Digging for roots and connection

Deepening personal connections can be a meaningful component of

year-end holidays. If that entails digging for family roots or

finding lost friends, resources from Newport Beach Public Libraries

can assist.

Looking for a past partner, estranged sibling, biological parent

or distant cousin? Check out “Locating Lost Family Members and

Friends” to light the way. Written by Kathleen Hinckley, this

genealogical manual includes tips for accessing public records,

utilizing city directories and conducting Internet research. Topics

include how to use data available in marriage records, voter

registrations, alumni publications and letter forwarding services to

search for a person from your past or to piece together family

genealogy.

If you’re serious about making a project out of hunting for your

heritage, “Organizing Your Family History Search” may be among your

best resources. With ideas for establishing filing systems, making

the most of research dollars and using computers as tools,

professional genealogist Sharon Carmack reveals how to navigate

through information to find what you need.

Additional guidance for pinpointing your roots is in Emily Anne

Croom’s “Unpuzzling Your Past.” Sections on how to get started, the

meaning of names, the difference between a family history of dates

and a family history of stories, and ways to fit it all together

provide a basic introduction to genealogy.

If you locate a link to one of the royal families of Europe, you

may want to display your lineage with a family crest. Find

illustrations of more than 2,000 coats of arms, from the inception of

heraldry in the 11th century to such contemporary royalty as Queen

Elizabeth II and Grace Kelly, in Michael MacLagan’s “Lines of

Succession.”

Beyond satisfying curiosity, family medical history can provide

critical clues for dealing with the genetic risks of physical and

psychological ailments, from Alzheimer’s to cancer and depression.

Tap into it with help from Carol Daus, who looks at how to interview

living relatives, find old medical records and use science to prevent

disease in “Past Imperfect.”

For online help with all aspects of genealogy, numerous links are

at ROOTS-L (www.rootsweb.com) and Cindi’s List of Genealogy Sites on

the Internet (www.cindislist.com). Other circulating and reference

research sources are listed in an updated “Genealogy Pathfinder,”

available at all Newport Beach Public Libraries.

Once you’ve located family and friends, you may want to share your

findings with others in your clan. Find 123 ideas for inspired

connection in Elaine Floyd’s “Creating Family Newsletters.” Aimed at

helping people spread mailbox cheer with hand-crafted to

computer-generated communications, this celebration of family ties

can help keep holiday connections intact throughout the year.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach

Public Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in

collaboration with Claudia Peterman. All titles may be reserved from

home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

www.newportbeachlibrary.org.