When I was offered a review copy of the new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy, by Drew Smith, I was happy to accept. I’m a big fan of Drew’s work (and was thrilled when he did one of my How They Do It interviews back in 2017). I ended up receiving two copies of the book, so I’m offering a giveaway for one of them. (See the bottom of this post for details on the giveaway.)
Drew Smith has been doing genealogy since the 1990s and has been working as a genealogy educator for decades. This genealogy book, written for beginners, is the book that he wished he’d been able to read when he was first learning how to research his family. It’s divided into two parts. Part I For all Generations: Preparing to Research discusses preparing to do research. It provides a foundation of understanding about various facets of research, starting with Names, Places, Dates and Events and ending with a chapter on Using Online Repositories. You can bet I first turned to Chapter 4: Tools and Methods to Keep Us Organized. (Drew is the author of the 2016 book Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher.) In that chapter, he succinctly and clearly lays out some ways to organize both digital and paper documents.
Part II Generation by Generation: Doing the Research is where things get innovative. Beginner genealogists are often advised to start with themselves and move up their family tree as their research progresses. Drew organizes Part II of this book in the same way, offering information about sources and record types for various time periods. Chapters include information about different types of records in each of these generations:
- Generations after 1950 in the U.S.
- Generations from 1880 to 1950 in the U.S.
- Generations from 1850 to 1880 in the U.S.
- Generations from 1776 to 1850 in the U.S.
- Generations in British America before 1776
- Generations outside the U.S. (in English)
- Generations with Records in Other Languages
The bulk of Part II is obviously U.S. focused, so those genealogists (like me) whose families have been in the U.S. for generations will find this book especially helpful.
Like Drew, I wish a book like this had been around when I started doing genealogy research. It’s so clearly laid out and clearly written, with bits of humor tossed in. The depth of information is broad and Drew doesn’t go down rabbit holes, but he doesn’t just skim the surface. His explanation of the various types of DNA was one of the most easy to understand that I’ve read. The generational approach of Part II is very useful friendly and easy to apply to the moving-up-the-tree way that many people (including me) research. I’m not a beginner genealogist, but I benefited from the book!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: If you’d like to win a free (physical) copy of the book, just leave a comment below and tell me how long you’ve been doing genealogy and how you think you’ll benefit from the book. To get an extra entry, share this blog post on Facebook. Be sure to tag Organize Your Family History so I see it. I will select a winner at random using the Random Number Generator and will let the winner know via email. Deadline is Friday, September 8, 2023 and I will reach out to the winner for a mailing address on Saturday, September 9.
PLEASE NOTE: THE GIVEAWAY IS OVER AND ENTRIES ARE CLOSED.
I absolutely love Family History, I’ve been doing it for 50 years
Like Drew, I have been researching since the 1990s. I joined the DAR, prepared applications for the Children of the American Revolution, and taught some beginner’s classes. I have recommended that students not buy a how-to book but rely on the Family Search wiki for guidance. I would love the check out this book as a possible recommendation. Living in Florida, I have heard Drew speak, and it sounds like his in-person personality is mirrored in the book.
I have been working on and off with my family history for the last 50 years, mostly off as I raised my family. I hit several roadblocks as I got into the 1800s which have been discouraging. I would love to have a copy of this book to guide me through the generations. I believe it would help me greatly.
I have his other books, and would love to add this to my collection. His writing is excellent and his information has helped me many times
I would love a copy of this book. I have been into genealogy for many years and even heavier since I retired in 2017. I volunteer to teach a beginning genealogy class at our local library several times a year so I’d love to recommend a new book to my students.
been doing family history for many years. Even professional genealogists have been unable to help with one road block
I’ve been doing genealogy for 28 years and would love to have this book to help guide me in teaching others starting out in this field.
I have been researching my family off and on for 10 years and have run into several roadblocks. Using your tips on organizing has been a big help. Part II of Drew’s book looks like a wonderful resource. Having the information on generational resources available in one place would be so helpful. Thank you for offering us a chance to win this book!
Thank you for letting us know about this book. I will be purchasing… but who knows, maybe I will be the winner! I’m feeling lucky, so I will wait and see. 🙂
Oh, and I have been doing family research for the last 30 years or so.
I’ve been working on genealogy for over 30 years. There are times when I feel stumped by a line and go back to the beginning. It does help to start over on a line and tackle it from a different perspective.
