Recent additions to the British Newspaper Archive

There seems to have been a considerable slowdown in the rate of new material being uploaded to the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) over the last month. The following are the additions from the last 30 days, mainly English titles:

Windsor and Eton Express
1881

The Graphic
1869-1898, 1900-1901, 1903-1911, 1914-1932

Coventry Evening Telegraph
1898, 1904, 1906, 1908-1913, 1919, 1926, 1928-1929, 1931, 1933-1934

Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter
1862-1867, 1869, 1871, 1873-1876, 1878-1895, 1898-1910, 1913-1934

Melton Mowbray Mercury and Oakham and Uppingham News
1881-1894, 1898-1900, 1904-1909, 1911, 1913-1915

Surrey Gazette
1860-1865, 1867, 1871-1872, 1875, 1879

Leominster News and North West Herefordshire & Radnorshire Advertiser
1884, 1886-1896, 1898-1910

Isle of Wight Times
1862-1866, 1871, 1873-1874, 1876-1879, 1889, 1897, 1901-1913

Cambrian News
1881-1883, 1885-1889, 1891-1896, 1898-1909

Daily Herald
1938

Ross Gazette
1897, 1910

Chris

Needing a Christmas present for a family history obsessed love one (or for yourself)?! For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FindmyPast launches new UK subscription tiers

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has announced a series of three new subscription tiers for all future subscribers.

The Starter package costs £8.95 a month, or £72 a year, and allows you to access English, Welsh and Irish civil registration records indexes, and British and Irish censuses (varying coverage), as well as somewhere to store your family tree online (even once your subscription expires).

The Plus package is £12.95 a month, or £120 annually. It offers all the above, plus British and Irish parish records, British wills and probate, British and Irish electoral registers and directories, British and Irish education and employment records, Specialist Irish records, British and Irish migration and travel records, and Military, Armed Forces and conflict records.

Finally, the Pro package at £15.95 a month or £156 a year offers all the above, plus various US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand collections, and access to PERSI and newspapers, including the British Newspaper Archive offerings for Britain and Ireland.

COMMENT: It's worth noting that most English and Welsh civil registration BMD indexes are available freely at FreeBMD (www.freebmd.org.uk), most historic Irish BMD records are available at www.irishgenealogy.ie for free (with additional indexes freely available on FamilySearch up to 1958), and the surviving Irish censuses are freely available at www.genealogy.nationalarchives.ie. So the Starter package offering to me seems a little light really in terms of what you're getting for your money.

FindmyPast itself highlights its Plus package as the recommended one - which I would concur with - although it is unfortunate that the British Newspaper Index collections are presented with the most expensive Pro subscription option.

For professional genealogists, as always, do check the site's Terms and Conditions (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/terms-and-conditions), as there are slightly different terms for those using the site in a professional capacity.

If you are doing Scottish research, just bear in mind also that FindmyPast describes some of its collections as British, which are actually English and Welsh only (e.g. British wills and probate, and British and Irish Civil BMDs). If Scottish research is your aim, do take a look at the collection descriptions first. Note also that, for reasons beyond its control, FindmyPast, as with Ancestry, only offers transcripts of Scottish censuses (images accompany the English and Welsh equivalents), and does not include the 1911 Scottish census. The 1939 Register offering similarly does not contain returns for Scotland or Northern Ireland (which are held by separate agencies to that for England and Wales - the NRS in Scotland, and PRONI in Northern Ireland) .

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Useful research tool for IrishGenealogy records

Thanks to Joe Buggy via Twitter (@TownlandOrigin) for a useful tip a few days ago. Joe flagged up a great blog post at http://www.swilson.info/wp/?p=2105 which demonstrates how to use a special online tool that allows you to step through pages on the Irish civil registration birth, marriage and death registers as hosted on IrishGenealogy (www.irishgenealogy.ie).

The tool itself is located at http://www.irelandgen.com/tools/gro_img_nav.php and you simply paste in the URL of the web page that shows the PDF document on the site - once in, and submit is clicked, you can step through the relevant register a page at a time, 5 pages, 10 pages or 50 pages.

It's a great tool, and the timing was perfect as I had to order up an official copy of a marriage record this morning for a client's Irish passport application. The address of the church was difficult to decipher, but going back a page or two I was able to locate it by seeing other examples of the handwriting which recorded it.

Incidentally, I'm not sure who S. Wilson is, but he/she has a great site at http://www.swilson.info with some useful resources for Irish research - well worth a look!

(With thanks to all mentioned!)

UPDATE: Shane Wilson - thanks Shane!

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Booking opened for Scottish Genealogy Virtual Conference

I am delighted to say that I will be participating in an online virtual conference, Scottish Genealogy Virtual Conference, being hosted from Ontario on January 27th 2018 by Genealogy Tours of Scotland (www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca).

