Give More, Get More - Family History Society Projects

Glasgow Cathedral from the Necropolis graveyard

In this post, learn about organisations that are running projects to benefit genealogists, how you can help them, and discover some completed projects that you may find useful in your own research.

Current Projects Looking for Volunteers

Experienced family historians will already have the perfect skills to bring to projects like these.  If you choose a project in an area that you're familiar with, you'll be able to contribute your local knowledge of place and family names. 

Glasgow & West of Scotland FHS  This group is currently working on Baillieston Churchyard and Glasgow Cathedral burial ground.  The reopening this week of the Mitchell Library will mean the society's Glasgow Pedlar project can start again. 

Dumfries & Galloway FHS  Their ambitious graveyard transcription project aims to record the monumental inscriptions of every cemetery and kirkyard in the two counties.  No matter where you live in the world, you can help with this, as transcription is from the society’s collection of headstone photographs. 

Family & Community Historical Research Society (FACHRS)  Here you have a choice of projects to get involved with, both long- and short-term, currently Parlour Maids and Communities of Dissent as well as a COVID-19 Pandemic project.

Completed Family History Society Projects

These online resources are free for anyone to use.

Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society (in conjunction with Lancashire Archives) produced an index of seamen on Crew Lists of registered vessels from Preston, Fleetwood, and Lancaster for the mid-19^th and early 20^th centuries.

The Federation of Family History Societies is co-operating with the National Archives to create a database of the English Manorial Documents Register.  You can search the Register and learn more about these records on the website.

Webinar

Troon @ Ayrshire FHS are promoting a free webinar on Thursday 29^th October, “Finding Your Scottish Ancestors in Canada”.  Pre-registration is essential for this Zoom presentation.

And this is just a fraction of the work that's being carried out by family and local history societies and other heritage groups around the world.  Use those research skills you've developed to search for a society that you can donate your time and talents to.  Archives and local history libraries are good places to find out about groups that need volunteers, and if you live in Britain or Ireland, GENUKI has a handy list of links to genealogy and special interest societies' websites.