My birthday is next week: this would provide a great kick-start to my genealogy do-over – LOL! I’ve been doing genealogy for about 10 years, but I’ve failed to keep a consistent search and organize system. Both paper and digital files are everywhere. I love the idea that Drew had divided the research into time frames. One of my most challenging brick walls dates to the War of 1812. Drew might have some new takes on how to research that era. Yes, I’d love to win a copy – but it sounds like a winner no matter what!
I have been working on and off with my family history for over 30 years, hit & miss. 🙂 I have been a member of Tulsa Genealogical Society since the 1990s. I have hit my own brick walls, voluntarily helped many others with theirs, and helped people find their birth families. I still like to learn, read, research and help others. Drew’s book would be a great asset in my work and my library.
I have been doing genealogy since about 1990. I remember in my mid 20’s I copied some family history notes from my Uncle and just stuffed it in a drawer. Thirty years later I was interested in genealogy and I still had those notes to refer to. Most of my ancestors were in Colony America, so I am interested in Part 2 of his book. My birthday is in November so I will be hinting to my wife about getting the book.
Are you going to get to having the 30 day challenges?
Jerry, thank you for asking about the 30-day challenge! I’m planning to do one for September. Watch for a blog post on September 1.
I just took my first introductory to genealogy research at my local library, so I’m brand new to this adventure. Therefore, I can use all the help I can get and every resource is new to me. Thank you for the opportunity.
Been at work for about 30 years now on my own and for others’ genealogy.
i love your postings; have learned a lot from you!
Have not been able to spend any time on genealogy for the last year and a half, during my husband’s long decline. He passed away recently, and as soon as I get through the mountain of paperwork that happens after a death, I’m getting back to my family tree once again!
Thank you for all you do for us, Janine.
Patricia, I am so sorry to hear about your husband’s long decline and passing. I dealt with all the paperwork after my father’s death a year ago and I know how hard it is, particularly when you’re grieving. The one thing everyone said to me that was really helpful was, “give yourself grace.” It takes time to get through this stuff. Sending good thoughts your way. Take care.
I have been doing genealogy since 2016.
I have been doing genealogy off and on since 1983 when my grandmother passed away and I felt lost without her guiding hand. I wanted to know about her and her family. So much has changed over the years and I have always believed it beneficial to learn more, update methods, organize better and find new sources. I only recently heard of Drew when he spoke in person at the seminar I attended. I would absolutely love a copy of his book. If I am not chosen for the gift, I’ll be purchasing it myself. Thank you for your wonderful blog, Janine! Keep up the good work!
I would love to read this book and am sure to learn much more from the information contained in it. I have been doing genealogy since the mid 1970’s, long before computers and the Internet.
I’ve been researching since the 1980’s. More information of time periods and what was happening for each generation would certainly be helpful
I have been researching my family since 2000. I attended an uncle’s funeral and had no idea who everyone was. I am always on the lookout for new ways to approach finding information and this book looks like it would fit the bill.
My genealogy research, since 1998, has been hit or miss. Working takes a huge chunk of my time. However, I am thrilled to discover so many blogs, FB pages, podcasts, books, etc. that enable me to “start again” each time I return to researching. Looking forward to another great informational book by Drew Smith!
I’ve been doing family research for close to ten years, although very slowly. I have met one whole side of my family I had never met before thanks to Ancestry. Would like to learn more.
I have been doing Genealogy for many years…..though mainly running down rabbit holes. I have recently settled my deceased husbands estate, so now I hope to have more time to get serious about my Genealogy. I really like all of Drew Smith’s work and know this book would help me be more focused.
I feel like a beginner even though I have been doing genealogy for over fifty years. Finally getting back into it after a year’s long hiatus caused by totaling wrecking our van. It sure has changed in the last year. I’m looking forward to actually being able to work on it and remembering all the things I used to do automatically. I would love to have this book to help jog my memory. He sounds like someone who can really help with genealogy. Thank you for giving us a chance to win a copy.
Hi I have not been doing genealogy for long I’m a beginner. I would find Drew’s book really helpful as it is always best to start off right and build on your knowledge.
I have just started trying to organize my Dads files/lists/boxes – he is currently in end stages of Parkinsons. I want to continue his efforts! So interesting, but so daunting…..