I will be kicking off the event with a talk entitled Finding Your Ancestors Before 1855: Pre-Civil Registration Research. Following the presentation, I will continue to be available online to answer any questions you might have about the information presented. (Have mercy, be gentle, etc...!)

Also speaking in the conference are four fellow presenters:

“Seek and Ye Shall Find” Using the Kirk's Archival Legacy to Unveil the Lives of Your Scottish Ancestors, presented by archivist Margaret Fox

Using the NLS Maps to Build Your Family History, presented by National Library of Scotland Maps Manager Craig Statham

Researching Your Highland Ancestors, presented by genealogist Chris Halliday

Cleared to Canada: From the Highlands and Islands to Canada, presented by genealogy educator Christine Woodcock

All are fantastic speakers, so this is really going to be a great day for those interested in Scottish family history!

The registration fee is just $79.99 (Canadian) and allows for unlimited access to the talks, handouts and the marketplace for 72 hours. The live chat will only happen on January 27th.

You can register for the event at https://www.genealogyvic.com/home-1.html - I look forward to taking part and hopefully speaking to you and answering any questions then!

NB: Here's the really good bit. If you're in Scotland, bear in mind this is a Canadian hosted event, and so it will be starting in the afternoon our time. Seriously - just how more civilised an event can it be?!

See you there! :)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Family History Handbook 2018

From Family Tree magazine (UK):

Introducing the Family History Handbook 2018

From the team behind leading family history magazine Family Tree, the Family History Handbook 2018 is the new go-to pocket genealogy guide for all family historians.

Launched with the Christmas 2017 issue of Family Tree in association with the Federation of Family History Societies, the 2018 handbook is packed with 115 pages of invaluable in-formation, including:

• ‘How-to’ advice covering key family history topics
• Expert research tips
• Reference guides
• Worldwide listings of family history societies covering the whole of the United Kingdom plus Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States
• Directory of national and local archives
• Details of professional researchers
• Contacts for Scottish and Irish clan groups
• One-name and specialist societies, and more

Discover all the essentials in this ultimate and up-to-date reference guide worth £5.99, which is available to all print subscribers and in the UK newsstands with the Christmas issue of Family Tree, on sale in the UK from 21 November.

Family Tree Editor Helen Tovey said: “This is the first year of our go-to guide for family historians of all levels of experience. It is packed with beginner advice and tips on where to go next, as well as comprehensive listings of family history societies and related groups that could help you take your research worldwide.

“We’re immensely proud of the Family History Handbook 2018. Its handy A5 size means it’s perfect to take out and about with you and we are sure you will find it useful and inspiring as you travel on your family history journey.”

The Christmas issue with the 2018 Handbook can be ordered, while stocks last, from Family Tree’s online store at www.family-tree.co.uk/store/buy-the-magazine/family-tree-magazine-christmas-2017

COMMENT: I've received my copy, and this is a great wee initiative from the Family Tree folk, filling a gap in the market since the Family and Local History Handbook ceased publication a few months ago - I'll certainly be keeping it close to hand in my office!

(With thanks to Karen Clare)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

September's PRONI stakeholder forum meeting - latest developments

I was unable to make the September meeting of the stakeholder forum at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) in Belfast, so am grateful to Gavin McMahon for a copy of the minutes. Some headlines:

1) Digitised church records have been available to view on PRONI's on-site computer system (CALM) from 25/08/2017. See https://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/details-of-new-digitised-church-records.html for further details of what has been digitised.

2) New Accessions recently brought into PRONI and catalogued:

D4343 – Sam Hanna Bell Papers
D4642 – Michael J Murphy Papers
D4644 – Donaghadee free schools
D4645 - Augher Co-op Society papers

3) Campbell College has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of almost £90,000 for a digitisation and education project, in partnership with PRONI. As part of the project, photographs of the 126 Campbell College students who served and died in the First World War will transfer to PRONI and be digitised, with copies returned to the college. Campbell College will work with schools throughout East Belfast for the education element of the project.

4) In Summer 2018 PRONI will host 10 interns, each on 2-week placements, where they will be given hands-on experience with cataloguing, digitisation, etc.

5) The first 14 audio recordings for the new Prisons Memory Archive will hopefully be going online by the end of this year.

6) The PRONI Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/publicrecordofficeni/) now has over 1600 followers. [Update - they are well past 2100 followers now!]

I'm hoping to make it to next week's meeting in Belfast, and will provide further updates from then.

(With thanks to Gavin)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

The Genealogist adds 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Survey

This is a fairly major release from TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk) for those with English and Welsh ancestry:

The 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Records with annotated maps

TheGenealogist is releasing the first part of an exciting new record set; The Lloyd George Domesday Survey - a major new release that will find where an ancestor lived in 1910. This unique combination of maps and residential data, held by The National Archives, can precisely locate your ancestor’s house on large scale (5 feet to the mile) hand annotated maps of London that plots the exact property.

