ancestor in one place, but end up locating them in a completely different places the reasons are numerous, but several centuries of wars, famines, disease, floods, and fires, to name a few, contributed to migration and emigration, and to the destruction of many valuable records. Still, many records survived, including parish books, censuses, and gazetteers. For those who emigrated to distant lands, many records were created along the way at various ports of departure and arrival. Those, and many other documents that were carefully stored, are now being digitized, indexed and made available to eager family historians all over the world. The Internet has made searching much easier, but it’s not always the answer. Only a relatively small portion of all records have been digitized. Writing to, or visiting, local archives, records offices, churches, etc. still may be the only way to find that elusive Eastern European ancestor. Be patient. Be vigilant. Enjoy!”
Answers to many of your research questions can be found in this collection of professional articles. Just look at the contents list below to get an idea of all that is covered here.
Contents
10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Eastern European Research!
Lisa A. Alzo shows you the steps to track down your Eastern European roots
Using Maps & Gazetteers
Dave Obee show us how to use maps and gazetteers to locate where your ancestors lived
Online Resources for Researching Eastern European Ancestors
Lisa A. Alzo reviews some of the best websites for learning about your East European ancestors
Meet Your Matches: Helpful Tools from MyHeritage.com
Lisa a. Alzo discusses how to use some great tools from MyHeritage.com t o research East European ancestors
Top 10 Websites for Finding Your Polish Ancestors!
Donna J. Pointkouski looks at ten websites to help you locate your Polish ancestors
JRI-Poland Expands Access
Lisa A. Alzo reports on a new agreement between The Polish State Archives and Jewish Records Indexing-Poland
Online Hungarian Research
Lisa A. Alzo reviews the latest online resources for Hungary (With special thanks to Beth Long)
Researching the Hungarian Census
Smiljka Kitanovic explains the resources available for researching your Hungarian ancestors
Start Researching Your Czech Ancestors
Scott Phillips outlines the sources you’ll need to start on a successful journey to find your Czech ancestors
Five Great Sites fro Researching Your Slovak Ancestors!
Lisa A. Alzo discusses the key websites you need to know to research your Slovak ancestors
Researching Your Ukrainian Ancestors
Matthew Bielawa discusses taking the first “steppes” to finding your Ukrainian ancestors
Researching Your Russian Ancestors
Rick Norberg explores five websites that will be helpful for researching your Russian ancestors
Benefits of Joining an Ethnic Genealogical Society
Lisa A. Alzo discusses the role of ethnic genealogical societies in family history research
Five Simple Ways to Share Old Favorites
Lisa A. Alzo discusses five ways you can share Eastern European recipes and traditions online
Individual copies of Tracing Your Eastern European Ancestors can be purchased from Family Roots Publishing; Sale Price: $8.46 To get the bundle price, and save on shipping, be sure and purchase the bundle.
Again, since I love both of these books, Family Roots Publishing purchased a large quantity of them, and is making them available as a bundle as our current FRPC Exceptional Bargain Offer for 29% off. Usually $36.94 (plus $9.50 p&h if purchased individually), we’re blowing them out as a bundle for just $26.23! (plus $5.50 p&h) This offer ends at midnight MDT Friday, February 14, 2014. Better yet, add another book or two to your order, and we’re offering FREE USA shipping on all Website-placed orders of $50 or more, also through midnight MDT Friday, February 14, 2014.