Finding Your Family History in Northeast Ohio
by Vicki Blum Vigil
- Format: Softcover, 208 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches
- Illustrations: 35 black-and-white photographs, 21 forms
- ISBN: 978-1-886228-69-6
- Price: $19.95
Description
For anyone interested in finding their family roots in Northeast Ohio, this book combines practical how-to (and where-to) instructions with inspirational family history success stories.
Genealogy—family history research—is a fast-growing hobby. But it can be difficult to start. Official records are scattered in so many places, and each archive seems to have its own way of doing things. Where to begin?
Vicki Blum Vigil, author of Cleveland Cemeteries and an experienced researcher, knows her way around the most useful facilities (archives, libraries, churches, cemeteries, courts, and more) in this region. Her new book helps newcomers to genealogy (or to Northeast Ohio) figure out which places to look in and how best to use them.
She also shares some personal success stories of fellow Clevelanders who have discovered really interesting things about their ancestors—they make for great how-to examples and fun reading, too!
Book Excerpt:
The Ultimate Time Travel:
Genealogy has been described as puzzle-solving, mystery-unraveling, link-finding work. And it is. It is also a journey, actually a set of trips— back in time.
Yet unlike those fantasy trips from old television shows, you won't be strapping yourself into a time machine. You'll be immersing yourself in history. Those time machines have always been unpredictable, dropping people into the middle of international conflicts they suddenly had to solve. Your family history may take you to other nations and centuries, but instead of resolving someone else's problems, you'll be putting together the pieces of your own family story. This will be much more interesting to you, and probably less dangerous.
Like all trips, you start from home and make plans. Here are some things you will likely be doing:
Looking at maps. Maps and genealogy go hand in hand. Perhaps you'll need to find a map of the town where your great-grandfather lived. When he was born, the town was in Poland. By the time he died, the town was part of Russia. This is the sort of information you'll need to know when requesting vital records.
Gathering information about the destination. Whether you are going to a library or a cemetery, you'll need to know: What hours is the library open? Can you park near the cemetery?
Asking friends about their travels. Poll your friends, neighbors, and relatives who have done some genealogical research already. Ask them for any tips on who the knowledgeable volunteers are at certain facilities. What have they found is the best time to visit the library?
Researching some history. What did it mean to volunteer in the Civil War? Was the only economic depression in the U.S. during the 1930s? This information will have an impact on how you understand . . . [ Read More Free Samples ]
Reviews
Anyone who has ever been inspired to chart a family history knows that it can be a daunting task even to get started. Vigil offers a wealth of information about local resources, including public libraries, historical societies, court records and even cemeteries and funeral homes. — The Plain Dealer
Unlike some genealogy books on the market, Vigil's book is user-friendly for beginners and experts alike. Personal success stories of fellow Clevelanders are included, making for an interesteing read. — Cleveland/Akron Family
Complete with examples of successful searches, this book explains where to go to find information about Ohio families and what to do when you get there, down to the color of the binders used at the Cuyahoga County Archives. . . 'Thorough' is the first word that comes to mind, but the writing is easy to follow, too . . . for amateur geneologists, aspiring historians or anyone needing advice on how to discover their roots. — The Gateway News
If you catch the bug, you will soon be making treks to libraries, poring over old maps, city directories and census records and writing down names and dates. You will be on your way to piecing together the puzzle of your ancestry chart. — West Side Leader
Vigil helps streamline the process [of family history research] and helps you avoid the pitfalls . . . This book helps narrow the field to information that is helpful and practical for anyone with roots in Northeast Ohio. — clevelandseniors.com
The author of Cleveland Cemeteries is back with a practical how-to for newcomers to the field of geneological research. Genealogy can be a richly rewarding hobby, but many who decide to embark on a quest for their family history don't know how or where to start. Not only does Vigil instruct, she also inspires readers with success stories of area residents who discovered more in their family's past than they could have dreamed. — Northern Ohio Live
About Vicki Blum Vigil
Vicki Blum Vigil is a historical researcher with an interest in genealogy who enjoys discovering how the past affects the present. Through her books, seminars, and tours, she also enjoys showing others how to make discoveries of their own. A retired home and school counselor for the Euclid City Schools, she lives in Highland Heights, Ohio. More About Vicki Blum Vigil
Contains References to:
Adoption Network, Birth Certificate, Cemeteries, Census, Cleveland Public Library, Death Notices, Ellis Island, Family History, Family Tree, Finding Relatives, Funeral Homes, Genealogy, Greater Cleveland Genealogical Society, Immigrants, Military Records, Social Security Records, Western Reserve Historical Society
Other books by Vicki Blum Vigil:
If you like Finding Your Family History in Northeast Ohio, then you should try:
- Cemeteries of Northeast Ohio by Vicki Blum Vigil