The Genealogical Publishing Company in Baltimore has published another in its series of "Genealogy at a Glance" laminated research guides - this time for North Carolina Genealogy Research by Michael A. Ports.
This "Genealogy at a Glance" booklet has four laminated pages on one 11" x 17" paper (folded). It is designed to give the user the basic elements of genealogy research in the allotted space. They provide an overview of the facts a researcher needs to know in order to begin and proceed successfully with research in the subject.
Chartered by the English in 1663, the colony of Carolina split into North Carolina and South Carolina in 1710. Its development was gradual, but settlement started to increase around 1750 when many German, Scotch-Irish, and other settlers migrated down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania and Maryland through Virginia and into central North Carolina. Some of the immigrants turned westward near Fincastle and followed the Wilderness Road through southwestern Virginia into western North Carolina.
Migration routes were well established by the end of the 18th century, after county jurisdictions had been carved out and before certain western counties were ceded to the federal government to form the state of Tennessee. For anyone undertaking research in the Tar Heel State, therefore, this North Carolina Genealogy at a Glance (GAAG) explains that genealogical research must start at the county level, going back to 1663 with the formation of Albemarle County. Designed as a quick guide to genealogical research, North Carolina Genealogy Research teaches that the general rule of thumb is to start in Raleigh at the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, which houses original or microfilm copies of most county records.
Genealogical records on the county level are surprisingly complete, and this GAAG focuses on the records found on the county level that will be of most help in your genealogical research: marriage and divorce records, birth and death records, land grant records, probate records, and military records. In each case, tips for further research are included, key publications are cited, and the background of the records is placed in historical context.
A very useful guide for the beginner, North Carolina Genealogy Research also includes a list of the main books for further reference and a list of the principal online resources that are indispensable in genealogical research. In addition, it contains a comprehensive list of North Carolina repositories and their websites, giving addresses and phone numbers as well.
The booklet has these subjects:
* Contents
* Quick Facts and Important Dates
* Settlement Background
* Record Sources
** Marriage and Divorce Records
** Birth and Death Records
** Land Grant Records
** Probate Records
** Military Records
* Supplementary Sources
** State Census of 1785-1787
** Bonds
* Major Repositories
* Online Resources
This booklet is designed primarily for the person who is not an expert, or has little experience, on finding North Carolina records for their ancestors. It provides guidance and excellent ideas to understand the basics of conducting North Carolina research, with details of the different types of records that might be accessed - vital, probate, land, census, military, etc.
For someone like me that teaches and talks about genealogy a bit, it is invaluable because I can pull it out and provide some guidance to my student or colleague interested in the subject.
The beauty of these "Genealogy at a Glance" booklets is that they are very light and portable in a briefcase or laptop case. They are fixtures in my research case.
This four-page laminated booklet costs $8.95, plus postage and handling. You can order it through the Genealogical Store, or use the link for the North Carolina Genealogy Research booklet and click on the "Add to Cart" link. I recommend buying these at seminars and conferences where they are offered in order to avoid the shipping costs.
I have reviewed several similar works in recent years:
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Court Records
* Genealogy at a Glance: Old Southwest Genealogy Research
* Genealogy at a Glance: Cherokee Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Civil War Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Polish Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy At a Glance: Finding Female Ancestors
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance: "How-To" Series (French-Canadian, Scottish and Irish),
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance: German Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: English Genealogy Research
* Review - Genealogy at a Glance: French Genealogy Research,
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Immigration Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance - American Cemetery Research,
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance - U.S. Federal Census Records,
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance - Pennsylvania Genealogy Research.
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Civil War Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Polish Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy At a Glance: Finding Female Ancestors
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance: "How-To" Series (French-Canadian, Scottish and Irish),
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance: German Genealogy Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: English Genealogy Research
* Review - Genealogy at a Glance: French Genealogy Research,
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance: Immigration Research
* Review: Genealogy at a Glance - American Cemetery Research,
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance - U.S. Federal Census Records,
* Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance - Pennsylvania Genealogy Research.
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Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2014.
Disclosure: Genealogical.com contacted me recently and asked me to provide a review of this booklet. They mailed me a review copy for my personal use as remuneration for this review.
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