Support Your Local Family History Society

 

Family history society publications

Happy New Year! and welcome to another twelvemonth of family history money-saving tips. Not all frugal resources are completely free, but there are some that are definitely a good investment. Take family history societies, for example...

Over the past few years, these organisations have really upped their game and taken to online meetings with gusto. This has opened access to a worldwide audience for society events, particularly those with guest speakers or special discussions. 

Different societies operate in a variety of ways: some open their online and/or in-person meetings to everyone, not just members; some offer free entry for members and a small entry fee for non-members; for others, attendance is free to all; some vary their meetings between online and in-person; some regularly offer hybrid meetings, combining both remote and present audiences.

For example, this month I'd been invited by a family history society to give a talk via Zoom, and this was an online-only meeting, open to members at no extra charge (other than their annual membership fee), and just £2 for non-members wishing to attend.  And later this month, I'll be giving an in-person talk at a meeting of the Renfrewshire Family History Society, which will be a hybrid event. Any non-members who want to join this meeting can find the contact details on the society's website.

Other than meetings, family history societies around the world support their members in many ways, including

• Online databases compiled by members, such as indexes to local burial or poor relief records
• A register of members' surname interests
• Regular journals or newsletters, both in print and electronic formats
• Operating a research centre in the local community
• Research services for those living in other parts of the world
• Projects like graveyard surveys - these often end up as monumental inscription books (MIs)

Access to society research facilities and remote research services may also be open to the general public, usually for a small fee.  

If you've visited a family history fair or conference, you'll have seen some local societies at work, with their member volunteers staffing a stall. This normally has publications for sale: monumental inscription books, historic maps, works authored by members, and sometimes titles of local or general history interest that relate to the society's area. And of course the volunteers are delighted to enroll new members who wish to join.

For those who live at a distance from their ancestors' parish(es), society websites now have a greater role to play. Some record Zoom meetings for members to watch at their leisure. Society journals can be downloaded, and this can give members the choice of a lower-cost subscription - a society I belong to has a sliding scale of membership fees which includes a £7 reduction to members opting for electronic delivery of their journal (hats off to the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland FHS!).

I've also found that where you're not familiar with an area but want some tips or pointers on sites or records, dropping the relevant society an e-mail can work wonders. Members often have excellent local knowledge and can advise you on the best research strategies.

Society publications - MIs, church records, military history and many other subjects - can be ordered via the society website. These are of tremendous value and often contain information about ancestors that isn't readily available elsewhere, especially if you're not local to the area.

There are also umbrella organisations which include societies from across the world. The Family History Federation is the largest such group in the UK, with 160 member societies. It hosts educational resources for genealogists - this list of free family history websites is very useful - and keeps a calendar of some society meetings, although this isn't exhaustive. Its associated online shop will keep you browsing for a while, too.

Additionally, Scottish genealogy and heritage groups come under the auspices of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. Check out their list of members if you have Scots heritage. One of these is the Scottish Genealogy Society, which has research premises in Edinburgh. Its website has an online shop selling an excellent range of publications from many other societies. Some of these are available as instant downloads, cutting down on postage costs.

My feeling about family history societies is that although they involve a (relatively) small expenditure to join, they are well worth it. They provide a network for people with very similar interests, which may even lead to finding a distant cousin; offer opportunities to contribute through volunteering on committees, projects, and events; and have a myriad of resources including courses and classes to guide you as you work on your family tree. A search of the Internet for a society that matches your interests should help you identify what groups are available. Go on, give it a try.

My latest family history money-saving tips

 Sales

The Irish News Archives are offering 50% off their annual subscription from 21 November for “a short time only”. Keep an eye on their website and social media accounts for any necessary discount code.

Check out the reviews and upcoming “Black Friday”/”Cyber Monday” deals on DNA testing kits.  If you’ve been thinking about investing in one, this is a good time to nab a bargain and beat the post-Christmas rush when everybody who gets one from Santa sends in their sample for analysis!

But bear in mind the sage advice of the original and best Moneysaver, Martin Lewis  : “If you were going to buy it anyway and it's half price, you've saved 50%. If you weren't going to buy it, but do because it's half price you've wasted 100%”.

