Background to Research --
Understanding Genealogical Research --
The nature of research --
Genealogy and science Completing the genealogical picture --
Genealogy and historical background --
The importance of places --
Nothing but the facts --
What is expected? --
The professional genealogist Conclusion --
Familiar Record Practices: Problems and Terminology --
Handwriting --
Evolution of the language --
Naming practices --
Some symbols --
The calendar --
Analyzing the Pedigree and the Place --
Preliminary survey --
Pedigree analysis --
Get them all --
Jurisdictions --
Locality analysis --
Tradition, common sense, and helpful clues --
Evaluation of Evidence --
Types of evidence --
Sources vs. evidence --
Conflicting evidence --
Standard of proof --
More information on evidence --
An Introduction to Research Tools: The Library --
The purpose of library research --
The catalog --
Classification --
The National Archives and its branches --
An Introduction to Research Tools: Reference Materials --
Guides to locality data --
Guides to non-original sources --
Guides to original sources --
Organizing and Evaluating Research Findings --
Purpose of record keeping --
Method --
Research calendars and notes --
Evaluating your notes --
Abstracts and forms --
Card files --
Computer indexes --
Successful Correspondence --
The correspondence calendar --
Review of research note requirements --
Let's write a letter --
How does the letter look? --
To whom do I write? --
Computers in Genealogy --
Word processing.

Also covers compiled sources, newspapers, vital records, census returns, abstracting wills and deeds, and immigration records.

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