This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LHSwisher Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.researchresources.brick-20-walls/458.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I love "The Source." The authors are friends of mine. While it nicely explains the many types of records, it is a very LARGE book (see Dick Eastman's blog at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2006/07/the_source_a_gu.html). Reading "The Source" might be like trying to eat an entire pizza without cutting it into smaller bites. I tell people to start with basic book (my personal favorite is Emily Croom's "Unpuzzling Your Past." Your local library likely has several basic books (check the Dewey # 929's); some may predate many of the online sources since those are constantly changing. A basic how-to tells you what sorts of records to look for, and clues as to how to find them. Once you learn what MAY be found, then check to see if a certain source has been digitized &/or online. "The Source" will make a lot more sense once you have the basic knowledge. Also, don't overlook Ancestry's Learning Center, which has a ton of articles, tutorials, webinars, etc. The FamilySe! arch wikis are also helpful. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.