Research Tips and Links

Have you ever come upon a term or abbreviation that leaves you scratching your head and muttering "what does that mean?". We all have and often. On this page you will find links that will help to clear some of the confusion and help with putting together an accurate family history. Please email me if you know of other links that have been especially helpful to you. Odds are someone else will find them just as helpful.

Help For Beginners

• Cyndi's List of How To
• History on your Own

Abbreviations:

• Acronym Finder
• Census and Soundex Abbreviations
• Genealogy Quest: Glossary of Abbreviations
• Miscellaneous Abbreviations
• Abbreviations found in Genealogy
• Genealogical Abbreviations

Handwriting:

• Deciphering Old Handwriting
• Old Style Abbreviations - Proper Names
• Old Style Abbreviations - Places of Birth
• Old Style Lettering - Occupations
• Lettering Examples found in Parish Registers
• Old Handwriting Article
• Reading Old Handwriting
• Old Handwriting Styles

Latin:

• Genealogy Quest: Latin Glossary

Medical:

• Genealogy Quest: Glossary of Diseases
• Genealogy Quest: Glossary of Epidemics
• Colonial Diseases & Cures
• Forgotten Medical Cures

Occupations:

• USGenWeb Old Occupations Explained
• Genealogy Quest: Glossary of Occupations

Terminology:

• Genealogy Quest: Terminology Glossary
• Dictionary of Genealogy & Archaic Terms
• Glossary of Unusual Words Found in Wills
• Shipping Terminology

Miscellaneous:

• Understanding Census Bloopers
• Surveying Units and Terms
• Tombstone Markings
• AmeriSpeak - Expressions of our American Ancestors
• Graven Images
• Nicknames and Naming Traditions