And a big thank you Jim....I look forward to looking in those corners where I might find a lead.....I have just ordered it from the calgensoc.org....hopefully, they won't take as long as Amazon will take in sending it!(Amazon says 2-5 weeks to ship!) And thanks of course to Nancy Peterson for all of her drudge work in putting together this road map to the past!! Judie On Jul 16, 2006, at 8:05 PM, James R. Smith wrote: > This book came up in recent discussions so I offer this review - > > Raking the Ashes - Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San > Francisco Research, by Nancy S. Peterson, CG, published by > California Genealogical Society, 2006. > > Most difficulties in pre-1906 San Francisco genealogical research > are conveniently laid on the great earthquake and fire. Anything > prior to that event seems blocked by burned municipal records, lost > vital records and relocated cemeteries. Raking the Ashes - > Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research > presents the truth regarding what remains and offers workaround > strategies for what's missing. It puts all the strategies for > researching San Francisco genealogy concisely in one easy to follow > reference. > > > I've read this book twice now--once back in April when I was > graciously allowed to read a draft and now reading the final > product. Racking the Ashes is the new top resource for pre-1906 > San Francisco genealogical research. It's also a great guide for > post quake research. It defines the types of files and records > that can be found, how to use them and what can be expected from > them. The illustrations offer a chance to see just what the > records will look like with tips on how to use them. > Information is carefully presented. I have an index of the 1850 > California State Census that does not include San Francisco. I > wrongly confused that with the 1852 state census. Peterson points > out that the 1850 San Francisco, Santa Clara and Contra Costa > County Federal Census roles are lost but the 1852 census is > available to serve as a substitute. I suddenly realized I have a > resource available that I never tapped. > > Racking the Ashes presents itself in three parts - what did and > didn't survive with substitutions, additional resources and > Research Techniques, Tips and Cautions. The book is well written, > very readable and logically organized. > > > It's been nearly two decades since I began my San Francisco > genealogical research, looking for information on my family who > arrived during the 1850s. This book offers new avenues of research > and expectations of new breakthroughs. Raking the Ashes knocks > down the brick walls that plague researchers with San Francisco > roots. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn > more of their San Francisco family or those with an interest in > good genealogical research strategies. Raking the Ashes belongs on > every genealogist's desk. > > > You can buy it through Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ > 0967240980/sr=1-1/qid=1153069832 or via that California > Genealogical Society at http://www.calgensoc.org/web/cgs/cgshp.nsf? > Open. See also http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sfbay/sfbamg.htm#CGS. > > > My best regards, > Jim > -- > > James R. Smith > > Author: San Francisco's Lost Landmarks > > ISBN: 1884995446 > > www.HistorySmith.com <http://www.historysmith.com/> > > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > See "What's New" at sfgenealogy.com: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/index.htm#new