Genealogy Gifts to Help Find Ancestry
Family Tree Software, Online Database Subscription, Magazines, Books
Oct 14, 2009
Gifts relating to genealogy abound, from small things costing a few dollars to more expensive equipment and subscriptions. Check to see what the family historian in your life already has, and especially what research areas he or she is interested in.
Give a Genealogy Magazine Subscription
Magazines fill an important purpose for genealogists: they provide information, clues and ideas for new research, as well as motivation – if someone else can break through a brick wall, they can too! Here are a few popular magazines published in the US and UK:
- Ancestors (UK)
- Ancestry Magazine (US)
- Family Chronicle (US)
- Family Tree Magazine (US & UK)
- Irish Roots (Ireland)
- Who Do You Think You Are (UK)
- Your Family Tree (UK)
Genealogy Books
What genealogists want to add to their libraries depends entirely on what areas of research interest them, and what they already own. Some well-respected, general books include:
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy by Rhonda McClure (Macmillan) – general how-to.
- Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Ancestry) – how to cite sources properly so others can find documentation.
- How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan (Ancestry) – general how-to.
- The Red Book (Ancestry) – what records exist and where to find them for all 50 states.
- They Came in Ships by John P. Colletta (Ancestry) – US immigration and passenger list research.
Don't forget resources such as a good atlas, dictionary, and gazetteer, and books pertaining to particular areas of interest.
Genealogy Software
Genealogy as a hobby grew in leaps and bounds with the advent of the computer and the internet. The internet makes it easier and faster to find information, and software makes it easy to organize and see connections. Some popular genealogy software includes:
- Family Tree Maker
- Legacy Family Tree
- The Master Genealogist
- Reunion (for Mac)
- RootsMagic
Most genealogy software programs have free trials that can be downloaded online.
Subscribe to an Online Genealogy Database
Online database collections are valuable genealogical resources, with scanned original images and searchable indexes. They usually have a selection of free databases for anyone to use, but most of the information on these sites requires a fee. There are a variety of subscription formats and prices for any of these, depending on the time period and the coverage desired:
- Ancestry.com
- Footnote.com
- Genealogy.com
- GenealogyBank.com
Membership in a Genealogical Society
Depending on where a genealogist's interests lie, association memberships make great gifts. They provide online learning, database resources, connections to others with the same interest, and often a research-oriented publication. Consider:
- Association of Professional Genealogists (even if not a professional)
- National Genealogical Society (US)
- Society of Genealogists (UK)
- Society of Australian Genealogists
An internet search will also give many results for any ethnic group or regional area.
Electronics and Other Equipment
In addition to genealogy-specific gifts, consider electronics and equipment that may be out of a genealogist's budget:
- Digital camera
- Digital voice recorder
- Scanner
- Hand-held scanner
- Photo editing software
Genealogy Supplies Make Great Stocking Stuffers
Genealogy is a hobby that requires supplies to work actively and stay organized:
- Pens, pencils, paper clips, and sticky notes.
- Reams of paper for printing online documents.
- Acid-free paper and sheet protectors for original documents and photos.
- Filing supplies such as hanging folders, colored file folders, and binders.
- Blank CDs and DVDs.
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