 

Events

I’m all for free genealogy events, so ScottishIndexes’ free online conferences have been amazing.  Their next one is on Saturday 26th November, and as usual it’s available via Facebook or Zoom, and will run to a schedule that allows viewers in all time zones to take part without losing any sleep.  I’ll be speaking at this one so try not to miss it…

While not free, The Genealogy Show’s virtual winter event is offering 25% discount on its ticket prices, and 50% off for students. 

 

Courses

FutureLearn run some excellent online short courses on genealogy and other historical subjects. I’ve just begun their new course “Genetic Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree Using DNA” and am finding it explains things quite clearly. All the courses are designed to be used at your own pace and with whatever level of involvement you choose. There are discussion sections where you can ask questions and interact with other learners.  Some course topics which may interest you are “Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree” and “Early Modern Scottish Palaeography”.  Search their course listing and see what they have to offer.

 

Charts

Free charts are always welcome! There are some at  

         Cyndi’s List – Charts & Forms 

         Family Tree Templates  

         Misbach (click on “Free PDF” tab at top of page) 

         Ancestry – UK, US and Canada census blank forms 

          

Genealogy Extras: Free Course & Free Conference!

 

More great learning opportunities are being offered all over the genealogy community - here are just two to keep you occupied!

The free online 6-week course run by the University of Strathclyde, “Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree” is starting on 18th October.  Register soon as places go fast on this course, even though it runs more than once a year. 

Centred around a real-life case study, the course allows you to work through the materials at your own pace, and discuss related questions and issues with other participants from across the world.  As well as explaining key record types, you will discover how DNA fits in to modern family history research, and learn about different ways to record, organise and share your genealogy.

Also worth checking out is the recent conference of the Register of Qualified Genealogists.  Many of the presentations from this excellent event were recorded and can be viewed until 31st October.  Just a few of the talks on the programme are

• Jilted! Or the insights offered in a breach of contract of marriage cases
• Hidden History: Tales of everyday life in Newspaper Advertisements
• Life of the Early Victorian Deaf & Dumb
• Dusting & Digging: The Work of Women
• Lying Bastards: the impact of illegitimacy on family history research

I thoroughly enjoyed all these presentations, which were highly entertaining as well as informative, and came away with plenty of ideas to further my research.

Upskilling for Genealogists

Having looked at some online events coming soon in last week’s blog post, this week I wanted to share some more ideas for improving or refreshing your genealogy skills.  There are various opportunities, both online and in person, to enrol in free courses that will help you do just that.  Here are a few suggestions.

 

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is an online education provider offering courses at a variety of levels, in partnership with established institutions such as the Open University.  Some of their free short courses are of particular relevance to genealogists.

From Quakers to railways, Highland clans to suffragettes, there is plenty to appeal to those with an interest in history.  There are also some courses aimed specifically at family historians: palaeography, Scottish genealogy, and using the British Library’s resources are some key ones, but there are others.  Have a browse through their list of free courses to see what catches your eye. 

To join a course, register your interest, and you’ll receive an email when a place becomes available.  Courses run more than once a year, so even if demand is high, you’ll be able to take part at some point.  Online learning materials, videos, and discussion forums allow you to learn at your own pace and chat with others on the same course. 

Be prepared, though, for the regular reminders to “upgrade” so that you can receive a certificate of completion or have longer access to the course materials.  These can be a bit annoying but there is no obligation to fork out for any of the free courses; simply dismiss these ads when they pop up, or delete the emails!

 

BYU Family History Library        

There are plenty of webinars, classes, tutorials and learning videos on this (mercifully ad-free) website.  Some are pre-recorded, some are live and interactive, but be aware of the 7-hour time difference between the library and the UK if you’re planning to watch a live broadcast.  For instance, the Sunday Zoom classes are live but recorded, so if you miss one you can catch up with it later.

Content in the classes and webinars deals with using the records of many different countries around the world, using the free resources of FamilySearch. Topics like DNA testing, Ancestry.com, and breaking down brick walls also feature in the schedule. Handouts are available to download, too, and there is a live chat function which allows you to contact the librarians for research advice.  There is also a live help service using Zoom, Monday-Friday, where you can connect with the help desk volunteers - again, it's in Mountain Standard Time (BST/GMT -7 hours).

 

In-Person Courses

Family history societies, local heritage centres, public libraries, and archives may also run on-site classes teaching research skills, perhaps focusing on special interest themes or the records they hold.  While these may not all be free of charge, the course fees will help support community groups and services.

Check the websites of your nearest research locations to see if they offer courses or are holding special events to highlight their collections and facilities to the public. 

