We have been researching the Wertz family for over 30 years now. To help gather and disseminate our findings, we have been publishing a quarterly newsletter for the past ten years. While our focus is mainly on the Pennsylvania Wertz Ancestry, we have branched out to include family members from Europe and all over the U.S. Our library includes special sections on our ancestors who settled in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
In 1990 Carolyn wrote a book on he Wertz family that was published by Heritage Press. That work is now out of print.
As time passes many cousins have requested back issues of the newsletters and a copy of the Wertz Book. We investigated the possibility of updating and republishing the Wertz Book and publishing a single volume that would include all the back copies of the newsletters. Much to our dismay we discoveredthat it would cost a small fortune to have them both republished on paper. Carolyn's husband, Mike, has an extensive background in Computer Programming and Analysis. He suggested that we publish on Computer CD. He explained that a system could be designed that would contain all the records wanted to publish, and allow the CD to be read on almost any computer system. Following a little more analysis, Mike agreed to design the project and program the CD system.
We also realized that we have learned much over the years, and while the book and newsletters contain some invaluable information, there were some errors and missing information that should be updated. Carolyn dedicated much of 1997 and 1998 to updating her data, and Mike got to work on the system.
The results is "The Family WERTZ, an interactive Family History". Through pictures and words the reader takes a journey like no other into the Wertz ancestry. To get a complete look at the Wertz family we go back to the ninth century and chart the movement of the family from ancient through modern times. A true interactive system, the reader can chart the course and depth of their research. Throughout the system, the researcher can read about an ancestor, and if desired, branch out to see a picture of the individual or look at his homestead, farm, business, or other location being discussed.
In all, the CD contains six complete books, all issues of the Wertz Newsletters, The Wertz Book, Ancient Wertz of Switzerland, and several volumes of family records, a collection of personal stories and journals, dozens of original source documents, an album of Ancestral Photographs, and a series of the Family Records of over 15,000 relatives. These records are in a numer of narrative formats (books), and in GEDCOM files that can be loaded directly into the readers Genealogy Records Program.
Even with over four hundred files pictures and graphics, the reader finds it very easy to navigate through the system. Through the use of an integrated aray of menus and hyperlinks, you logically advance from one section to another. And each document has its own dynamic data lookup function. By simply entering a desired name, place, or phrase, the system will search the document and take you to all the occurrences of the information you are seeking.