Researchers often can’t find where ancestors lived as road names change over time, the Blitz bombing areas to destruction, developers changing sites out of all resemblance from what had stood there before, lanes and roads extinguished to build estates and office blocks. All this means that searching for where an ancestor lived using a website linked to modern maps can be frustrating when they fail to pinpoint where the old properties had once been.

● TheGenealogist’s new release will link individual properties to extremely detailed ordnance survey maps used in 1910
● Locate an address found in a census or street directory down to a specific house
● Fully searchable by name, county, parish and street.
● The maps will zoom down to show the individual properties as they existed in 1910

Complementing the maps on TheGenealogist are the accompanying books that will also provide researchers with basic information relative to the valuation of each property, including the valuation assessment number, map reference, owner, occupier, situation, description and extent.

The programme begins with the first release of the IR91 Index with subsequent releases of the more detailed IR58 Field books planned.

The mammoth project has over 94,500 Field Books each having hundreds of pages to digitise with associated large scale IR121 annotated OS maps.

The initial release from TheGenealogist is for the City of London and Paddington maps with their index records. Future releases will expand out across the country with cross linked maps wherever they are available.

Find out more at: www.TheGenealogist.co.uk/1910Survey/

Mark Bayley, Head of Development at TheGenealogist says:

“With our English & Welsh Tithe Map collection, we’ve become known for our map based records and this new collection makes a fantastic later addition. The maps show an incredible amount of detail, allowing you to zoom right in on the hand annotated property. The records that go with these maps are just as detailed, allowing you to find out all manner of information about your ancestral home.”

The National Archives issued the following statement:

“The Lloyd George ‘Domesday Records’ form essentially a census of property for Edwardian England and Wales. The innovative linking of individually searchable property data with associated annotated Ordnance Survey maps will be of huge value to family and local historians alike.”

To find out more about these records, visit our record informative page at www.TheGenealogist.co.uk/1910Survey/

There's also a video at https://youtu.be/WL1P97CngdU, and presented here:

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Early Irish civil registration record images on FamilySearch

The FamilySearch website has added some civil registration records to its digitised holdings. These are as follows:

Births 1864-1913
Marriages 1845-1870
Deaths 1864-1870

The records are for the whole island of Ireland, but can only be accessed if you have an account with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or if you attend your nearest Mormon family history centre or FamilySearch affiliate library.

The collection is available at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2659409

Note that most historic Irish BMD records are freely available at www.irishgenealogy.ie, although the records for marriages from 1845-1869 and deaths from 1864-1877 have still to go online (projected for the middle of next year).

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FamilySearch users will need to register for an account

Still catching up with some developments over the last few days (it's been a busy week!), but this is a fairly major one. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) has announced that people will soon have to register for a free account to continue to access its free resources on the website. Here's the press release...

FamilySearch Free Sign-in Offers Greater Subscriber Experiences and Benefits
November 16, 2017 By FamilySearch

Beginning December 13, 2017, patrons visiting FamilySearch.org will see a prompt to register for a free FamilySearch account or to sign in to their existing account to continue enjoying all the free expanded benefits FamilySearch has to offer. Since its launch in 1999, FamilySearch has added millions of users, billions of various historical records, and many fun, new features like Family Tree, Memories, mobile apps, digital books, and dynamic help. In order to accommodate continued growth of these and future free services, FamilySearch must assure all its partners that its content is offered in a safe and secure online environment. Patrons creating a free account and signing in fulfills that need.

Patron sign in will also enable FamilySearch to satisfy the ongoing need for user authentication. This authentication can deliver rich, personalized discovery, collaboration, and help experiences. Simply put, signed-in visitors can access more searchable content and enjoy more personalized services.

“A large percentage of our current site visitors are not benefiting from much of what FamilySearch has to offer because they don’t realize the need to simply sign in with their free account to do so,” said Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO. “They are basically arriving in the parking lot but not coming inside for the main event,” he said about website visitors who do not sign in.

FamilySearch is committed to patron privacy and does not share personal account information with any third party without a patron’s consent.

See Registering to Use FamilySearch.org for information about creating a free account.

(With thanks to FamilySearch)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Danish censuses added to FamilySearch

The latest records released on FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) this week...

SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Five historic Denmark Censuses, 1835 to 1855, were added on FamilySearch this week and millions of civil registration records from Uruguay. Many more records from Brazil, Great Britain, Peru, and Portugal were also published. Search these new free records at FamilySearch by clicking on the links in the interactive table below. Easily find and share this announcement online from the FamilySearch Newsroom.

