Book Description-  A Dictionary of English Surnames is an authoritative and enlightening guide to the
origins of English surnames and how they developed over the centuries.  A comprehensive survey of
this popular subject, it provides useful information on 16,000 surnames, giving full sources and dates.
Different forms of names  are also cross-referenced for ease of use. A valuable historical and linguistic introduction to the subject is included, along with a new appendix on how to  trace the origin of a
family name.

 
For All Time : A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History
by Charley Kempthorne
 
From Booklist- "You need to bring your family history to life by recreating it," admonishes  the author of this unique handbook on writing--with emphasis on the word writing one's family history, as opposed to simply compiling the usual chartlike family tree. His book stresses  the presentation offamily history in narrative form; and to that end, he addresses such topics as the various ways in which family history might be recorded, including keeping a journal, conducting interviews, writing captions for photo albums, compiling biographies of current family members, and composing one's own autobiography. Finally, he discusses publication of  family history, either by self-publishing or by commercial publisher. Equal parts how-to and inspiration, this is a perfect public library purchase. Brad Hooper

  Long-Distance Genealogy
by Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer

From Library Journal- Aimed specifically at beginners and those who may be limited to
 "armchair" research, this book starts by covering the basic principles of genealogical research
and the various types of records to be searched. Using the same familiar icons as in other
Betterway genealogical publications (e.g., Kathleen  Hinckley's Locating Lost Family Members & Friends, LJ 10/1/99), Crawford-Oppenheimer offers tips on how and where to gather data. After discussing  the basics of  letter/e-mail writing and phone call/e-mail etiquette, she provides sample letters for requesting the many types of records. The successful use of the local library and of interlibrary loan is discussed, along with how and when to contact other libraries and archives and how to hire a professional  researcher. How to build
a personal genealogy library, find and contact other researchers, and use the Internet, CD-ROMs, microfilm, and
periodicals are also covered. Ironically, the book does include a chapter on taking a research trip. Much of the beginning information is more thoroughly covered in works such as Desmond Walls Allen's First Steps in Genealogy (Betterway, 1998), but the geographically confined will appreciate the tips for reaching out to faraway sources. Recommended for
public libraries.DElaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, IN Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

You Can Write Your Family History
by Sharon Debartolo Carmack

Bringing Your Family History to Life Through Social History
by Katherine Scott Sturdevant, Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (Foreword)

From Booklist- Carmack, a noted genealogist and an admitted cemetery addict, addresses a specialized area of genealogical research that can yield a wealth of historical and ancestral information. To locate an ancestor's final resting place, one must be thoroughly familiar with American death records. After explaining how to access and interpret coroner's records, death certificates, obituaries wills, prayer and memorial cards, funeral home records, and mortality schedules, the author outlines
the often less-than-straightforward process of locating elusive cemeteries and individual graves. Also included are a discussion of American burial customs and an analysis of cemetery artwork and epitaphs. Margaret
Flanagan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved