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 '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
A new initiative was launched last week at The Houses of Parliament with a joint project by The Archives and Records Association (UK and Ireland) and The National Archives to raise awareness of archives, their value to society and the impact they have, every day, on individual lives.
Clem Brohier, Acting Chief Executive of The National Archives, was joined by MPs, Lords, archivists, guests and campaign ambassadors at the parliamentary launch, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and History.
The campaign is aiming to encourage people to visit archives. So far, hundreds of local, specialist and national archives across the UK and Ireland have been holding events, open days and exhibitions to showcase highlights from their collections.
Caroline Williams, President of The Archives and Records Association remarked: "Public awareness of the role of archives is essential. Especially in the difficult times we find ourselves in. There are too many people who do not understand what an archive is or what an archivist does. We hope this campaign will bring many new people to an archive - in person or online."
There's more details on the initiative at: http://www.exploreyourarchive.org/
Acting Chief Executive of The National Archives, Clem Brohier, introduces the new initiative
To mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of U.S. President John F Kennedy, The National Archives have digitised the British Government's reaction to the events in 1963 and made it available online.
The file, known as 11/4582 includes the draft statement prepared for then Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home in which he told the nation: "You have heard the dreadful news. I find it almost impossible, as I expect you do, to accept the fact that President Kennedy is dead."
The file also includes the telegram messages from The Queen and former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to President Kennedy's widow.
There's more information available from the TNA website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/891.htm
Latest news from The National Archives is the final set of records relating to' colonial administration' will be available to view in the reading rooms at the TNA from Friday 29 November 2013. Within this new release are records from Malta, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, West Indies and many other countries. The National Archives have been working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to transfer and release these colonial administration records.
The material reflects events in the territories generally (pre-independence from Britain) and Her Majesty's Government's views at that time. If you had an ancestor or relative living or originating from these countries, the new release of records may be a useful read to find out more about life in that country at that particular point in time.
There's more information available from The National Archives website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/890.htm
The National Archives are currently seeking four new delegates for their 'User Advisory Group' . The User Advisory Group was set up in early 2011 to give users of The National Archives the opportunity to have a say in the planning and decision-making processes.
Meetings are held at The National Archives in Kew, four times a year, and delegates are expected to make every effort to attend. In addition, prospective delegates are asked to commit to a minimum term of one year's service.
They are after delegates representing different sections of the research user community, so if you use the services at Kew, you may wish to get involved and have your say. For more information go to the National Archives website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/881.htm
The National Archives has just announced a new range of online resources for teachers and students for the new school year to further develop an interest and knowledge of the past. There are five new collections of digitised documents and images now available including 'Life on board convict prison ships' and 'attitudes to crime and punishment' as well as looking at pictures, news and documents to explore 'life in Victorian Britain'.
If you'd like to know more or want to see the other digitised collections available, there's more information from The National Archives website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/878.htm
The National Archives have recently announced their new website is now live and fully operational. With a significant change in design, according to their publicity, The National Archives have styled their new website to cater for the increase in visitors accessing their site from mobile devices. 20% of their visitor traffic in particular is now using the website from mobile devices.
The National Archives official statement is "The new design represents a shift in our thinking and a shift in the changing needs of our audience."
English or Welsh family tree brick walls? Why not get some help?
There's a well received beginners level course, delivered weekly to your computer to study when you want, which offers information packed, step-by-step tutorials. Provided by Nick Thorne (a.k.a. The Nosey Genealogist), it's great for those people new to family history who would like some expert guidance on how to find their way around those potential difficulties and pitfalls that we all stumble across when researching our family history.
Also of great benefit to those who are a bit more advanced, this course quickly takes the student on to look at the many different record sets and archives that you may not have thought to look. Places that your ancestors may be hiding in full sight.
Nick Thorne is a leading family historian (with a number of years of researching family histories behind him) and in the course there are also some contributions from Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content from TheGenealogist.co.uk
Topics covered in the 12 months include:
The census collections; The Parish records; The Parish Chest; Dade Registers; County Record offices; Nonconformist; Religious records; Clandestine marriages; City and Town Directories; Census substitutes; Apprentices; Professionals; Army ancestors; Royal Navy ancestors; RAF forebears; Merchant Navy ancestors; Illegitimacy; The Workhouse; Poor Law; Death records; Burial; Wills; Rural ancestors; Bankrupts; Black sheep; Genetics and DNA; Occupations; Maps and Charts; The National Archives; Family Search Centres; Passports; Manorial records; Old Newspapers and much more!
It costs £9.95 a month but there's currently a special trial offer available. It's well worth checking out at http://familyhistoryresearcher.com/trialoffer/
New online family history training course
Here are some of the things people are saying about this course:
"You communicate in an understandable way! Thank you for the modules that I have had so far." P. Martin."I have enjoyed the time as a FHR member and thank you for your helping hand in trying to solve a problem printing out the guides." T. M. U.K."I would like to thank you for the resources, which I have received weekly, they are very interesting and informative, also a big thank you for thebrilliant customer service." P. Beilby."I am finding the course very useful, even though I have been doing family history for many years." Kind Regards, H. Stephens.
There's a new beta version available to view on The National Archives website of their 'new look' forthcoming website, available from the end of September.
In the word of the TNA - "the new design will improve the experience of users on modern devices including smartphones and tablets. It will also include a new expanded menu, enabling quicker access into content, and be presented in simpler and clearer page layout."
Take a look at http://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ and see what you think.