Collection	Indexed Records	Digital Images	Comments
Brazil, Piauí, Civil Registration, 1875-2014	206,819	0	Added indexed records to an existing collection
Denmark Census, 1835	282,207	7,221	New indexed records and images collection
Denmark Census, 1840	1,611,062	0	New indexed records collection
Denmark Census, 1845	1,671,252	61,743	New indexed records and images collection
Denmark Census, 1850	1,301,602	52,051	New indexed records and images collection
Denmark Census, 1855	1,733,541	99,773	New indexed records and images collection
Great Britain, War Office Registers, 1772-1935	21,642	0	Added indexed records to an existing collection
Peru, Cusco, Civil Registration, 1889-1997	99,218	0	Added indexed records to an existing collection
Portugal, Coimbra, Civil Registration, 1893-1980	53,179	0	Added indexed records to an existing collection
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1900-1937	2,233,093	0	New indexed records collection

(With thanks to FamilySearch News)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

AncestryDNA sale

AncestryDNA (https://www.ancestry.co.uk/dna) is having a sale on its testing kits, which have been reduced to £49, reduced from £79. Offer ends 27/11/2017 at 23.59 GMT. Note that the price excludes any shipping costs.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Irish Newspaper Archive sale

Irish Newspaper Archives are having a sale, with 30% off a monthly subscription (now £20.30), and 40% off a worldwide subscription (now £89.40). The sale expires on November 26th.

For further details, and to obtain the necessary discount codes, please visit https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/subscribe. 

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

MyHeritage DNA sale

As part of the American 'Black Friday' sales event (sorry, I still have no idea what that's about!) MyHeritage is offering a flash sale of its DNA tests, with kits in the UK selling for just US$49 /UK£39 - the offer expires on Monday, November 27th.

How does DNA testing work?

• A simple cheek swab (no blood or spit)
• Takes just 2 minutes
• Mail to our lab in enclosed envelope
• Receive your results online in 4 weeks

For more information, or to purchase a kit, visit https://www.myheritage.com/dna?utm_campaign=MyHeritage%20DNA%20amazing%20Black%20Friday%20Offer.

(With thanks to Daniel Horowtiz)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Further update from Irish Genealogy

I've had a brief response from Irish Genealogy (www.irishgenealogy.ie) about the problems concerning the indexes to marriage and death records, and the loss of registration district information (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/further-free-records-added-to-irish.html) - here goes:

Many thanks for your query

Just a few teething problems in the overlap of the updated data and the older information. Hopefully all will be sorted in the next 24 hours. Meanwhile a press release re: additional records will issue soon.


Hopefully sorted soon!

(Thanks to Irish Genealogy's feedback team)

UPDATE: Claire Santry has a further update on the situation at http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2017/11/irish-civil-bmd-records-latest-on.html

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Further free records added to Irish Genealogy

Thanks to Claire Santry for announcing that the Irish Government's free records site Irish Genealogy (www.irishgenealogy.ie) has been adding more records. Claire's announcement is at http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2017/11/irishgenealogyie-adds-more-free.html.

I've had a play, and whilst it is welcome that records have been added (mostly earlier marriage records from what I can see), I have also noticed something odd which I hope is a temporary glitch - namely that the registration district names appear to have disappeared from the indexes to many of the earlier marriage and death records.

To give an example... I know that my three times great grandfather Jackson Curry died in 1867 and that his death was registered in the district of Magherafelt, in Derry, in the 4th quarter of that year. When I do a search for Jackson using Magherafelt as the registration district, no results appear. When I do a search for him just by name, I then get the following:

This is the right entry - but the registration district is not noted.

I'm also getting duplication of indexes. For example, another Jackson Corry (Curry) married Eliza Jane Armstrong on 20 DEC 1878 in Newry. The record is found on Irish Genealogy, but in two different index entries, one of which has the image attached, and the other again noted without the Registration District (though the year, quarter, volume number and page number are correct):

Hopefully someone will sort it soon enough!

(With thanks to Claire)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Scottish Witch Trial victims commemoration request

The following is from Ruth Maguire, the MSP for the Scottish constituency of Cunninghame South in North Ayrshire. On 9 NOV 2017 Ruth asked the Scottish Parliament's Minister for International Development and Europe (Dr. Alasdair Allan) the following question at General Questions in Holyrood, with reference to this being the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology:

"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mark the Scottish witch trials during the year of history, heritage and archaeology 2017?"