Ive hit a roadblock. I think Drews book will help me look at things differently. Ive been searching on and off for 40 years. Starting with listening to family stories at reunions
I’ve been doing genealogy research for over 30 years. Family research is so complex, that I always welcome different perspectives to help me on my journey. I think Part II would be very helpful as well as the DNA information.
My grandfather started the quest, my father continued it, and now I’ve picked it up after retirement. Part II sounds very interesting,especially the DNA explanation – DNA is something I need to understand better.
i’ve been doing genealogy on and off for about 30 years, more recently ‘on’ since i am retired now. i am anxious to read what he says about organization since i have accumulated tons of paper, some in binders, mostly in folders, many labeled to ‘sort and file’. plus all kinds of info saved in my email so learning to file digitally would be a big help. plus i’m always interested in methodology and what new tip i may learn.
i’ve been doing genealogy for about 30 years and am aways open to learning something new.
I am relatively new to genealogy having started about 10 years ago. I am really interested in how he has organized Part 2 of the book – I think that will be very helpful as I research family members.
I would classify myself as an intermediate genealogist. But boy, could I use the organization section in his book and the generation to generation section would be extremely helpful. I’ve been able to attend a couple of Drew’s classes and he is an excellent instructor and very personable.
I started doing genealogy about 15 years ago, went gung-ho, then petered out. I want to get back to it, but am feeling overwhelmed!
The genealogy bug bit me at an early age when I attended a family reunion where a poster-board chart showed my lineage on that side. But, I didn’t really get serious about researching until about 2018 after retirement. The generational chapters of this book would be so helpful!
I’ve been working on family history for about 25 years. As I delve more and more into the lives of my ancestors, I’m finding more with U.S. connections (I’m Canadian). This book sure would be handy in tracking down some of them!
I started working on genealogy 49 years ago, just before my son was born. We were living with a paternal aunt of his, a new family for me. I roughly made a chart that I’ve saved all these years and refer back to once in a while. It’s helped me solve some genealogy puzzles. There are still roadblocks for getting these familys across the pond and also discovering birth parents in the states of Ohio and CT.
I started family research when my husband told me about his uncle Tony (about 20 years ago) and the possible connection to the Mafia and how his older siblings always said that he was too young and couldn’t possibly remember things that he said he remembers. Fast forward, over the years I was able to find information to proof my husband’s claims to be true, throw some researches about my own family and I now I want to throw the towel. Unfortunately I didn’t know of the importance of proper documentation until years into my researches and several failed attempts of a do over… I need help!
My Mum has done the family genealogy for almost 30 years with some paths now hitting a wall, others needing some more creative sleuthing or overseas travel to get local parish records. I’ve assisted at various times but now I am continuing on with her work, and researching the other side of my daughters family now for her to one day continue and take over.
I’d love to know the best way to organise the things we have in hard copy, but also how best to organise digitally if different from my own current system. I hope to write a historically accurate storyline of my ancestors one day. A historically accurate book by learning how they lived through the trials and tribulations of the times. It requires more than simple facts, I need to piece together a clear picture of their lives that I can gather from more personal information research, news articles, diaries, and then fill the gaps with what I can infer based of any societal research and records of the day.
Ironically in this digital age of research and genealogy, I still prefer the smell and feel of an actual book in my hands. The book to be given away would be valued in my hands.
Family genealogy was a passion of my grandmothers. I have some of the information she collected, however a lot of the stories and information were lost with her death – I want to pick up where she left off and put together a family history for generations to come.
I’ve been working on my family tree since the early 1990s…that said, I know there’s always something new to learn. For experienced researchers I think it’s important to return to the basics from time to time – Drew Smith is the perfect guide for this 🙂
I’ve been “doing” genealogy for 30 years but more focused for the last 8 years since I retired. A Genealogy Club has begun in my retirement community with new-to-genealogy participants. I would love to have a copy of Drew’s book to share with this group.
I am so happy to see all the interest in the giveaway! And it’s gratifying there are so many seasoned genealogists who read the blog. I’ll do the drawing on Saturday and announce the winner here as well as by email.
I began genealogy research in the mid-1980s beginning with the work done by my grandmother. I was very active in the community until 2000 or so. I need to get back into working to upload family documents and research results.
I started way back before Genealogy was a thing in the early 70s with a year off for health reasons. It sure has changed. This book could help me figure out a lot of the changes.