Research Texts A Mouse-Click Away

Genealogists seeking instant gratification are in luck! Dozens and dozens of genealogical databases are now available on CD-ROM disks. Only the price tag stands between you and your ancestors - that and some luck.

The Genealogical Research Directory has been available for years with its thousands of surnames listed with the name and address of those researching them.

The worldwide directory allows you to contact cousin researchers, no matter where in the world they live.

And, today it’s easier than ever to use the directory, thanks to a consolidated index from 1990 to 1996, available on a CD-ROM disk. (The 1997 and ‘98 indexes will be issued in book form.)

For $63.70 postpaid, you can have seven annual issues on one disk. Previously, each book cost $30 every year.

Send your check to Jan Jennings, 3324 Crail Way, Glendale, CA 91206-1107. Questions? His e-mail is jxpf04a@prodigy.com

“The Compendium of American Genealogy: Encyclopedia of the First Families in America” CD-ROM by Frederick Virkus, was originally published at a seven-volume set of books and cost nearly $400.

Most New England researchers who have used this reference work realize the personal compilations are not to be taken as gospel. But they also realize it’s a valuable New England research tool.

It’s available for $49.99, plus $3.50 postage, from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert, Baltimore, MD 21202-3897 or call (800) 296-6687.

For that price, one could have hours of research fun using this CD-ROM disk.

Heritage Quest (formerly American Genealogical Lending Library) is jumping into the CD-ROM arena with two new disks:

The Pennsylvania 1870 Census Index disk combined data from two separate CD products (formerly West Pennsylvania and East Pennsylvania) into one disk and added the Central portion - making a grand total of more than 1 million entries priced at $39.95.

The U.S. Marriage Record Index, 1691-1850, contains nearly 600,000 marriages from 18 states and the District of Columbia. This every-name index has combined the data of four previous CDs into one disk for $39.95.

Search all of Pennsylvania in 1870 for $40? Search among more than a million names for your ancestor’s marriage for $40? What fun!

Contact Heritage Quest at P.O. Box 329, Bountiful, UT 84011-0329; call (800) 760-2455 or visit their web page at www.agll.com Did you know PERSI, the Periodical Source Index CD-ROM, is available for $99.95 from Ancestry Inc. (and sometimes less via their Web site)?

This disk enables a search of more than 1 million index entries from more than 5,000 U.S. and Canadian genealogical publications.

Call Ancestry at (800) ANCESTRY or visit its web site at www.ancestry.com The Civil War CD-ROM disk contains the entire multivolume set of “The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.”

This is not a gimmicky learning toy, but a tool for serious Civil War researchers. Yes, the books are available in most libraries, but what a treat to search at home in your robe and slippers.

Order the disk for $69.95, plus $3.50 postage, from Heritage Creations, P.O. Box 40, Orting, WA 98360 or call (253) 770-0551.

Now, more than ever before, stay-at-home genealogists can do a goodly amount of preliminary research before they begin writing letters, using primary source materials or visiting libraries.

Ah, technology!

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