Thousands of women were murdered as part of the persecution of alleged witches over four centuries ago, and there have been calls from several quarters for those killed to be remembered in some way by the state. The following is part of their exchange, after Dr. Allan then confirmed there were no plans at present to do so:

The text of the full exchange is available at https://www.theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2017-11-09.3.0&s=archaeology.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

APG Announces New Officers, Board and Committee Members

From the Association of Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org):

Press Release - APG Announces New Officers, Board and Committee Members
Association of Professional Genealogists Announces New Officers, Board and Committee Members:

Billie Stone Fogarty [M.Ed]M.Ed. Named President for Second Term to World's Largest Professional Organization for Genealogy

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo., 11 November 2017 - The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has announced the results of its election for new officers, board members, and nominating committee members. The APG membership elected four officers and six at-large board members for two-year terms (2018-2019). Two nominating committee members were elected for one-year terms. Those elected were:

Executive Committee (two-year term)

President: Billie Fogarty, MEd, is a full-time professional genealogist who has served the genealogical community in several capacities, including as APG president since 2016. She aims to continue the commitment to the important tasks initiated last term, including the launch of a new website and the implementation of the member education requirement.

Vice President: David McDonald, DMin, CG, a past APG board member, speaks nationally at conferences and institutes. As vice president, David would like to strengthen APG's place as "the premier voice for professionals in our field."

Secretary: Amy E. K. Arner, a Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit recipient, will continue her work as APG secretary for another term. One of Amy's goals is to increase networking opportunities within APG and the organization's educational efforts regarding good business practices.

Treasurer: Mary Kircher Roddy, CPA, is a professional genealogist, speaker, and writer who has also served as treasurer for several non-profit organizations. She looks forward to collaborating with the board to facilitate interactions among genealogists and answer their needs as professionals in the field.

Board of Directors (two-year term).

Barbara Ball, CG, based in Arizona, is continuing for another term. One of her goals is to "advocate for the genealogists...in areas where access to large archives is difficult and research opportunities can be somewhat scarce."

Valerie Elkins, having recently relocated to Colorado, is continuing for another term. She has a particular interest in "encouraging more involvement and representation for more countries, ethnic groups, and cultures."

Fiona Fitzsimons, located in Ireland, is serving another term on the board. Her core interests for APG are in outreach and education served on the Redistribution, Bylaws, and Members Survey committees.

Benjamin Hollister, from Australia, has served on the board since 2016. He envisions APG "taking a greater role in both international standards and professional development for researchers, as well as supporting members through advocacy and marketing."

Cari Taplin, CG, of Texas, a returning board member, is "committed to supporting continued growth within APG in the areas of education for professionals, improvements in our online presence, and in our work with records preservation."

Katherine R. Willson lives in Michigan. Her vision for APG is "the formation of an outreach committee to pair interested APG members with local Veterans Administration hospitals for the continued recording of lineages, histories, and narratives for all US veterans nationwide."

2018 Nominations Committee

Melanie Holtz, CG, is a Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit recipient based in North Carolina. She is an "advocate for professionalism within the field of genealogy, mentorship, and expanded educational offerings within the organization."

Elizabeth O'Neal of California has served on nominations committees for several organizations and feels that "board members should always be approachable and should reach out to members to learn how they can best be served." She would like to see APG "continue to embrace technology with its educational offerings and webinars, and continue to increase communication with members and chapter officers via social media channels."

"APG is fortunate to have a strong and diverse group of dedicated genealogists willing to volunteer their time to move our organization forward," said APG President, Billie Stone Fogarty. "As we welcome those returning and newly elected, we also thank those board members retiring from board service; Catherine Desmarais, CG, Sandra Ball, CPA, Sharon Atkins, Helen Daglas, Clarise Soper, CG, Christine Woodcock, and Vicki Wright."


About the Association of Professional Genealogists
The Association of Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org), established in 1979, represents more than 2,700 genealogists in various genealogy-related businesses. APG encourages genealogical excellence, ethical practice, mentoring, and education. The organization also supports the preservation and accessibility of records useful to the fields of genealogy and history. Its members come from all [U.S]U.S. fifty states, Canada, and forty other countries. APG is active on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

(With thanks to the APG)

Chris


My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

UK electoral and medical records added to Ancestry

Ancestry has been busy with a few useful additions:

UK, Absent Voter Lists, 1918-1925, 1939
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61320
Source: Absent Voter Lists taken from various Electoral Register collections.

The 1916 Representation of the People Act ruled that members of the armed forces should be listed in separate registers under the constituencies in which they normally lived. The Absent Voter Lists enabled servicemen and women to vote by proxy or by postal application, when away from home on active service. They record the civilian address of the absent voter, but more importantly they give service numbers and regimental details. Absent voter lists can be a valuable resource if you are trying to trace details of a First World War soldier. They often record the individual’s regiment, number and rank at the time, as well as his home address.

Suffolk, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1538-1850
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61545
Source: 'Electronic databases created from various publications of parish and probate records.'

Berkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1965
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61258
Source: Berkshire Electoral Registers, Berkshire Record Office, Reading, Berkshire, England.

England, Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital Admissions and Discharges, 1826-1930
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61093
Source: Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital Admission Registers, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England.

In the early years of the nineteenth century, Zachary MacAulay and William Wilberforce established a fund for the relief of distressed seamen. The committee appointed to manage the fund met for the first time on 8 March 1821 and from this meeting was formed the Seamen's Hospital Society. The purpose of the new society was the establishment of a hospital solely for seamen. The 48 gun Grampus was loaned by the Admiralty for conversion as a hospital ship and she was moored at Greenwich in October 1821. Within the next ten years it became clear that the accommodation in the Grampus could not meet the demand and in 1831 the Admiralty agreed to replace her with a larger hulk, the Dreadnought, previously used by the Royal Navy as a hospital ship at Milford Haven.

In 1833 the hospital was incorporated by Act of Parliament as 'The Seamen's Hospital Society'. In 1832 the high incidence of cholera prompted the Central Board of Health to convert the Dover as an isolation hospital and she joined the Dreadnought at Greenwich. The Society took over the maintenance of this ship in 1835, also taking responsibility for other ships as time went on to combat outbreaks of disease. The Dreadnought in turn proved inadequate to cope with the numbers, principally merchant seamen, requiring medical treatment and in 1857 she was replaced by the 120 gun Caledonia, renamed Dreadnought by special permission of the Admiralty.

The Dreadnought hulk remained in use at Greenwich until 1872 as isolation accommodation. The Society continued to expand, opening branch hospitals and other establishments including, in 1877, the Dreadnought School for Nurses. With the advent of the National Health Service in 1948 the hospital and its branches were handed over to the Minister for Health, the Dreadnought Hospital itself surviving as a hospital for seamen, administered by the Seamen's Hospital Management Committee until 1974.

Further details via the links.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Free access to Fold3 British Commonwealth military records

Fold3 (www.fold3.com) is providing free access to its British and Commonwealth collections this weekend:

The British Commonwealth Military Collection
Explore military records outside the U.S.

A unique collection of military records

Free access until November 13th*

Australia WWI Service Records
British Army Lists
British Army WWI Service Records
Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations
Military Books
U.K. Navy Lists
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards
Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admission & Discharge Records
Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Record
Royal Hospital Kilmainham Pensioner Records (Ireland)
U.K. WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium, and Germany)
U.K. WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli-Dardanelles)

*Access to the records in the featured collections will start on 10 November and be free until 13 November, 2017 at 23:59 BST. To view these records you will need to register for free with Fold3.com with your email address. We will then send you a username and password to access the records. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid All Access membership.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Rejoining the Association of Professional Genealogists

Earlier today I took part in the first of a series of new planned CPD sessions by the Association of Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org) Britain, Ireland and the Isles chapter, where I was interviewed alongside fellow genealogist Lorna Moloney (Merriman Research & Training Ltd) by Fiona Fitzsimons (Eneclann) about various aspects of working as a professional genealogist. Thanks to both Lorna and Fiona for what was a great session, and to those who attended and asked questions.

I was previously a member of the APG a few years ago, but did not renew my membership as back then it seemed very much US centred and focussed, and I wasn't really sure what I was getting for my money. However, with the Britain, Ireland and the Isles chapter now established and offering activities on this side of the pond, I'm delighted to say that I've finally signed up again today as a member.

Absolutely nothing about the services I currently offer will change, but readers may wish to note that APG members adhere to a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which you can find detailed at https://www.apgen.org/ethics/index.html. 

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Forces War Records discounts offers

From Forces War Records (https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

40% off Forces War Records Membership.

War touches many people’s lives. Is your family’s military history waiting to be discovered? Is there a war hero in your family waiting to be remembered? Did any members of your family get awarded medals for their actions in war?

Perhaps they did, but you just haven’t found out about it yet…Why not search the Forces War Records site and take a look at the wealth of records and historic documents the company holds. Let us help you start, or continue your family history quest.

Here are 5 reasons to become a full member today:

1. Get unlimited access to over 10 Million records - Over 2 million exclusive to us
2. View WW1 Troop Movements - on our exclusive interactive map
3. Get help with finding your ancestor's record from our military experts
4. Photo expert - Get help with identifying details from your photos
5. Historic Documents Archive - browse thousands of original documents

CLICK THE LINK HERE, or use the code: FBNOV17

* discount is off one year's membership, or your first month's membership.

EXPIRES - Midnight 12th Nov 2017

(With thanks to Neil White)

Chris


My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

TheGenealogist adds names from 53 new War Memorials

From The Genealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist adds another 15,000 names from 53 new War Memorials

In time for Armistice day TheGenealogist has added to their War Memorial records on the website so that there are now over 383,000 fully searchable records.

