As a genealogist with over 50 years of research starting long before the internet came to be, my goal now is to pass my knowledge of Pennsylvania genealogy resources and methods to others. I do that through three vehicles:

1. My website where I post free images of 19th-century landowner maps, links to published county histories, tutorials, and much more
2. My publications, such as The Keystone; "In a Nutshell" guides for vital records, land records, Pennsylvania Germans, tax records, Pennsylvania Revolutionary War research, etc.; and the series of county Atlas of Early Landowners for Berks, Dauphin, Fayette, Greene, Lancaster, Washington, and Westmoreland)
3. My presentations are deep dives into research topics, especially the myriad land records that started during William Penn's stewardship, continued with land opened by Indian treaties and Revolutionary War Donation and Depreciation grants, and today's deeds. I've just started a YouTube series called "Follow the Tracks with Sharon Cook MacInnes."

My website, publications, and presentations evolved out of my own research and as a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) where I co-authored the NGS “Advanced Skills in Genealogy” course. For example, I became frustrated that I could no longer count on my favorite resource, Pennsylvania Line: A Research Guide to Pennsylvania Genealogy and Local History, which had become totally out of date. Since I personally wanted a practical guide to the complexity of PA records, I decided to write The Keystone: Essential Guide to Pennsylvania Historical County Records which collates the most useful historical resources for research in the evolving Pennsylvania counties and townships. The practical e-book is designed to help the diligent researcher consolidate the “who, what, when, where, why” issues by giving links and information about “where” documents are hiding and “when” to look in “what” county.  

Repositories
Library of Congress, National Archives, DAR Library, courthouses in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania

Research Time Periods

• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Languages
English

Affiliations
National Genealogical Society
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GenPA.org)

Degrees
Ph.D.