Welcome to the Family History Social

Back in 2013 The National Archives in the UK decided that it no longer required the wearing of white gloves during document handling. Now, in an update ten years on, they have set out their rational as to why the gloves are still off at Kew.

Check out their new blog post here: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/handling-historic-collections-the-gloves-are-still-off/

Key points are that the "wearing gloves reduces sensitivity in your fingers, which can be problematic when handling fragile or already-damaged documents. Cotton gloves in particular can catch easily on torn or uneven edges, can transfer dirt between surfaces and do not provide a moisture-proof barrier, all of which can lead to further damage. Additionally, poorly-fitting gloves can make it difficult to handle large or heavy items safely, increasing the risk of accidental damage."

Online event

While on the subject of The National Archives, you may be interested in their online event:

Webinar ┃From Strangers to Citizens: Immigration and citizenship records

Here is News of an online event Tuseday 9th May 2023:

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) has been established with the aim of developing new courses, supporting innovative genetic genealogy research, and working alongside a growing network of partners and organisations.

The launch of this exciting new venture will showcase the research, projects, and opportunities to get involved in the work of the Institute.

Hear from guest speaker Professor Turi King who will talk about the interdisciplinarity aspects of genealogy, the development of genetic genealogy and how she uses genealogy in her work and research. 

 

Online event Tuseday 9th May 2023:

https://www.engage.strath.ac.uk/event/1007

 

 

 

 

 

More about the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies:

 

An initiative to promote world-leading genealogy education, events, and research has been launched at the University of Strathclyde.

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) aims to deliver academic excellence through the creation of new courses and research opportunities to run alongside the University’s long-standing world-leading postgraduate programme.  

The Institute, based in Strathclyde’s Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL), will also build on the success of the University’s genetic genealogy research projects and work with experts, organisations, and other faculties at Strathclyde to grow a thriving research community for anyone with an interest in family history.

The University is already home to a well-established variety of learning opportunities in the subject, ranging from beginner level short courses and free online courses to a world-leading, online Masters degree and a PhD pathway in History with Genealogical Studies.

The creation of the Institute will facilitate the development of collaborations, driven by a growing international appetite to discover ancestors, build family trees and better understand results from genetic genealogy tests. Coupled with research expertise and in-house knowledge, this will ensure course content is continually refreshed with the latest documentary and genetic research findings.

Tahitia McCabe has been appointed as Head of the new Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies. Tahitia held the position of Course Director for the Genealogical Studies Masters programme for nearly 10 years and brings a huge amount of knowledge and expertise to the role.

A new Course Director, Dr Calista Williams, has also been appointed. Calista previously worked for the University of Aberystwyth’s Lifelong Learning Department, where she headed up their genealogy short course programme.

https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/news/strathclydeinstituteforgenealogicalstudieslaunched/

 

News from The National Archives (TNA)

Join The National Archives (TNA)'s experts as they introduce you to the key 20th century sources for family history, including the 1939 Register, and the census records.

You will learn how to maximise your use of these popular sources, setting you on your way to discover more about your family tree.

This webinar is presented by Jessamy Carlson, Family and Local history engagement lead at TNA.

Tuesday 16 May at 14:00

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researching-your-family-history-20th-century-sources-tickets-546100309727

The Family History Show Online is just two weeks away on Saturday 18th February 2023 and the subjects of the expert talks have been announced for this year’s virtual event.

Featuring All New Talks for the show!

The Restless Spy: the Secret Life of Ernest Oldham

Nick Barratt - Historian, Author and Professional Genealogist

Exploring how to research and write your family history to publication standard using a real case study.

Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors

Keith Gregson - Professional Researcher & Social Historian

This talk explores how with research and the right tools you can step back in time looking at where your ancestors lived, worked and spent their leisure time. Follow the routes they may have taken on old maps and look at the views they may have seen.

The Techniques of Building a DNA Research Tree

Donna Rutherford - DNA Expert

Learn how to build out your tree for doing DNA research, with a look at different methods and ideas.