 

Genealogy New Year Resolutions

2020...moving swiftly on, let's focus on the year ahead and the possibilities it offers on the family history front.  Aside from wanting to travel to ancestral areas, or return to researching in physical archives, what do I hope to achieve?

Here are a few of my genealogy goals in the coming year.  In 2021, I resolve to

☙  Improve my research skills by reading more widely on family history techniques and different record types

☙  Check my DNA matches regularly and reach out to close cousins

☙  Make more progress on identifying my mystery Irish great-great grandfather (2020 was quite a good year for getting some ideas on that)

☙  Learn from other genealogists on Twitter's #AncestryHour (Tuesdays, 7pm UK time, from 12 January)

☙  Put my Legacy Webinar subscription to better use

Other goals to consider are, for example, making plans to identify the birthplace or parents of a specific ancestor.  Or you may be thinking of taking an online course - I previously posted about a free online learning provider that has some excellent courses for genealogists.  And something as simple as writing to an older relative to find out what they know about the family's history could be another worthwhile item on your to-do list.  The possibilities are endless!

So, what do you think?  What will your family history resolutions for 2021 be?

A bunch of goodies

This week, some freebies to help you organise and grow your family tree.

Keep following the blog for more events and goodies!

1. Research Log - download this handy file to help you keep track of your work.

2.  Scottish Indexes online conference, Saturday 11 July.  Talks will cover a variety of topics like maps, problem genealogy, and the records of the medical profession. Click on the link to find out how to join the event.

3. Download free magazines.  Your public library’s website should offer access to electronic versions of popular hobby and special interest magazines.  These can be read on any device, including computers.  All you need to do is register using your library membership details and you can access as many of the titles as you like, including family and general history mags like Who Do You Think You Are? and BBC History.

4. Legacy Family Tree Webinars.  There are always selected webinars that are free to watch.  They cover many subjects such as DNA, different record types and research in various countries.  

5. Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree – a free online course from the University of Strathclyde that runs throughout the year.  The content includes research skills, record types, writing your history, and preservation techniques.

The World's Largest Shared Family Tree

☙ In this, the latest in my series of posts about doing genealogy from home, I hope you'll find at least one new direction in which to take your family history research or skills. ☙

Opening a free FamilySearch account is a bit like opening up a box of different tools that will help you to be more productive in tracing, recording, sharing, and researching your family tree.  Even seasoned users of the website are constantly being surprised by the range of things they can use it for.

Once you’ve signed up, you can

☙  Add your relatives to the Family Tree. This aims to be one unified record of the human family.  You’ll probably have some ancestors already featured in it, because of the records FamilySearch have collected from around the world.  Build your part of the tree around those existing records

☙  Find more records for your family and attach them to your tree. Use the Catalog to identify resources to help build your research, as well as the suggestions that appear in your family’s entries in the Tree.

☙  Upload your family photographs, stories, memories, and sound clips

☙  Print off fan charts and decorative trees to display your research

☙  Read digitised books from many sources, available through the Digital Library.  Browse or search them for your family.

☙  Set up alerts to be notified when another FamilySearch user makes changes to an entry on the tree that you’re interested in

☙  Use the Activities section to engage young people in family history

☙  Improve your research skills using the resources found in the Research Wiki and Learning Centre – all available via the Help menu, where you'll also find how-to videos for using the website itself

☙  Join the FamilySearch Community and get answers to your research questions as well as collaborating with other genealogists

☙  Add to the available records by volunteering as an indexer 

☙  Download the Family Tree mobile app for those unexpected genealogy moments or research trips

And this is by no means a comprehensive list of what you can accomplish.  Explore the site and discover for yourself just how it can help your family tree to grow.

Go free!

There are a few free family history events coming up this month, both online and in the Glasgow area, so here's a short list for your perusal...and if you have a friend who you think could benefit from any of these, pass it on!

Online

7 March  FreeUK 'Genealo-thon'.  Give something back to the virtual family history community by helping other researchers break down their brick walls.

9 March  Free FutureLearn 6-week genealogy course – run in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde, this course is aimed at beginner to intermediate level.

12 March  24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon starting at 9pm GMT.  Register online to access live presentations throughout the day on a huge range of subjects, including advice on researching Dutch, Scandinavian, and New Zealand ancestors, plus DNA and emigration topics.