This latest release includes war memorials from Worcestershire and South Yorkshire as well as some further monuments from Australia,Canada, London and various other British counties. A more unusual one added in this release is from Olds, in Alberta, Canada - the memorial is a Sherman tank!

Fully searchable by name, researchers can read transcriptions and see images of the dedications that commemorate soldiers who have fallen in the Boer War, WW1 and various other conflicts.

These new records are available as part of the Diamond Subscription at TheGenealogist.
Read our article on War Memorials that reveal WW1 heros, The neglected Sheffield soldier finally recognised, at: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2017/war-memorials-that-reveal-ww1-heroes-681/.

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Free access to Ancestry and FindmyPast military records

Both Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) and Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk) are offering free access to military records for the remembrance period.

From Ancestry:

FREE ACCESS STARTS FRIDAY*

Get answers to your questions about the soldiers in your family
Which of your family members served in WWI? To what regiments were they attached? Were they following in the footsteps of other military ancestors?

Answer these questions and any others you have about the soldiers in your family with four days of free access to all our UK military records starting this Friday.

* Access to the records in the featured collections will start on 10 November and be free until 13 November, 2017 at 23:59 BST. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid membership. To see a full list of the records in the featured collections please click here (https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/uk_military_collections?o_xid=82516&o_lid=82516&o_sch=Email+Campaigns).

From FindmyPast:

Your family were heroes.
Don’t let them be forgotten.
Unearth their remarkable stories in simple-to-search, original documents from the Army, Navy and RAF.
Together, we’ll keep their legacies alive.

FREE MILITARY ACCESS 8-12 NOVEMBER

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Paisley poor law records indexes online

Good news for those with connections to Paisley in Renfrewshire:

Heritage Centre makes Paisley Poor Law Indexes searchable online.

This important source of information for people researching their family history and Paisley and Renfrewshire’s social history is now much easier to search. The Heritage Centre has created an online version of the Paisley Poor Law Indexes to open up the collection to those with ancestors from this area. Find out more about these unique records, the information they contain, and how they can help you with your research on our website: https://libcat.renfrewshire.gov.uk/iguana/www.main.cls?surl=PoorLaw


From the site itself:

What area and time period do the records cover?

The records start in 1839 and run until 1942, with Parochial Boards being responsible for the administration of these records. The boards covered by our records are –

• Paisley Parochial Board
• Paisley Parish Council
• Paisley Burgh
• Abbey Parochial Board

What information is contained in a Poor Law application?

Information contained in applications for poor relief can be very useful to people researching their family history, but its depth can vary considerably. Records can include general information, such as

• name age and place of birth
• name of spouse and date and place of marriage
• parents’ names and names and ages and residence of children, and if any of them are deceased
• present address and previous addresses

They can also include detailed additional information about the family’s circumstances. Some even include birth, marriage, and death certificates, reports, wills, and newspaper cuttings.

(With thanks to Kirsty Wilkinson via Facebook)

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

TNA's new cataloguing initiative, and cessation of self-service printing

The National Archives in England and the Pilgrim Trust have announced a new initiative to encourage the cataloguing of archive material. The following is the announcement:

Today The National Archives and The Pilgrim Trust announce the launch of Archives Revealed, a funding programme to support the cataloguing of archive collections. This funding will support archive services across the UK to make their uncatalogued archive collections accessible and available to all.

Archives Revealed offers two kinds of support. Cataloguing grants of up to £40,000 will be available to create catalogues of archival collections. Scoping grants of up to £3,000 will also be available to help archives to conduct collection analysis which will support the development of plans for their future cataloguing priorities and projects.

Jeff James, Chief Executive and Keeper of The National Archives said:

‘I am delighted to announce the launch of Archives Revealed. Along with The Pilgrim Trust we look forward to working with archives from across the country to support their efforts in cataloguing more of their rich and diverse collections and opening them up for all to use.’

Building on the success of a previous scheme, the National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives, a revised funding criteria will include an assessment of the collection’s significance, including its rarity, historical value, and research value to a variety of audience groups. This will be assessed alongside demonstrated evidence of the need for the cataloguing to be completed, with an additional focus given to an analysis of current and potential impact.

Further information on the new scheme is available at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/finding-funding/archives-revealed/. (The original press release is at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/archives-revealed-new-funding-programme-support-cataloguing-archive-collections/)

The National Archives has also announced that the facility will no longer provide self-service printing facilities or camera stations for users onsite. users will be able to bring cameras to the facility still, whilst digital downloads will be permitted which can be emailed home free of charge. For further details on this visit the archive's announcement at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/changes-to-self-service-copying-facilities-from-11-december-2017/.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry enables privacy setting for DNA results

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has enabled a new option to make a person's DNA results private or public. Here's the announcement:

One of the powerful benefits of using AncestryDNA is discovering DNA Matches, potential relatives who share DNA with you. Thanks to more than 6 million people providing a little saliva, we are helping customers around the world discover new relatives and reunite with family every day. As more people take the AncestryDNA test, there are new possibilities for a discovery all the time.