Understanding and Dating Photographs

Stephen Gill - Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society

Learn how to investigate and date your old photographs.

Professionally presented and recorded, these lectures are not just streamed screen shares, and each talk will be available for 72 hours, so don't worry if you're in another time zone. These presentations will cover a wide variety of family history topics from multiple speakers and will be available throughout the day.

The Family History Show Online, organised by Discover Your Ancestors magazine, is a great opportunity for you to put your research questions to an expert, watch free talks and to speak to family history societies, archives and genealogical suppliers by text, audio, video chat or email from the comfort of your own home.

Make a date in your diary and snap up an early bird ticket now for only £7! You'll also get a downloadable goody bag worth over £10.

Societies, Archives and Companies

Visit exhibitors, societies, archives and companies in our virtual exhibition hall. Here there will be the opportunity to talk to some of the stallholders by text, audio or video from the comfort of your own home.

Show Partners

SoG, AGRA, TheGenealogist, GenFair, S&N Genealogy Supplies

Early Bird Ticket Offer: Buy your tickets in advance and save - tickets to attend The Family History Show Online are available from the website at just £7.00 each. You will also get a FREE virtual goody bag on the day worth over £10. https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/online/tickets/

Press Release written by The Family History Show

We wanted to share some great news with you: The Family History Show is back online next month!

The success of last year’s online event, much appreciated in the family history community, has convinced the organisers of The Family History Show, Online to bring it back this February 2023. With new talks and all the features of a physical family history show, this virtual event can be easily accessed from around the world in the comfort of your own home.

The Family History Show, Online, organised by Discover Your Ancestors magazine, is busy making preparations for its return on Saturday 18th February 2023.

You'll have the opportunity to put your research questions to an expert, watch free talks and to speak to family history societies, archives and genealogical suppliers by text, audio, video chat or email from the comfort of your own home.

Make a date in your diary and snap up an early bird ticket now for only £7! You'll also get a downloadable goody bag worth over £10.

Save the date in your diary and snap up an early bird ticket now for only £7! You'll also get a downloadable goody bag worth over £10.

Featuring All New Talks

Watch the New Talks given by Nick Barratt – Historian Author and Professional Genealogist; Keith Gregson – Professional Researcher & Social Historian; Donna Rutherford – DNA Expert; and Stephen Gill – Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society (keep an eye out for further announcements about the content of each speaker’s presentation).

Societies, Archives and Companies

Visit exhibitors, societies, archives and companies in our virtual exhibition hall. Here there will be the opportunity to talk to some of the stallholders by text, audio or video from the comfort of your own home.

Show Partners

SoG, AGRA, TheGenealogist, GenFair, S&N Genealogy Supplies

Early Bird Ticket Offer

Buy your tickets in advance and save - tickets to attend The Family History Show Online are available from the website at just £7.00 each. You will also get a FREE virtual goody bag on the day worth over £10. https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/online/tickets/

The Family History Show, London that took place at Kempton Park Racecourse on Saturday 24th September 2022 was a resounding success. The show, organised by Discover Your Ancestors Magazine went down extremely well in its new venue. 

Visitors flocked to the free talks in the large lecture theatres and had the rare chance of asking the experts for help in a one-to-one session to break down the brickwalls in their research.

“I do like the venue, it's really easy to get to from the station, I came on public transport and it was easy; I just got off at the station, walked down and there it is!” 

– Elsa Churchill from the Society of Genealogists

Steve, who attended with his wife, emailed “Just wanted to say thank you for the excellent event you laid on this weekend. First time my wife and I have been and we really enjoyed it… We loved the day and look forward to returning again soon!”

Another visitor to the show said:

“I just felt that the location is brilliant. I love the light and the airiness of the venue. I think the venue is super, you should come here again… I'll definitely come again if you hold it here.”

Exhibitors comments were also positive about The Family History Show and its venue:

“Terrific location, well signposted off the main roads and motorways…the catering was excellent with efficient staff, with good food and drink” – This Way Books

“It’s been really interesting coming back again and just seeing the family history community coming together again…to promote what we do and just say how friendly, collaborative and helpful this community can be.”

 – Elsa Churchill from the Society of Genealogists

“Easy to get to, easy to park, easy to unload, good facilities, lovely food, plenty of loos, nice and airy with plenty of room to walk around in.” – The London Westminster & Middlesex Family History Society

The organisers of the Family History Show London were very happy with the way the event went and are bringing it back to Kempton next year on the 2nd September 2023. With the on-site railway station, plentiful parking, food court and the courteous and friendly venue staff this is set to become a regular for family historians in London and the South East.

See the video of The Family History Show, London 2022:

https://youtu.be/d5g-dQMwxRE

News from The Family History Show:

Join us on Saturday 24th September 2022 at The Family History Show, London

The first London show in over two years is just weeks away! Many are looking forward to enjoying a great day out again, with the excitement of being able to listen to live talks and asking questions face-to-face to a range of experts and exhibitors. Following on from the success of the York show in June we are only too pleased to welcome everyone back on Saturday 24th September to The Family History Show at Kempton Park, London.

Help ensure the future of family history events like this by voting with your feet and joining us!

Packed with exhibitors attending from all over the UK, including family history societies and genealogy suppliers, this long-awaited chance to talk face-to-face with stall holders is a must for your diary. Watch a short video of our previous event here: https://youtu.be/5Fdd_69qzMI

This event is not just for those who have London Ancestors – these family history shows will appeal to all family historians. Everyone is very welcome and there will be much to see throughout the day. There is plenty of free parking, refreshments will be available all day, you can talk with experts who can help with your research queries and watch FREE talks from a selection of expert lecturers.

Interested in exhibiting? Contact us now as we only have a limited number of spaces left.

If you can’t make it to our London show, then why not put this date in your diary? The Family History Show Online will be returning on Saturday 18th February 2023.

Talks you can look forward to at the London show include:  

– I've got my Autosomal DNA results, What do I do next? - Debbie Kennett

– How to research the history of the houses where your ancestors lived - Nick Barrett

– Which website and why? - Jackie Depelle

– Search Techniques to find your missing ancestors - Mark Bayley

– New Hints and Tips 2022 - Keith Gregson

– Fleshing out the bones - Records that reveal your ancestors lives - Mark Bayley

Early-bird Ticket Offer

Get your tickets online now and save up to 50%

Buy two tickets for only £12, or single tickets for only £8 each. Tickets will be £12 on the door so make sure you book early!

You’ll also get a free goody bag on entry worth over £8.

Buy your tickets now at: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/london/tickets/

The Society of Genealogists' next talk event is on Thursday 4 August at 2 pm:

Customs and Excise, Coastguards & Trinity House Records in the SoG Collections

Join Else Churchill to learn about the unique and original 19th and early 20th century records held at the Society of Genealogists on Customs and Excise staff. Have a Customs and Excise officer in your family tree? Then this talk will be very useful to you.

Deposited with the Society by HM Revenue and Customs, this collection holds approximately 16,800 entries. It contains details of HM Customs and Excise staff born between 1833 and 1911, now available on the SoG website.

The Society’s Coastguards’ Index was collated by the late Eileen Stage and recorded on index cards along with copies of various documents. The information was gathered from a number of sources including work done by a team of Society volunteers. In more recent times, these index cards and documents have been scanned and indexed to allow easy access via SoG Data Online.

Else also looks at the Society's Trinity House Petitions collections (1787-1854). These records detail petitions to Trinity House made by seamen, or their families, who had fallen on hard times. Trinity House was responsible for supervising lighthouses and buoys around the English coast. In addition, they distributed charitable funds to those of the seafaring community in greatest need. Records can contain detailed information about the petitioner and family survivors.

A one-hour talk with Else Churchill, cost £10.00/£6.50 SoG members

https://www.sog.org.uk/news/august-highlighted-events