'We're all cousins' and other Web revelations

Volume 20, Number 3 • February 2000

'We're all cousins' and other Web revelations
by Michael Schuyler

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP LEFT CORNER column notes that the traditional genealogist who spent years writing letters, visiting courthouses and cemeteries, and poring through reels of microfilm, is a little bit angry. Says that this is due to the fact that no one can vouch for the accuracy of the large amount of genealogical information on the Net today. Relates that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has opened up much of its vast resources to the public for free. Also mentions other locations and "Cyndi's List," which, it says, has links to everywhere. Discusses genealogy software, the most popular probably being Family Tree Maker, distributed by Broderbund. Describes a search for ancestors using the Internet, providing names of Web sites for genealogy forums and census records. Points out that a lot of cousins married each other and that it does not take much to be related to everyone.