NGS Magazine (ISSN 1529-4323) is sent quarterly to all members as a membership benefit of the National Genealogical Society and to libraries by subscription. Members can also view and download the magazine in PDF form from the NGS website, which makes it convenient to enlarge text and pictures at will. Beyond the current news features, here is a summary of the article highlights for the July-September 2009 issue:
- “From microfilm to digital” - NGS Magazine Editor Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CG, CGL, describes her experiences with a device that scans microfilm and the included software that makes the final image more readable than the original film.
- “Wikipedia & Citizendium” - Barbara Fay Boudreau, 2008 winner of the family history writing prize from the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists and a computer consultant, describes what one may – and may not – find in the way of genealogy resources when searching these two popular websites.
- “Cross country 1850: Tracing your ancestors’ westward journey” - Author David W. Jackson, who is also archives and education director for the Jackson County (Missouri) Historical Society, uses examples from his own family history to explain how one can approach the task of researching your family's migration across the U.S. He includes a list of online sources to get you started as well as lesser-known migration-related resources available to you.
- “African American veterans in the Grand Army of the Republic” - Scholar, lecturer, and author Tim Pinnick explains how to use GAR records to learn about African Americans who served the Union during the War Between the States. He describes the important details to be gleaned in these records and includes web sites and other resources that can point you toward the individual you are researching.
- “Exploring the economy” - Award-winning author John T. Humphrey, CG, whose credentials include leader of the National Genealogical Society German Forum, explains the impact of our ancestors' economic conditions on their lives and describes how a researcher can better understand how their earlier family lived through information in ledgers of those times.
- “Case study: They did NOT die about 1820” - Professional genealogist Anne J. Miller, PhD, unravels the mystery of Charles Colton's supposed death, as claimed by a son. In the absence of a death record, further research in a variety of sources brings to light an abundance of new information about Charles and his family.
- “Child of no one: Researching illegitimate ancestors” - Sharon Tate Moody, CG, past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists among other credentials, uses successful research examples to explore the best places to seek information about a child born out of wedlock. She describes the kinds of facts available and explains them in the light of contemporary cultural and legal perspectives.
- National Archives column - "Enumerating religion in the federal census: The 1926 Census of Religious Bodies" by John P. Deeben, Genealogy Archives Specialist at the National Archives and Records Administration
- Beginning genealogy column - "Identify treasures now" by Gary M. Smith, second vice president of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) and national conference coordinator of the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and Diana Crisman Smith, central region director of ISFHWE; treasurer of the Genealogical Speakers Guild; and chapter representative and webmaster of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists
- Software review column - "[Review of] Google Your Family Tree: Unlock the Hidden Power of Google" by Barbara Schenck, 30-year genealogist and novelist under the name Anne McAllister
- Technology column - "Where in the world? Technology tools for locating a place" by Jordan Jones. 33-year genealogist, also editor, publisher, and webmaster
- Writing family history column - "Courts, land claims, and murder on the frontier" by Harold E. Hinds Jr., PhD, a distinguished research professor of history at the University of Minnesota Morris, lecturer, associate editor of Minnesota Genealogist, and director-at-large of the NGS Board of Directors.
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