Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, January 7, 2011

Everyday Life During the Civil War

This year marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War. Numerous celebrations are being planned around the nation to commemorate the 150th year anniversary of this four-year war. I hope that bloggers and genealogists with ancestors who lived during the Civil War are using this anniversary as a time to learn more about that time period as well as to commemorate their ancestors.

One helpful book that can be used to learn more about Civil War era customs and daily life is entitled “Everyday Life During the Civil War, A Guide for Writers, Students, and Historians” by Michael J. Varhola, ISBN #1582973377. I’ve had this book in my personal library for several years. This book includes information on the following topics during the Civil War.

  • Wages
  • Currency
  • Clothing
  • Dry Goods
  • Life in City, Town, and Country
  • Food and Diet
  • Fun, Games, and Entertainment
  • Slang and Idioms
  • Technology
  • Arms, Equipment and Uniforms
  • Civil War Time Line
  • The Branches of the Armed Services During Civil War
  • The View From the Homefront – Northern, Southern, Slavery, etc.

You can also take a peek inside this book on a website such as Amazon.com.

Note: I learned yesterday that a new edition of this book will be available next month. Click here to preview.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Mississippi to Africa: A Journey of Discovery


Congratulations to my online friend, Melvin J. Collier, on the publication of his new book "Mississippi to Africa: A Journey of Discovery" This book captures Melvin’s fourteen-year journey in uncovering the buried history of his maternal grandmother's family-a journey that took him back seven generations, from northern Mississippi to the Piedmont hills of South Carolina, and even back to a specific people and region in West Africa where his ancestry undoubtedly began.




Melvin also has been busy with numerous book signings and I wish him much success in this endeavor.




Related Links

  • Mississippi to Africa: A Journey of Discovery

  • Mel’s Roots Diggin’ Site

  • Mississippi to Africa website
  • Monday, September 15, 2008

    My Ten Favorite How-To Genealogy Books

    Like most genealogist, I have a ton of genealogy related books. These books include numerous how to genealogy books for beginner to advanced levels, as well as county, city, and church histories.


    Below are ten of my favorite How-to genealogy books and workbooks.
    1. Allen, Desmond Walls, First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Family History, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
    2. Burrough, Tony, Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree, New York: A Fireside Book-Simon & Schuster, 2001.
    3. Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo, A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Immigrant and Ethnic Ancestors, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2005.
    4. Croom, Emily, Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy, 4th Edition, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2001.
    5. Croom, Emily, The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook: Essential forms and letters for Genealogist, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1996.
    6. Hartley, William, G., The Everything Family Tree Book, Finding, Charting, and Preserving Your Family History, Holbrook, Massachussetts: Adams Media Corporation, 1998.
    7. Melnyk, Marcia D. Yannizze, Family History 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Ancestors, Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books, 2005.
    8. Melnyk, Marcia D. Yannizze, The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
    9. Renick, Barbara, Genealogy 101: How to Trace Your Family History and Heritage, Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 2003.
    10. Woodtor, Dee, Finding a Place Called Home : A Guide to African-
      American Genealogy and Historical Identity
      , New York : Random House, 1999.