Family Tree Magazine September 2014 Digital Edition

Features:101 Best Websites 2014By David A. FryxellIn our 15th annual installment of the 101 Best Websites for genealogy research, we’ve broken the list of outstanding websites into 15 categories. You can easily zoom in on the type of site you’re looking to explore, from social media sites to maps to state or foreign databases.9 Habits of Highly Organized GenealogistsBy Dana McColloughWe asked our Family Tree Magazine readers to share their best advice for avoiding getting buried under mounds of family photos, vital records certificates, census page printouts, family tree charts and other records. We learned a few new tricks from the nine strategies that emerged, and hope you will, too.Scottish Heritage Research GuideBy Rick CrumeGot a wee bit (or more) of Scottish ancestry? You’re in luck: The best records for researching ancestors in Scotland are online, and we’ll show you where to find:

• Vital records
• Church records
• Probate records
• Censuses
• And more

Your Genealogy Disaster PlanBy Denise May LevenickWhat would become of your genealogy research in a fire, flood or computer crash? Follow our two-part plan to safeguard your family archive should disaster strike. We help you with:

• Prioritizing heirlooms
• Backing up files and passwords
• Assessing damage
• And more

Workbook: Probate RecordsBy Sunny Jane Morton and Cheryl Felix McClellanThis workbook will show you what family history data is in probate records, how to find them, and what other records include the information you seek. We’ll also provide a worksheet you can fill in to map out your probate records search.?4 Steps to Create an Ancestral TimelineBy Shelley K. BishopPeek into the past and solve research problems by creating a timeline of your ancestor’s life. We’ll show you how to:

• Make a timeline
• Which life events to include
• Use a timeline to help with research
• And more

Columns:History Matters: UnderwearBy David A. FryxellFrom loincloth to lingerie, we give you the skinny on skivvies.Family Archivist: School recordsBy Denise May LevenickYour ancestor may or may not have been an A+ student, but someone in your family tree deserves a gold star for saving those old school papers. Study these lessons from archival experts to preserve the reports, papers and artwork in your family collection.Now What?By David A. FryxellOur experts help you hurdle brick walls by answering reader questions.In this edition, we teach you:

• Where to find public land records
• How to search midwife records
• Where to find missing English General Register Office records

Research Roadmap: Sifting for StoriesBy Tyler MossA look at how gold rushes dramatically affected states’ populations.Photo Detective: Old HomesBy Maureen A. TaylorUncover family history clues in the snapshots from everyday life with the help of our photo detective.Tutorial: How to Web Clip with EvernoteBy Lisa Louise CookeFamily historians need a reliable, paperless way to capture the information they need from a website and organize that pile of notes. That’s where Evernote comes in, offering the ability to clip, store, organize, backup, share and retrieve notes. Follow our easy steps for Evernote’s Desktop or Web ClipperSoftware Review: Photo Colorizing SoftwareBy Rick CrumeOur experts weigh in on photo colorizing software, highlighting special features, potential drawbacks, ease of use and more.Quick Guide: Online Scheduling AssistantsBy Gena Philibert-OrtegaOnline scheduling assistant sites and apps allow you to share plans, schedule tasks, receive reminder emails and write extended notes about calendar items. We show you how to utilize them to create a plan for your research, schedule society meetings and trips to the library, and collaborate with cousins on a common family history research project.Tutorial: Map Your Family History With PlaceMyPastBy David A. FryxellOur step-by-step guide walks users through PlaceMyPast.com, which combines family trees with maps and geocoding technology, enabling you to place even the most obscure family history events in geographic context.