AGRA recruitment event to be held in Leeds

From AGRA (www.agra.co.uk):

Encouraging professional researchers to be the best

The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) is organising an event for professional genealogists encouraging them to join the Association. It will take place at the St George’s Centre in Leeds on March 16 March 2020.

AGRA is the largest professional organisation of accredited members in the UK and we promote high professional standards in the field of genealogy and historical research. AGRA also acts as a representative voice in matters relating to genealogy.

AGRA is looking to encourage other paid researchers to join. Members are generally acknowledged to be the best in their field.

The event will include guidance on how to successfully run a professional genealogy practice and marketing, from members who have successfully run a business for many years. Other members will explain the advantages of joining the Association.

The event costs £15 and includes lunch. The entry fee will be deducted from the first year’s AGRA subscription for anyone attending this event who goes on to make a successful application to join the Association.

Bookings will close on Thursday 27 February.

For more details and a link to the booking form, please see https://www.agra.org.uk/event-network-day-for-professional-genealogists-2020-03-16

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

AGRA announces speakers for Sept 2019 conference

AGRA (www.agra.org.uk) has provided further news of its second conference (see https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2018/09/agra-announces-conference-for-2019.html), including its speakers and talks programme, which will be of particular interest to those with English and Welsh ancestry:

Bloomin' Ancestors! Giving your family history personality 
https://www.agra.org.uk/conference2019/

AGRA’s second conference, open to the public as well as AGRA Members and Associates, will be held in Pembroke College, Oxford University. It will commence with a formal dinner in the College Hall on the evening of 27th September. The lectures, featuring an exciting programme of expert speakers, will be held in the state-of-the-art Pichette Auditorium on Saturday 28th. It will be possible to come to the dinner and stay overnight or just attend on Saturday.

The conference speakers will be as follows:

· Dr Janina Ramirez will be the keynote speaker opening the Conference. She will be speaking about ‘Personalities of the Past’. Janina will be familiar as a British art and cultural historian, but above all as a presenter of history programmes on BBC4.

· Sue Adams - Follow the Money in the Property Records of the Manor

· Carol Kerry Green – Dying to Impress – Examining the role and image of the Press Gang (Impressment), particularly during war time. It will show how a single line in a burial register can lead to fleshing out an ancestor’s life and gaining an understanding of the times they lived in.

· Sue Paul – A Most Notorious, False, Lying Fellow: a Global Black Sheep or Maligned Character – a Case Study of Henry Smith demonstrating how you can use historical sources – East India Company Records, published source and private papers – to enhance your ancestral history.

· John Titford – Bounce Backers - ancestors who moved away, then returned home.

There will be three concurrent workshops as follows:

· Antony Marr – On the Authority of the Registrar General - Exploring the little understood area of re-registrations and corrections on register entries

· Susan Moore – Cracking Chancery Records

· Charity Rouse - Discoveries from Across the Pond

The conference dinner will be held on Friday 27th September in the medieval College Hall. We are very lucky to have the writer Nick Barlay as the after-dinner speaker. Nick has written four novels, including Scattered Ghosts, which tells the 200-year story of his Hungarian Jewish family through war, Holocaust and revolution to contemporary Britain.

For more information and bookings, visit https://www.agra.org.uk/conference2019/

(With thanks to Sharon Grant, Chair, AGRA)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

AGRA recognises University of Dundee genealogy courses qualifications

From AGRA (www.agra.org.uk):

AGRA recognises University of Dundee Family History qualifications in Membership & Associate applications

The University of Dundee’s post-graduate qualifications in Family and Local History are the latest to be recognised by AGRA. This applies to all three levels of post-graduate qualification in Family and Local History offered by Dundee University’s Centre for Archive and Information Studies (CAIS), with a requirement that students must have taken the “Skills and Sources for Family & Local History in England” module as one of their course options.

This means that Dundee graduates, working professionally in genealogy, can now apply for AGRA Membership by submitting just one example of client work, rather than three. This is the same as the arrangements already in place for holders of similar Post-Graduate qualifications from Strathclyde University, the Higher Certificate of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, and Pharos Tutors/Society of Genealogists’ Advanced Skills Certificate.

Applicants for Membership of AGRA must, however, still undergo further rigorous scrutiny by completing a research assignment and attending an interview with AGRA’s Board of Assessors. These requirements set the Association aside from similar bodies and ensure that members are the best in the field.

Antony Marr, chair of the Board of Assessors, said: “Discussions have been ongoing for some time about how these Dundee University qualifications could sit in our assessment process, and AGRA is delighted that this has now been resolved.”

Caroline Brown, Programme Leader for the Family and Local History Programmes at the University of Dundee, said “We are delighted that our courses have been recognised by AGRA and that our students will have the chance to join a professional organisation that recognises expertise in this area.”

Information about the process of joining AGRA and how completion of various genealogy courses affects AGRA Membership requirements is available at: https://www.agra.org.uk/join

Information about the CAIS courses at the University of Dundee can be found here: www.dundee.ac.uk/cais/programmes/familylocalhistory

(With thanks to Angela Aldam)

UPDATE: I've been advised the Dundee link is currently not working - an alternative link on Dundee family history courses is available at https://www.dundee.ac.uk/cais/programmes/postgraduatecourses/familylocalhistory/ although the postgraduate courses option is temporarily disabled.

Chris

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.

AGRA announces conference for 2019

From the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (www.agra.org.uk):

Genealogical Conference for 2019 announced by AGRA

The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) has announced plans for a family history conference at Pembroke College, Oxford on 27 and 28 September next year. It follows a very successful conference held at St John’s College, Cambridge two years ago.

