When Joe, the marketing director, at Genealogical.com reached out to ask if I would review Cheri Hudson Passey's new book, "Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living A Practical Guild for All Genealogists" I was happy to do it, but I was even happier that he had found my blog and noticed that I was a purchaser of many Genealogical.com publications. The book's focus on tracing forward to find living relatives intrigued me, and I was eager to see how the modern research practice could support traditional genealogical research. I
received a complimentary review copy, but as always, the thoughts shared here
are entirely my own.
Cheri Hudson Passey combines her writing and genealogical research skill with deep professional experience related to the book's topic. She has worked as a subcontracted researcher for the U.S. Army Past Conflict Repatriations Branch, helping to locate next of kin for families of World War II soldiers who are still listed as Missing in Action. As my regular readers know, I have a strong interest in the stories of WWII soldiers and I found her background adds a layer of real-world credibility to her work on reverse genealogy.
One of the most rewarding reasons to pursue genealogy in reverse is the potential to uncover what traditional research often misses. The stories, photographs, family Bibles, and cherished memorabilia passed down through different branches of a family may hold that one piece of information that has alluded us in our traditional research.
Book Review
Reverse Genealogy is the process of researching forward to find living relatives, and Passey's book is an excellent guide on how to do that. Step-by-step instructions with real-world examples are central to the book's structure. Sources and resources are clearly outlined and well documented.
A major strength of this book is its emphasis on research
ethics. Passey encourages readers to follow sound research practices, including
adhering to the Genealogical Proof Standard. She also highlights the importance
of privacy, obtaining consent, and being respectful when contacting living
individuals.
Genealogy in Reverse is useful for all levels of genealogists. Whether you are a beginning genealogist or an experienced one you will find Passey's book informative and helpful. It is a fresh take on genealogy research and is one I am happy to add to my own toolkit.
Passey explores an area that is rarely discussed in genealogical circles and does so with clarity. She breaks down the research steps into manageable ones. She illustrates the challenges and rewards in doing this type of genealogy using real-world examples.
Passey includes a short section on DNA, emphasizing the need for sensitivity and clear communication about the potential risks involved in testing. She encourages readers to consider whether a DNA test is truly necessary when trying to find living relatives.
One of the things I appreciated the most was her strong emphasis on ethics. It is the central theme throughout the book. She concludes the book with a repatriation case study with names kept private.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a fresh perspective to your genealogy research look no further than, "Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living." This book is more than a how-to manual, it is a way to expand your research and make new connections. If you are looking for a way to explore modern-day family ties that this is the resource for you. It offers practical insight and ethical guidance in an easy to read way.
You can purchase "Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living." from Genealogical Publishing Company at genealogical.com. It is a worthy addition to any genealogical library.
Disclaimers
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me for the purpose of review. I have received no compensation for this review, and the opinions expressed herein are solely my own.
Disclosures
This blog post used the assistance of artificial
intelligence (AI) tools at Chat GPT4o.
While the content reflects my ideas, writing,
and research. AI was used for grammar and spelling editing.
Chat GPT4o suggested blog post titles based upon my writing and ideas and I selected the one, with edits, to enhance the blog experience.
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