Title: Tracing Your Family History with the Whole Family: A Family Research Adventure for All Ages
Series: N/A
Author: Dr. Robin McConnell
Genre: Genealogy
Publisher: Pen & Sword, Pen & Sword Family History
Release Date: February 28, 2022 (NetGalley) | Amazon has April 30th [for] Paperback plus “This title will be released on May 7, 2022” above Pre-Order button.
Format: e-ARC (read), Paperback. Note: Kindle not listed as available format. However, a check of the publisher site shows an e-book is planned.
Pages: 192
Source: NetGalley
Cover: Attractive. Genealogists will recognize this immediately as a research book.
Description: Genealogy research is often thought of as an “adult” project. This book takes an “innovative” approach that the whole family can participate in research. And not just the adults–but children as well. Multiple creative and practical examples are given throughout.

Review:
The author has a dream. One where all members of the family participate in the research of their family history. In the first chapter, Dr. McConnell gives five key reasons for “young researchers in your family“. Throughout the book the term “family leaders” is utilized and a section is titled “The Family Team and Family Leadership”. Considerable explanation is given to his whole concept. A sentence makes this clear — “Your leadership will make or break the family’s research venture.”

However, Dr. McConnell did not mean, I think, that “the family” is your immediate family but anyone that is part of the family with the same direct ancestor. But I did not feel this was made clear. The “family leader” is the “lead” researcher. But, to me, there is a “hole” in this concept. It assumes that every “family/team” member is willing to research in the area where the leader wants to focus.

PERSONAL NOTE:
I have been researching since 1998. I have “interested” family — you know, the ones that say, “Tell me when you find something interesting.” But do any research? No way. I have others who would do the research but not provide the documented source. My children and grandchildren who might help with a specific request but not on-going research. My husband had no interest in researching his family. I know keen researchers that have the same direct ancestors but are we researching similar things about that specific lineage? Would we be willing to? The idea is wonderful, but I see problems in execution. [End of personal note.]

Presuming you, the reader, will be the family leader, the book gives specific things to determine and many research sites. Keep in mind that this book is published in Great Britain so many of the examples are in that part of the world. BUT — genealogy research is genealogy research. Appendix 1 is a list of the major family history websites and includes the free sites. The information provided is quite useful.

Once the author went into what to consider in research, where, how, the book becomes more helpful from my point of view. A list of 102 questions for interviews is excellent. The approach is it would be a child’s interview with a grandparent. But it could be used to capture your own history although a specific list for that purpose is given later. Another “questions” list follows that a researcher could write to aunts and uncles — for me it would be cousins.

There is much in this new concept book that is helpful for a family genealogy researcher. I can see the potential of the author’s idea of the whole family participating. But I believe most “family leaders” of genealogy research would face the same difficulties that I would in pulling it off. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded to four-stars.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of Tracing Your Family History with the Whole Family via NetGalley from the publisher, Pen & Sword, Pen & Sword Family History. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

TracingYourFamilyHistoryWithTheWholeFamily #NetGalley #DrRobinMcConnell

So often these days, books on genealogy are too in-depth for beginners, or are aimed solely at American audiences. However, this book is not like that - it's a useful resource for beginners or more advanced investigators alike.

The book actively encourages the use of verbal history as a starting point, which makes it more interesting and accessible for younger genealogists who can simply "ask granny" about her past. This can then be explored further later, when the investigator is older and more able to deal with other, more official, resources.

A great book for genealogist and those who want to get the whole family involved in researching there family tree. It’s great book to have in your collection.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for a copy of “ Tracing Your Ancestors With aThe Hole Family “ for an honest review.

I eagerly look forward to any new Pen and Sword publications as I know how beneficial they have been to my family history research. Even as someone who has been compiling their family tree for a while now I seem to find something of use in every new publication .
This book is different from others I’ve read ,as it deals more with encouraging other younger ,members of the family in researching their family history.Something that I’ve failed in passing on to my grown sons, but hopefully may be of use in the future.
I found this an interesting read and it’s helped me to focus on some information I’ve missed.

I’m a current MLIS student focusing in archives, so genealogical research is fascinating to me and I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this book! Lots of great ideas and resources here. I was mostly familiar with much of what the author presents, but I’ve also been doing genealogical research for awhile. Still, I was able to learn some things and gain new perspectives and ways to approach my research. It would definitely be helpful for someone new to tracing their family’s history, but is also helpful for those of us with experience. The practical examples are helpful and the methods McConnell provides would help guide and organize your research.

beautybeatlifestyle
As we continue our deep dive into family, with a special view toward my father's biological relatives prior to his adoption, it's been interesting to peruse resources that outline a variety of research methods. As this book title implies, it highlights ways the entire family can engage in these discussions in a meaningful way. In my lifetime my own family has often been widely spread out over about 10 states and three continents - and that's just the living set. The new work from home dynamics opened up by Covid will enable many families and individuals to relocate to areas where they truly want to live, not just the area with the shortest commute. This book is a good reminder to young and old alike to document what you can now and use both virtual and physical archives. I would take that even a step further and say that if you've considered doing StoryCorps, Story Terrace, or otherwise writing memoirs for public release or private family circulation, this book will walk you through important questions to consider; it's easy to take your own history for granted, leaving later generations to wonder what factors made a family relocate, when portions of the family lost touch, or how grandparents and other relatives met. This book is also good about encouraging young family members to interview their elders and ask questions that they'll find interesting at their age.

Whether you've begun your research into the immigrants and fusions in your family or you're just beginning, this new book from Robin McConnell will ensure you don't forget any questions or avenues of research along the way.

Releasing February 28, 2022. Available for preorder now.

Tracing Your Family History with the Whole Family: A Family Research Adventure for All Ages

by Robin C McConnell

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