The National Archives have announced they will begin to archive tweets and You Tube videos previously published by UK central government departments.
According to TNA, the UK government social media archive contains over 7,000 videos that date from 2006 to early 2014 and over 65,000 tweets from 2008 to September 2013. It covers some major events in our recent history, including: The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the London 2012 Olympic Games,Budget announcements and the formation of the Coalition government following the general election in 2010.
The aim is to permanently preserve them as official public records, for future generations to no doubt read what life was like, as we family historians do now! There's more information at The National Archives website.
Social media records of central government to be stored by The National Archives
As family historians we are constantly adding new records, certificates and photos to our research collection. The range available to us of archival and storage products is forever expanding too and the new addition to S&N's product range- the 'Window Springback Binder' is useful to those who like their binder covers without pre-designed lettering and the ability to add their own specific text.
This binder has a hard wearing cover, and comes without any gold lettering on the front and spine. There is a window on the front cover of the binder so you can add your own text. I purchased a binder from S&N last week and I'd recommend the high quality.
If you're looking for more binders for your research or to upgrade the ones you currently have, there's more details available from S&N Genealogy Supplies here.
New windowed springback binders available from S&N
Congratulations to RootsMagic as they start 2014 with another award ! The software has won 'Best Genealogy Product of 2013' in the recently announced GeneAwards 2013. The judges remarked "RootsMagic continues to lead by example". There's more details at http://www.tamurajones.net/GeneAwards2013.xhtml If you're new to RootsMagic, in the UK you can find out more information here at the RootsMagic UK website
The National Archives have appealed for volunteers to help tag First World War unit diaries as part of their new 'Operation War Diary' outsourcing partnership with the Imperial War Museum. Volunteers are needed to record people, places and activities from the diaries as part of this major project.
There are 1.5 million pages of war diaries from the British Army on the Western Front during WW1 which had been stored away in the archives. Volunteer help is needed to now reveal the stories of the men who fought in the Great War. If you have any spare time to assist you can sign up to the project here.
The end result should be a great resource for researchers and family historians alike.
WW1 war diaries offer us a window into life in the Great War
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 casualty records released from the start of World War Two.
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: [email protected] for further information. The closing date is 28 February 2014.
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.
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.
The new Christmas issue of the email newsletter from S&N Genealogy Supplies is now available to view. Find out what party games were popular at Victorian Christmas parties and also see the latest offers on software, scanners and other archival products. There's still time to order for a Christmas delivery in the UK too.
There's more at: http://www.genealogysupplies.com/email_news.htm
S&N Genealogy Supplies Christmas Email News now available
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.
The new Accredited Archive Service quality standard now being awarded