In the Glasgow area

14 March  Fairfield Heritage Centre, Govan – Family History Research Open Day. Start researching your family tree, explore the centre’s recent discoveries, or share your family’s Fairfield stories.  

21 March  Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge – Local History Fair with various heritage groups attending, and short talks planned.   

31 March  Mitchell Library, Glasgow – Library Resources for Family History. One of the Mitchell’s regular open events, this is an introduction to print and online resources for those starting out on their family tree.

Decipher those difficult documents

As it’s National Handwriting Day today, I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to take a look at some of the online tools available (freely, of course) to help you read old documents that contain unfamiliar writing or language.  Known as palaeography, this is a skill that genealogists will often wish they had kept up.  So even if you’ve already acquired it, check out the resources listed below and refresh your knowledge!

Most of these involve a bit of effort to familiarise yourself with different alphabets and numerals as well as equivalent date, money and measurement systems.  But if you have struggled to interpret antiquated handwriting or words, learning how to approach them will be a great investment of your time and brainpower.

Below are some websites that offer free tutorials and digital images to help you to practice reading documents from the 16th to the 18th centuries.  Because some older types of documents can include Latin words or phrases (or be written entirely in Latin), I’ve included a helpful resource for tackling that, as well as a dictionary of the Scots language, as that can sometimes crop up in documents north of, and around, the Border.

z    National Archives – This short course, "Palaeography: reading old handwriting 1500-1800", contains ten practice documents and a fun ducking stool game.

z    Scottish Handwriting –  If your research takes you back to the 1700s or earlier in Scotland, this website will prove invaluable.  It features online tutorials, coaching, and a problem solver for when you’re really stuck.  

z    University of York – Download the PDF booklet “Reading the Past: 16^th and 17^th century English handwriting”. This is a great introduction to the art of transcribing.  It includes a variety of sample documents to practice with, along with transcripts and explanatory reading notes.

z    FutureLearn – Sign up for a free three-week interactive course in Scottish palaeography.  Teachers from the University of Glasgow provide the written material and present excellent YouTube videos on different aspects of palaeography.  The course also covers some English documents.

z    Learn Medieval Latin – This National Archives guide for beginners takes you through the process of learning essential Latin step by step.

z    Dictionary of the Scots Language – Especially useful with Burns Night in the offing! 

My top tip for developing your palaeography skills is to be patient with yourself.  If you're finding a word or letter impossible to decipher, take a break from it altogether.  When you return to it, you'll be surprised at how suddenly it becomes clear.

Just to make sure you've checked out these resources thoroughly:  What’s a boll? (Hint: not the weevil kind)

Free Online Courses

Learning online is very popular nowadays, and many e-courses are on offer to help family historians improve their knowledge and skills.  These are aimed at beginning and seasoned seekers, and can cover a breadth of topics or focus on just one.  Although most involve a significant financial outlay, I recently discovered one learning provider that runs free online short courses on a vast range of subjects (and not just historical ones, either). 

FutureLearn, in partnership with established universities and other organisations, allows you to sign up for the course of your choice and then have free access to the learning resources it contains for a limited number of weeks.  In my case, I chose to brush up my skills with their course on Early Modern Scottish Palaeography, and really enjoyed the "mini lectures" by one of Glasgow University’s professors, delivered via YouTube videos.  The fairly informal course website allowed me to interact with other students, ask tutors questions, and read material written specifically for the course, as well as journal articles.  After each tutorial came a simple quiz, designed to consolidate my understanding of what I'd learned. 

Of special interest here might be the six-week genealogy course FutureLearn offers in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde.  The sceptic in you is probably wondering why these courses are free.  The fact is that they operate as taster courses for the institutions who run them in the hope that students will be impressed enough to sign up (and pay) for longer, more in-depth courses.  However, there is absolutely no obligation to do so and no payment details are taken in advance, as is common with online "free trials" (you know who you are, Ancestry.com).

I really enjoyed refreshing my knowledge online like this; it suited my learning style, and gave me a chance to sharpen an important tool in my family history kit.  The only downside was the flurry of e-mail invitations to "Upgrade" so I could receive a certificate of completion and unlimited access to the course materials.  This, naturally, involved payment, and was easily overcome by use of the delete button.  And you can always unsubscribe from the e-mails if you no longer want any contact with the company.  

In future posts, I'll cover some offline ways to develop your research skills without shelling out.

Photo credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay