Genealogy series adds cemetery research guide

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Another new guide in the “Genealogy at a Glance” series has been created to provide basic information pertaining to cemetery research. “American Cemetery Research” covers such topics as Locating Your Ancestor’s Final Resting Place, Types of Cemeteries, Planning a Cemetery Field Trip (including clues found in addition to inscriptions), Photographing Markers (necessary tools to have besides a camera), Tombstone Rubbings (and some suggestions for preserving them), Finding the Living Among the Dead, Databases of the Dead (some online tombstone transcription databases), and Quick Facts and Important Dates (pertaining to types of markers). A list of references for further study also is provided.

The unique format of this series makes the data handy as well as hardy. Its four pages (8 1/2 -by-11 inches) have been laminated for repeated and frequent use. Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, well-known professional genealogist and author of “Your Guide to Cemetery Research” (Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 2002), has truly condensed a wealth of cemetery know-how into this useful reference.

“Genealogy at a Glance: American Cemetery Research,” ISBN 978-0-8063-1898-1, can be ordered as Item 887 at $8.95 plus shipping (first item, $4.50; each additional item, $2.50) from Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211-1953. VISA and MasterCard orders may be placed toll-free at (800) 296-6687 or online at http://www.genealogical.com.

The publisher’s website also has information on additional guides in this Genealogy at a Glance series. Carmack has written several, including Italian Genealogy Research, Immigration Research, and Ellis Island Research. The website provides full descriptions of each item in this series.

Genealogy classes

The Genealogy Center’s beginners’ classes will be offered in the meeting room at the Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Ind. They include:

May 12, 10-11 a.m. — Getting the Most From a Book will discuss the basics of using books and how to retrieve and evaluate all possible information.

June 23, 10–11 a.m. — How to use the Genealogy Center. This class is not a beginners’ class in genealogy but rather an explanation of the center’s collections, catalog, microfilm, etc., and how to use them.

July 28, 10-11 a.m. — Ancestry: The Beginner’s Way to Search. Learn how to navigate this database successfully.

Aug. 25, 10-11 a.m. — Beginners Guide to Vital Records (including other sources when official records are missing).

For more information, or to register for any class, call (260) 421-1225. A brochure telling of these events can be seen at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/summer.sflb.ashx.

Random acts of kindness

The original Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) was the brainchild of Bridgette Schneider. Although she died in 2011, volunteers around the country continue to look for genealogical information for others, being reimbursed only for such expenses as copy fees, postage, parking fees, etc.

At http://raogk.wiki.com/wiki/Random_Acts_of_Genealogical_Kindness_Wiki one can read about this wonderful program and how to locate volunteers still available.

Queries, as well as a general exchange of genealogical material that readers would like to share, will be printed in the column for free. Contact Joan Griffis by e-mailing JBGriffis@aol.com