This year’s theme is ‘Bloomin’ Ancestors!: Giving Your Family History Personality’. Delegates will have the opportunity to listen to some of the best family history speakers around on fleshing out your family tree. They can also enjoy a memorable dinner in the College’s age-old dining hall.

All too often our ancestors are just names on the pedigree sheet. How much fun would it be to find out more about their lives, feelings and thoughts. Conference speakers will suggest ways that delegates can do and share their experiences of doing so. And there will be plenty of time for you to share your experiences as well.

The conference organisers are also looking for experts to speak at the event. More details can be found at www.agra.org.uk.

Full conference details will be released in December. In the meantime, potential attendees can register their interest by joining the AGRA mailing list. A separate AGRA Conference website – www.agraconference.org.uk - will be going live shortly.

(With thanks to Simon Fowler)

Chris

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.

AGRA condemns Northamptonshire Archives' 'drastic cuts'

The Association of Genealogists and Record Agents (www.agra.org.uk), which represents many professional family historians in England and Wales, has condemned the access charges to be imposed by Northamptonshire Archives, and the dramatic reduction in free access hours (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/northamptonshire-council-to-impose.html). As part of its statement the organisation has said:

Our members are users of county records offices and other local (and national) archives, and we have noted over recent times the increasing trend for public access to archive services to be cut without any regard to the practical impact on service users that are researchers, both professional and non professional. We acknowledge that these are challenging times for all local authorities but these changes have come as a complete surprise. They have not been subject to any form of public consultation and no alternatives have been presented for public comment. The plans may be a ‘bold step in difficult times’ (words taken from the Council’s recent statement); but AGRA’s view is that they are drastic cuts, not fully thought through, and the worry is that such a step will set a precedent to be followed by others.

The full statement is available at http://www.agra.org.uk/news-agra-protest-against-archive-visitor-fee-2017-07-31.

COMMENT: Dr Mary Ann Lund's petition against the new archive fees has now passed 2600 signatures. Please read and sign if you agree that an hourly £31.50 access rate is simply not on - https://www.change.org/p/northamptonshire-county-council-northamptonshire-county-council-don-t-charge-for-visiting-archives

(With thanks to Sharon Grant, Chair of AGRA)

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. 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.

AGRA to hold conference in Cambridge

From AGRA (www.agra.org.uk):

Major conference on demolishing brickwalls to be held in Cambridge

Historic St John’s College, Cambridge is the venue for the first conference organised by the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA). The conference will be looking at Demolishing Brickwalls and takes place on Saturday 17 September.

An array of top speakers will be offering delegates ways of moving their family history research forward. They include the genealogical expert John Titford, The National Archives’ military expert William Spencer, and Rebecca Probert from Warwick University who has written bestselling books about divorce records and marriage law.

In addition a panel of experienced AGRA members will be available to help conference delegates overcome the brickwalls in their research. And top genealogical writer Sarah Williams, delivers the after dinner speech at the pre-conference dinner.

Everybody is welcome to attend the conference whether they be experts or just starting out. “There will be tips galore from our speakers, ” says Mike Trenchard, who is organising the conference, “to help you overcome problems with your research.”

The conference costs from £75. You can find all about the conference at www.agraconference.com.

(With thanks to Simon Fowler)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

AGRA updates its website

The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), an English and Welsh based association for professional genealogists, has launched a new version of its portal website at www.agra.org.uk.

It's important to note that not all professional genealogists based down south are members of the body, but the organisation does provide a code of conduct for members to adhere to and sets certain professional standards for membership, which may provide some reassurance if seeking to hire a researcher to carry out work on your behalf.

(With thanks to Geoff Swinfield via Twitter)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

AGRA updates membership criteria

AGRA, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives, is a body representing professional genies based in England and Wales. It has just announced a major change to its membership criteria - here's the release:

AGRA, the body representing professional genealogists in England and Wales, has recently announced radical changes to both its Membership and Associateship criteria.

All applicants wishing to join the association will now have to attend an interview and in most cases will also be asked to undergo practical tests. The new rules also attach greater importance to formal qualifications and ongoing learning.

Under the new procedure, prospective Members and Associates will have a “face to face” discussion with AGRA’s Board of Assessors to determine their genealogical knowledge and business approach. Membership candidates may be set a research assignment, while Associates will be asked to demonstrate basic genealogical skills.

The Board has been deliberating for some time how the application process could be improved to keep pace with the changing nature of the field. Rising interest in family history has resulted in many more people entering the profession, drawn from a wider range of backgrounds. Potential Members will still be required to submit a portfolio of completed client work, as before, but the Board has come to the conclusion that this alone is no longer a sufficient basis on which to select Members.

Said Geoff Swinfield (member of the Board of Assessors): “AGRA plays a key role in setting standards within the profession. If AGRA is to be relevant in the future it must give its Members the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the exacting standards which fit them to offer their services to the fee-paying public.”

The new criteria also take into account the growing availability and importance of formal qualifications within the genealogy profession. The Board feels that anyone setting out to become a professional genealogist with genuine commitment should already have, or be actively studying towards, a qualification in genealogy; this has therefore been made part of the minimum requirement for acceptance into the Associate scheme. Membership candidates who hold certain higher level qualifications, currently from IHGS (the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies) and Strathclyde University, will have the added advantage of being exempt from some of the entrance criteria.

In recognition of the importance of ongoing learning within this fast-changing profession, all candidates will be expected to provide evidence that they are engaging in continuing professional development.

These changes will ensure that AGRA Membership remains a hallmark of quality for professional genealogists practising in England & Wales, and that the Associate scheme attracts committed and able candidates with the potential to progress to Membership.

The new criteria take effect from 1st September 2014. Documents describing the new criteria in detail can be found by following the “membership application” link on the Join AGRA page of the website: www.AGRA.org.uk

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks