Internet-Genealogy Blog

Amusement Parks and More: Sizzling Summer Reading Awaits in the July/August 2015 Issue of Your Genealogy Today By Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A. 

Ah, summer… I have fond memories of riding bikes with friends, swimming in my neighbor’s pool, and many special trips to area amusement parks, especially Kennywood— the one closest to my childhood home in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. I was reminded of my days enjoying rollercoaster rides, Potato Patch French Fries, and the Penny Arcade, when I read the article “Historic Amusement Parks: Your Family & America’s Playgrounds” by Sandy Hack in the July/August 2015 Issue of Your Genealogy Today. In her article, Hack discusses how you can use vacation photos and clipping to add color to your family history. I was so inspired by this article that I dug out my old family photographs and began writing down my memories to include in my own family narrative. 

Photo courtesy of Lisa Alzo

  In addition to the article on amusement parks, this issue of YGT covers the topics of mtDNA testing, property laws and female ancestors, how to bring foreign letters and symbols into your writing, beginning your World War II research, and much more. The regular columns on Genealogy Tourism (this time focusing on Scotland) and Advice from the Pros (“10 ways to improve client reports”) offer practical advice, and as always, Dave Obee gives us some great genealogy “food for thought” in his Back Page column where he questions the future of genealogy on television after Ben Affleck. 

Table of Contents for the July/August 2015 issue: 

 • Historic Amusement Parks: Your Family & America’s Playgrounds Sandy Hack looks at how vacation photos and clippings can add color to your family history research 

 • DNA & Genealogy Diahan Southard asks: In an ever-changing DNA world, is mtDNA testing still an important tool for family historians? 

 • What the Widow Got-- George G. Morgan looks at how your female ancestor may have been affected by property laws

 • Beginning Your World War II Research -- Jennifer Holik explores the offline resources for researching your WWII military ancestor 

 • Book Reviews Lisa A. Alzo reviews two books by Jennifer Holik: The Tiger’s Widow, and Stories from the Battlefield 

 • Finding Grandad at the Canal! -- Isabelle Kettner Addis explores her grandfather's contribution to building the Panama Canal through Internet searches and family lore 

 • Sacrifice for Victory: Rationing during World War II -- Carol Richey looks at how your home front ancestors were affected by the measures taken to support the war effort 

 • The Unwritten Records of Pens and Pencils -- David A. Norris jots down some thoughts about writing instruments that may have contributed to family history 

 • Bringing Foreign Letters and Symbols Into Your Writing -- David A. Norris offers tips for adding that little extra to your documents 

 • Advice from the Pros -- Amanda Epperson reveals 10 ways to improve client reports 

 • Research Trip -- Carol Richey collects some valuable tips from key staff at the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library 

 • Genealogy Tourism -- Christine Woodcock examines the resources available to genealogists interested in researching their roots in Scotland 

 • The Back Page -- Dave Obee questions the future of genealogy on television after Ben Affleck 

 Whether you subscribe to the print edition or enjoy the digital version, you are in for some sizzling summer reading in the July/August issue of Your Genealogy Today. Grab a glass of iced tea or lemonade, relax in that hammock or lounge chair and peruse the pages of YGT for helpful tips and ideas you can apply to your genealogy research. This is the third issue of Your Genealogy Today (formerly known as Family Chronicle). Not a subscriber? Go to http://yourgenealogytoday.com to take advantage of the special limited time pricing for Print or PDF subscriptions.