Construction of new learning spaces at TNA

From the National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk), in Kew, England:

We will shortly begin construction of two major new learning spaces within our first floor reading rooms.

One space will be located next to the library, while the other will occupy part of the existing document reading room here at Kew.

Caroline Ottaway-Searle, Director of Public Engagement at The National Archives, said ‘This project is part of our ongoing programme to re-imagine and reconfigure our site to become a more vibrant and welcoming environment, better equipped to deliver services and events for a wider range of visitors.

‘These new spaces will provide us with improved facilities for children, young people, students and learners of all ages to engage with and learn about our collection.’

Visitors may experience some disruption over the next few weeks as we carry out preparatory works, continuing as construction begins in the autumn. We will try to keep this to a minimum, but some disturbance is inevitable. The works are due to be completed by spring 2020.

Library users may experience some disruption to services from early August while the collection is re-arranged in preparation for the construction works.

Some books, journals and resources may be temporarily relocated but will remain available upon request. Other collections, such as the National Register of Archives paper lists, will be unavailable during this period although the register remains available to search through our catalogue Discovery.

More detailed updates on the affected collections will be available on our library page throughout the project.

In the document reading room, 72 seats (nine tables) will be temporarily removed, along with some camera stands. Almost 300 seats will remain available in this area.

Several phases of the programme have already been completed, including the redevelopment of the public restaurant and the creation of a large multi-purpose events space.

(Source: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/new-learning-spaces-for-the-historians-of-tomorrow/ - with thanks to Simon Fowler)

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.

Peterloo Massacre event at the UK's National Archives

The National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) is hosting an event on August 16th to commemorate the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester in 1819. The following is the description:

On 16 August 1819, 60,000 peaceful pro-democracy protestors gathered in Manchester. They were charged by cavalry, leaving at least 15 dead. This event became known as the Peterloo Massacre.

200 years on, our experts will examine Peterloo’s impact on the parliamentary reform movements; on the use of the military to maintain civil power; and ask what bearing the massacre had on the way we think today about the history of democracy. Footage from Mike Leigh’s acclaimed Peterloo, and original testimonies, will provide context.

Speakers include Jacqueline Riding, historian for Mike Leigh’s film Peterloo, and George Hay, records specialist at The National Archives.

For further details, and to book, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-peterloo-massacre-at-200-tickets-62581158931.

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.

New branding for UK National Archives

The UK's National Archive (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk), based in Kew, England, has changed its brand identity for the first time in 16 years. Here's the announcement:

To mark our commitment to wider public engagement, we have refreshed our brand to introduce a new visual identity created by multi-disciplinary designers HemingwayDesign.

Caroline Ottaway-Searle, Director of Public Engagement at The National Archives, said: ‘Widening our audiences is a key part of The National Archives’ strategy, Archives for Everyone. To reinforce this we are introducing a new visual identity which works impactfully across channels. We chose to work with HemingwayDesign because they demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to our ambition to open up access to the archives.’

Wayne Hemingway, partner at HemingwayDesign, said: ‘Design is about improving things that matter in life and The National Archives definitely matters! It’s a national organisation of real social, historical and cultural importance; fascinating and complex. Our creative response to this was to create a new identity which is intentionally simple to allow for the content of the archives to speak for itself.’

The new identity draws upon a flexible grid system inspired by grids seen across the archival system from record slips and boxes of documents to the architecture on site at Kew – and three core typefaces which can be varied across media. The logo ‘mark’, a box with lettering within, is akin to the official ‘stamp’ marking items in The National Archives collection. The new identity can now be seen in the header and footer across most of our website, including our newly published strategy, Archives for Everyone 2019-23.

The original announcement is at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/the-national-archives-rebrands-for-the-first-time-in-16-years/. Not sure what I think of it really!

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.

Digitisation of the Australian Joint Copying Project

I've picked up on the following from the National Library of Australia (https://www.nla.gov.au):

The microfilm produced by the Australian Joint Copying Project has long been a first stop for those researching local or family history. The 10,400 microfilm reels however have been difficult to access even for those living near libraries holding the microfilm let alone those in rural areas. The content itself can often be dense and difficult to locate relevant information.

The National Library of Australia has begun a new project to address these problems. Thanks to the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund the AJCP Online Project will digitise the 7.5 million records captured on the original AJCP microfilm, delivering them online free of charge to all.

All of the original paper handbooks and finding aids are now available and searchable online with added and enhanced content and indexing making it easier to locate the information you want.

The AJCP was a project to microfilm vast swathes of material held at the National Archives in England, and other institutions, that concerned its former colonies in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, with materials from 1560 to 1984. As the announcement notes, the work is ongoing and will be completed by mid 2020:

The AJCP is now available online for all Australians wherever they are. You can search and access the records in a variety of ways including the AJCP Portal, Trove, and the National Library of Australia Catalogue. The AJCP Online project concludes in June 2020 and will release new content each month.

The digitised records, and catalogued entries awaiting digitisation, can now be searched for and consulted freely online at https://www.nla.gov.au/content/australian-joint-copying-project.