We understand the power of discovery for our customers, and look for ways to improve our services to make it easier to find new connections and explore what they may mean for your family history. We also understand the critical importance of privacy and enabling our customers’ control over their own data, which is why we strive to enhance user control in our services. Today, in that spirit of continually providing customers greater control and choice, we are introducing the ability to choose of whether or not to view and be viewed by their DNA matches.

Customers can now decide if they want to have access to the list of people they may be related to and be shown as a potential family member for other customers with whom they share DNA. While connecting family is one of the main benefits of our service, we also recognize that not everyone is open to discovering their extended family.

For existing customers, if you want to continue to see and be seen by your DNA matches, you don’t need to do anything. You still have access to your DNA Match list and you will still show up as a potential match to others and can change your preference on your DNA Settings page. If you change the setting to “no” you will no longer have access to your DNA Matches and no longer be shown as a DNA Match for others. You can change your mind at any time by going to the DNA Settings page.

We have heard from many of our customers that they quickly find one of the best ongoing benefits of our service is the opportunity to discover new family connections and seeing how connected you are to others around the world. We will continue to invest in this capability and emphasize it as a reason to use our service. As the largest consumer DNA database, by far – close to three times the size of the next largest – we want to always provide the best opportunity to find new potential family members.

COMMENT: It is completely right that users have a say on how their results can be viewed. However, it is worth pointing out that if a user does not wish to share their DNA results, there is very little point in doing such a test in the first place. The whole point of DNA testing from a family history point of view is to use it as a tool to help establish connections. Without this, you are simply left with an ethnicity profile.

(With thanks to Dick Eastman via https://blog.eogn.com/2017/11/03/ancestry-adds-options-to-share-or-to-not-share-dna-information/ - Ancestry's original announcement is at https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2017/11/02/continued-commitment-to-customer-privacy-and-control/, with comments below)  

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

The Poetry of Wartime Evacuation project needs votes for funding

Gillian Mawson is seeking support to raise funds from the Aviva Community Fund towards the Poetry of Wartime Evacuation: Community Archive for Channel Island Evacuation project.

Here's a description of the project aims:

The Aviva funding awarded to us in 2015 has now expired. We wish to hold regular group meetings again, to create a booklet containing Wartime Poetry written by Evacuees, which can be given to local libraries and schools. Our group has been collecting these emotional poems since 2015. They have been written by evacuees from all over Britain and the Channel Islands. Each poem would be accompanied by a wartime image from our collection. The importance of such poetry has not, so far, been widely shared in the Stockport community. It includes themes such as Leaving Home, The evacuation journey, the air raids which occurred in their new 'supposedly safe' homes, Thoughts of Home, The Kindness of communities towards Evacuees, Thoughts of those fighting in the British Forces, Victory in Europe and the end of the war, The Return Home and the sadness of leaving behind their loving 'foster parents'

To complete this project before the end of 2018, we would need to hold regular project meetings in order to read through all of the poems that we have collected. We would need to agree on the final selection of poems for the booklet. We would then need to to select an appropriate evacuation image to accompany each poem and choose an image for the front cover. We would then write some introductory text for the booklet , including some information on our community group and our thanks to the Aviva Community Fund. We would end the booklet with a 'further reading' section for those who wish to learn more about wartime evacuation.

Once the final copy is ready, we would obtain quotes from local printers and have between 50 and 100 booklets printed, to be distributed to schools and libraries in the Stockport MBC area. Later, and health permitting at the time, our evacuees could visit some of these libraries to read evacuation poems and share their own memories in person. Until we actually complete the booklet, we are unable to ascertain exactly what the printing costs would be.

We anticipate that our costs would include:-
Venue hire for monthly meetings
Refreshments at these meetings
Travel costs for the evacuees to attend these meetings, most of whom have mobility issues

Photocopy costs relating to the poems that we already possess. The poems would need to be printed out, in large print, so that those with impaired vision can read them easily at our meetings.

Postage costs as we will need to contact evacuees to obtain their permission to use their poetry and images in our booklet.
Stationery costs
Printing costs
Postage costs to send the booklets to libraries and schools with a covering letter
Travel costs for evacuees to visit one or two local libraries to share personal evacuation stories and poetry

The award of the Aviva funding in 2015 really helped cement the members of our community group together. They have formed firm friendships with other members and their families. At least half of our members have failing health. An opportunity to come together more regularly and to work together on this project would continue this bonding process and would also give our elderly evacuees something to aim for over the next year or so.

To offer your votes in support of the project, please visit https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-423 and register to offer your votes.

Good luck Gillian!

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.