One Commonwealth, Many Families: the Games & an Exhibition in Glasgow

 

This afternoon I spent some time visiting an exhibition that's in Glasgow for the two weeks of the Commonwealth Games which are being held here. It's aptly titled "One Commonwealth, Many Families" and traces the history of the Commonwealth from its roots in the British Empire until today. Alongside that history is a timeline showing the development of records preservation technology. I always feel like a historical exhibit myself when things like this appear in museums...

...as some of my earliest family history research was carried out on equipment like this! (if you don't know what it is, ask your nan)  I was rather moved to come face to face with the IGI in its original format after all these years.

FamilySearch is the organisation sponsoring this exhibition and it has played a leading role in advocating for the importance of preserving records around the world. The exhibition showed some of the work they have done and are still very much involved in...

For example, one of the exhibitors explained that at the moment there are upwards of 80 FamilySearch workers based in Ukraine, digitally imaging the records there that are presently at risk.

Touchscreen exhibits like this one took me round the world to Commonwealth countries, showing their medal tally and events in the Games that they've historically taken part in (Scotland won two golds in the swimming yesterday - I don't know if that's been added to the total yet!).

I loved the quote from Salman Rushdie in the photo of the map: "To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world."

There were some stories of individuals' lives that illustrated the path that citizens of the Commonwealth have taken to Glasgow, including the story of Sawarnjit Matharu, who grew up in Glasgow and in 1974 became the first South Asian policewoman in Scotland at the age of 17. Watch her telling her story at https://youtu.be/x0szVB4KNPU?si=ekV68yNv8oE1dz98

If you're in Glasgow for the Games (or any other reason), the exhibition is here until 2nd August, at the Sir Jim Macdonald Technology & Innovation Centre on George Street, G1 1RD. It's just a short walk from George Square in the city centre, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is free to visit. Well worth your time!

Free Census access and Mining History

Image by Sabine from Pixabay

Until the 9th of March, Ancestry are offering free access to the 1921 England & Wales census to mark Women's History Month. If you haven't already searched this census for your relatives, it's definitely worth a dive, especially as it's free. However this is a shorter free run than Ancestry's standard 14-day trial subscription, and the sign-up procedure will be pretty much the same, plus the two-week trial gives you access to all Ancestry's records, not just the 1921 census.

My discovery of the week is the Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes, guiding you on a virtual tour of the mining areas of central Scotland. Explore the site, and the mining communities, by clicking on the website's map. Plan and make your journey on foot or by bike, using the map's guide to industrial archaeology, geology, heritage, and, most essential, cafes along the routes. Parking and public transport access points are included to make the trip easier. Once the better weather is here I hope to try it out on the ground. The site is also looking for volunteers to build some of the walks in their local area. Their Facebook account highlights the latest developments.

The whole project (which also covers mining areas south of the border) is a tribute to our ancestors who laboured below and above ground to earn a pittance - no, it's not a pun - and provides a real-time way to experience and learn more about their communities and environment.