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SoG Library tours and Advice

Society of Genealogists Free Library Tours & Advice for Members and Non-Members

Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road

The Society of Genealogist's blog has announced the upcoming dates for their next tours of the library at their premises in London will be 20 January, 3 February and 17 February. The SoG Library is packed with many family history records, directories and databases and can be a great help for people searching for their ancestors. With more than 140,000 items spread over three floors it  is a treasure trove for genealogists to explore. While you can just go and explore yourself, asking the staff and volunteers for help when you need it, the SoG recommends that you take a Library Tour so that you are introduced to what they hold. The visits are free to all, last approximately 1½ hours long, and they are on nearly every second Saturday at 11.15 am. The Society is also offering free half-hour advice sessions on these Saturdays. You can book an appointment by contacting the library by email or telephone.   To see more take a look at their blog here: http://www.sog.org.uk/news/article/society-of-genealogists-free-library-tours-advice-for-members-and-non-membe
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What's on at the Society of Genealogists

In Clerkenwell, London can be found the Society of Genealogists If you are looking for a genealogy talk in the next few weeks of May 2016, then why not consider one of these? Sat 21 May 10:30-18:00 Open Day - with Free Lectures, Library Tours & Advice  - Free (must be pre-booked) Please watch their website for upcoming details on a variety of online talks to take place in 2016 Wed 25 May 12:00-13:00 Nursing through Shot and Shell: Medical Women at the Front £8.00/£6.40 for SoG members. Dr Viv Newman Wed 25 May 14:00-15:00 SoG Special Collections: What has Been Done Before  £8.00/£6.40 for SoG members. Else Churchill Sat 28 May 10:30-13:00 Upstairs, Downstairs: My Ancestor was in Domestic Service £20.00/£16.00 for SoG members. Ian Waller FSG Sat 28 May 14:00-17:00 Divorced, Bigamist, Bereaved - Marriage Law for Genealogists £20.00/£16.00 for SoG members.  Prof Rebecca Probert Sat 28 May 14:00-16:00 Walk: Historic Shoreditch  £10.00/£8.00 for SoG members. Check with their website to see what is fully booked or otherwise before going! http://www.sog.org.uk/books-courses/events-courses/ 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA

Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road

Image by Fergusfish (http://www.societyofgenealogists.com) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
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A 1300 edition of the Magna Carta

A 1300 edition of the Magna Carta has been found buried in Kent's archives.  This news comes hot on the heals after four copies of the 1215 document , two from The British Library and one each from Salisbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral were brought together for a short exhibition at the British Library. The new discovery of the historic document, which established the principle of the rule of law, was found at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone. The charter has been authenticated by Professor Nicholas Vincent, of the University of East Anglia, who  has confirmed it belongs to Sandwich town council. The document  was ripped with about a third of it missing, but it is still thought to be worth up to £10m according to the Professor. A spokesman for Kent County Council said the parchment was found at the James Whatman Way site by community historian, Dr Mark Bateson. Dr Bateson was looking in the archives for the Charter of Forest, at the request of Prof Vincent, when he spotted the Magna Carta. The town of Sandwich have said they will use it to encourage tourism rather than sell it.

Magna Carta

A copy of one of the British Library's Magna Carta

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Appointment of Chief Executive and Keeper at The National Archives

The National Archives have announced a new management appointment  this week.  Catherine Lee, Director General of Law and Access to Justice in the Ministry of Justice, has today announced that Jeff James has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive and Keeper, The National Archives. Prior to his current role at the Chartered Institute of Housing, he was Director of Operations and Services at The National Archives for nearly six years. In this time he was responsible for leading the development and delivery of public services; overseeing The National Archives' estates and assets; managing customer relations and maintaining service excellence. He will take up his new post on the 29 July. More information can be found at The National Archives website.
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World War 2 RAF Casualty records now available to view

According to the latest news from The National Archives website, a collection of Second World War RAF casualty records has now been released to view. The records were produced by the Air Ministry's casualty branch following the loss of an aircraft or personnel. They include accident reports and correspondence with next of kin. Known as the AIR 81 series, the first tranche  contains 316 packs dating from the beginning of the war in September 1939 to May 1940. However, many of the files contain correspondence which runs into the 1950s and even the 1960s. This first collection of records does include some notable RAF raids from the early years of World War 2, such as the raid on the Albert Canal Bridges in Belgium in May 1940 when five aircraft from RAF No 12 Squadron were lost and the first Victoria Crosses of the war were awarded. There's more details at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/903.htm

New RAF Records released

New RAF casualty records released from the start of World War Two.

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New collections of papers received by The National Archives

The National Archives have just announced the receipt of a number of valuable collections received by the UK government in lieu of tax payments. Amongst the new collections are family and miscellaneous correspondence and early papers of the naturalist, Charles Darwin. Also received are correspondence, autograph collections, drawings and papers of Margaret Getty, the children's writer who died in 1873. The correspondence of the Acton family , Barons from the 13th to the 20th centuries has also been received. The National Archives have asked if any library, record office or similar institution in the UK is interested in obtaining the papers they should contact the Head of the Private Archives Team, Archives Sector Development, The National Archives. They can be emailed at: asd@nationalarchives.gov.uk for further information. The closing date is 28 February 2014.
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New workshops at The National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland have announced a couple of workshops for January designed to help people make better use of their services. The workshops offer practical information on family history research and advice on what services they can offer to the family historian. On the 14th January, the workshop is 'Getting started at NLS' and on the 15th January, the second workshop is 'Discovering family history at NLS'.  If you're local to Edinburgh or have a Scottish ancestral connection , it may be worth a visit to find out more! There's more details on the National Library of Scotland website.    
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'Discovery' webinar date announced by The National Archives

This year, The National Archives announced 'Discovery' their new online catalogue, would become the only way to search online through The National Archives record collections. Many family historians were used to the previous 'Documents Online' system in place before Discovery so to help with any queries and to help people find their way around the new online catalogue, The National Archives have announced a webinar on the 20 January 2014. The webinar takes place from 14.00 to 15.00 hours UK time and will look at how to conduct searches, using keywords, filters and other useful features to help make the most of the 'Discovery' catalogue. It's hosted by Audrey Collins and if you'd like more information, please visit The National Archives website.  
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First 'accredited' archive services announced

The 'UK Archive Service Accreditation Committee' has announced the first fully accredited archive services:
  • Cumbria Archive Service
  • Exeter Cathedral Library and Archives
  • Media Archive of Central England
  • Network Rail Corporate Archive
  • Tyne and Wear Archives
  • Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
Archive Service Acreditation is the new quality standard for archives services across the UK, developed in partnership with the archives sector and its stakeholders. It defines those organisations that maintain good practice and standards, including encouraging and supporting development. According to The National Archives, "it is aimed at organisations that hold archive collections, whatever their constitution, and covers both private and public sector archives. It enables archive services to review and develop their policies, plans and procedures against a UK wide standard which has been developed by the archives sector, identifying strengths of the archive service and providing a framework to improve areas of weakness." There's more available from The National Archives website.

Accredited Archive Service

The new Accredited Archive Service quality standard now being awarded

 
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The Society of Genealogists 2014 Events Programme is now Online

The Society of Genealogists have now announced their programme of events for next year.  It promises to be a busy year with a number of lectures, talks and other events planned. The events cover  a wide range of subjects of interest to most family historians. There is also a strong military theme to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the First World War happening next year. If you'd like to improve your family history knowledge or keep up to date with latest developments, there's full details on The Society of Genealogists website.  
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