Web Offers Quick Access To Materials

The explosion of genealogy on the Internet and the many commercial CD-ROMs has readers anxious for more information. I’m a beginner with this new technology, right along with you, but I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

Genealogy CD-ROMs seem to be advertised everywhere. Think of them as books or a series of books. Most information is found in library books, or microfilmed books, available through the Family History Center. The old-fashioned way of accessing the same information might still be best: going to a library and consulting a book. I don’t know of any information that can be accessed only via a CD-ROM.

The disks, however, are a timesaver. It’s a real plus if an entire set of books is packaged on one CD-ROM disk, and it’s indexed and accessed in minutes with a personal computer. CD-ROMS are space-saving, too; imagine an entire set of books on one skinny disk.

CD-ROM advertisements, however, can be confusing. The bottom line is: Only a few companies make genealogy CD-ROM disks, but dozens of vendors sell them. The trick is to compare the disk number: CD228 by Broderbund (a major CD-ROM producing company) is the same CD228, no matter who sells it. So check for the best price.

The Civil War CD-ROM, “The War of the Rebellion,” is produced by Guild Press of Indiana ($69.95, 435 Gradle Drive, Carmel, IN 46032). It’s undoubtedly one of the best buys available in history related CD-ROMs. Included on this disk are several major Civil War resources, including all 127 volumes of the official records. This would be a wonderful resource for home use, but many public libraries, including Spokane’s, have this set of books on their shelves.

Automated Research Inc. (800-244-1776) offers this same CD-ROM, but at triple the price. ARI also offers some Civil War CD-ROMs produced by Broderbund.

CD351 carries the Roll of Honor: “Civil War Union Soldiers” for $49.95. Would another listing show a different price?

A buyer must read the listings and catalogs carefully!

What about genealogy on the Internet? Tracing our roots online will become easier as the number of sites offering primary information grows. The phrase “primary information” is the key.

For every site offering such primary information (i.e.: birth records for Spokane County since 1925 as extracted from original records), there are dozens of Internet sites in which folks swap undocumented information. These sites are great for gleaning clues and direction in your family history search, but too many genealogists take such finds as the whole truth.

To use Internet genealogy resources, you need a computer, a modem, an Internet access provider and a happy bank account.

Contact your genealogy society and ask members already cruising down the Internet highway what it took to get set up in terms of purchases and costs. (Often computer shop sales staffs don’t know beans about genealogical needs.)

A most helpful booklet is “The Genealogy On-Ramp” by John Schunk. Packed into its 60 pages are the basic tidbits needed about going on-line and using the Internet, including the necessary equipment. The booklet is $9.95, postpaid: S-K Publications, P.O. Box 8173, Wichita, KS 67208-0173, or access skpub@feist.com for more information.

Genealogy via computers will be the subject of future columns.

, DataTimes MEMO: Donna Potter Phillips welcomes letters from readers. Write to her at The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. For a response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review