A WISH LIST FOR GENEALOGISTS

A WISH LIST FOR GENEALOGISTS

By Karen Utter Jennings 

            As the holidays near, if there are genealogists on your gift-giving list this year, here are a few ideas for finding that “just right present” for them.  Sometimes with the hurry and bustle of life, my mind goes blank when I try to think of something unique for my loved ones.     

            Magazine subscriptions are always nice.  Genealogy magazines to consider might be   Family Chronicle, Ancestry Magazine, Everton’s Genealogical Helper (I have not read this one), and Family Tree Magazine.  Remember history magazines for the history lovers in your family. 

            Every genealogist will appreciate genealogy books.  My friend, Myra, recently became interested in her family history search, so I bought a genealogy book for her birthday. Remember the Genealogy Friends of the Library’s books that are for sale in the genealogy room at the library.  The Genealogy Friends of the Library are a group that promotes family history research in Neosho, MO. They offer books pertaining to local history and genealogy as well as cookbooks, too.

            Our local authors have new books available, too.  Kay Hively and Larry James just published a book about the Neosho Fish Hatchery.  Frankie Carlin Meyer offers her latest book about our area and her family history.  Contact the authors to purchase their books.   

            Genealogy software such as Family Tree Maker and RootsMagic are popular.  There are software programs for writing your family history and scrap booking, also.  Check them out in our local stores.  A gift subscription to Ancestry.com might thrill your genealogist.  Ancestry.com is one of the best websites for your money.   They offer several different plans.  Go to their internet website for more information. 

            For the genealogist who has a collection of pictures and memorabilia, scrapbook supplies are great gifts.   Family heritage is a popular scrap-booking topic and you can buy complete kits to make the project easier.  During the cold winter months, genealogists can scrap a beautiful family keepsake album.

            I found Family Tree Lagacies, a hardbound book from the creators of Family Tree Magazine.  This book has sections to help you document all aspects of your family genealogy and keep it organized. From the usual vital information such as births, marriages and deaths, to memories and traditions, this book uses dozens of fill-in pages to record information. There is even space for mounting photographs. The questions that are included in each section helps the writer remember what to include for a well-rounded family history. The book includes a reference guide to help you delve deeper into family history research and it comes with a DVD. It makes a nice gift.

            For the writer in the family, journals make great gifts. There are memory books and journals available with questions and space to record your family stories and information.   These books will easily get someone writing in no time.

            Digital cameras and laptop computers are handy for genealogists who are on the go. The little netbooks are something to consider. I’d love to have one!  Photo Editing Software makes a wonderful and useful gift, also. During the holidays, watch the store ads and catch these expensive items at a great price.  

            Remember the stocking stuffers.  CDs, flash drives, mechanical pencils, erasers, printer ink, paper clips, and batteries are just a few items you can sneak into a stocking.    

            I think I’ll leave this wish list near my husband’s chair just in case he needs a few ideas for me…