Some Helpful Hints about PCs and Genealogy

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• Buy the best genealogy program that you can afford. You will regret a cheap or free program when you try to convert your data to a better program. You can purchase any program on my list for $100 or less.
   
• If you want to exchange any files on the Internet, you should have a modem that runs at least 28.8 Kbs. Widomaker Communications provides 56 Kbs service.
   
• If you are buying a new computer, buy at least: a Pentium 200MHz MMX processor, 16MBs of memory, 2GB of disk memory, a 28.8Kbs modem, an 8X CD-ROM drive, and a 15" monitor. Use Windows 95. You should be able to get at least this configuration for about $1,000. Try: Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Gateway 2000, or College and University Computers for example.
   
• If your thing is video, be sure to buy a 17" monitor, an upgrade video card with 4 MB of memory, and a 4 GB disk drive. (Video is not my thing.)
   
• If you want to experiment with pictures, Kinko will digitize your photos for about $5 each. Try a few with your genealogy program before you invest in a scanner.
   
• I never exchange addresses or phone numbers in any genealogy file on the Internet. Respect the privacy of your potential sources of information.
   
• LDS Computer Files available at York County Library and Newport News LDC Family History Center
  • Ancestral File
  • International Genealogical Index
  • US Social Security Death Index
  • Index to microfilm and microfiche records

Note: The LDS (Mormon) Family History Center is located at 902 Denbigh Blvd in Newport News. The telephone number is 874-2335. Opening hours are thought to be: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Tuesday, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday. Call them for directions and current opening hours. There is no admission fee and they will not try to convert you to the LDS faith.

Be sure to take a computer diskette with you!

Some Helpful URLs - Web Page Addresses

Getting Started

LDS - How Do I Begin: http://www.lds.org/Family_History/How_Do_I_Begin.html

US GenWeb Project Info for Researchers

Helpful Hints: http://www.usgenweb.org/researchers/hints.html

Everton's Genealogical Helper: http://www.everton.com/start.html

Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/Genealogy/Beginners__Guides/

National Genealogical Society - for Beginners: http://www.genealogy.org/~ngs/sugbeg.html
 

Finding Your Ancestors

Family Tree Maker- Internet Family Finder: http://www.familytreemaker.com/iffintro.html

Ancestry Home Town: http://www.ancestry.com/

Roots Surname List Finder: http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/searches/rslsearch.html

US GenWeb Project - States:  http://www.usgenweb.org/statelinks.html

US Social Security Death Index: http://www.ancestry.com/ssdi/advanced.htm
 

More Serious Investigations

Everton's Sources of Genealogical Information: http://www.everton.com/test/usatest.html

World GenWeb Project: http://worldgenweb.org/

US GenWeb Project: http://usgenweb.org/

Canada GenWeb Project: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6625/cngenwebe.html

RootsWeb Genealogical Cooperative: http://www.rootsweb.com/

National Genealogical Society: http://www.genealogy.org/~ngs/

Federation of East European Family History Societies: http://feefhs.org

An Italian Genealogy: http://homepage.interaccess.com/~arduinif/  note NO www

Certificates of Birth ... : http://www.vitalcheck.com/
 

Some Computer Programs for Genealogy

Eastman's Genealogy Newsletter: http://www.ancestry.com/home/eastarch.htm

Brother's Keeper (PC): http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Brothers_Keeper/

Family Tree Maker (PC & MAC): http://www.familytreemaker.com

Personal Ancestral File (PC & MAC):  http://genealogy.org/~paf/

Reunion (MAC): http://www.leisterpro.com/

The Master Genealogist (PC): http://www.whollygenes.com/

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