The full announcement is at https://www.nla.gov.au/stories/blog/preservation/2019/06/06/australian-joint-copying-project-reimagined.

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.

Britain's Cold War Revealed at the National Archives

From the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk):

Britain's Cold War Revealed

We're excited to announce the launch of our new Cold War season this April.

The season will open with an insightful exhibition - 'Protect and Survive: Britain’s Cold War Revealed' - and a whole host of events exploring the reality of life in Britain under the persistent threat of nuclear attack during the Cold War era.

We're thrilled to announce the first few events for the Cold War season and give you, as a valued mailing list subscriber, exclusive advance access to book tickets for them. Read on for more details...

An Evening with Dame Stella Rimington
Friday 5 April, evening event

Now a best-selling thriller writer, Dame Stella was appointed Director General of MI5 in 1992, the first woman to take the post and the first Director General to be publicly named. This unique evening event sees Dame Stella discussing her career, followed by an opportunity for questions.

Book tickets for this event


The Scandalous Case of John Vassall
Thursday 25 April, afternoon event

Uncover the fascinating tale of John Vassall, a civil servant embroiled in a honeytrap by the Soviet Secret Service at the height of the Cold War.

Book tickets for this event


From the Bomb to The Beatles
Thursday 9 May, evening event

Learn about the fascinating cultural and social developments in Britain in the 20 years following the Second World War, from the restricted culture of 1945 to the dawn of heady freedoms in the 1960s.

Book tickets for this event


Archives at Night: Cold War Revealed
Friday 17 May, evening event

Fancy yourself as a bit of a modern history buff? From pop culture to spies and scandal, test your trivia knowledge at this fun evening event at the UK’s very own home of history.

There will also be the chance to immerse yourself in the era through gallery tours of new exhibition Protect and Survive, 80s-inspired craft and more.

Book tickets for this event 


Creative writing workshop: Protect and Survive
Saturday 22 June, afternoon event

Join us for a post-apocalyptic creative writing workshop with award-winning poet Suzannah Evans, touching upon themes ranging from Cold War bunkers, censorship and redaction.

Book tickets for this event



And if you can't get to Kew...

If you can't make it to the events or exhibition, don't worry - we'll be adding lots of new Cold War content to our website over the coming months, so you'll be able to share in the experience!

Explore the Cold War websiteat https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/coldwar

(With thanks to TNA by email)

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

English Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic Asylums records added to TheGenealogist

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

Press Release: New Records Release

Prisoner Records reveal a criminal lunatic who threatened Queen Victoria and was detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure

TheGenealogist is adding to its Court and Criminal Records collection with the release of almost 700,000 entries for prisoners. Sourced from the HO 8 Registers held by The National Archives, these documents contain records from the years 1821 to 1876. This expands our collection to over 1.3 million individuals covering 1801-1876.

These Prison Registers give family history researchers details of ancestors who were imprisoned in a number of convict prisons from Broadmoor to the Warrior Convict Hulk. The records reveal the names of prisoners, offences the prisoner had been convicted for, the date of their trial and where they were tried.

Use the quarterly prison registers to:

● Find ancestors guilty of crimes ranging from theft, highway robbery and libel to murder
● Discover the sentences received
● See the age of a prisoner
● Find out where they were sentenced and to which prison they were sent

Read our article, “A child poisoner and a criminal lunatic detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure”.
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/ho-8-historic-prisoner-records-reveal-a-child-poisoner-and-a-criminal-lunatic-detained-at-her-majestys-pleasure-1049/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

UPDATE: Thanks to Nick for a clarification that although the records are for English Convict Prisons they "do contain some convicts that were convicted in Scotland and sent to an English prison as well. Here is an example of a John Smith convicted of Assault in Glasgow 1874 and in the registers of the Convict Prison in Portsmouth. https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Court+%26+Criminal&person_event=&fn=John&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=Smith&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=HO+8&yr=&range=2&search=Search&page=5#loadwindow_-1085498429.  I was fascinated to find some convicts from Jersey (again a separate legal jurisdiction) serving time in these institutions!"

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New feedback facility for TNA's research guides

The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) based in England has a new online feedback widget for users to use to make comments about issues with the archive's online research guides, which are the primary finding aids produced for its catalogue, Discovery.

From the archive:

In the digital team, we’re interested in finding out if there are improvements we can make to help users locate assistance in research guides before they are obliged to contact us via phone, email or web chat (or abandon their journey). We have stats about which guides are viewed, but we currently have no means of gathering qualitative feedback at scale about whether or not users have located what they were looking for.

We’ve been working on a way to collect this qualitative data by creating a feedback widget, which now sits on every research guide page. This widget allows you to quickly and anonymously let us know whether you found the help you needed.

It’s a quicker way for users to send us feedback while they’re using the research guides – as opposed to filling in a survey, or contacting us – and it’s less intrusive than a pop-up. It’s also a permanent fixture of the page for as long as we need to collect data.

You will find the feedback tool at the right hand column beside the guide, looking something like this:

For more on the story visit https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/feedback-form-research-guides/.

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Dukes of Grafton papers accepted by UK Government in lieu of tax

From the National Archives in England (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/allocation-of-papers-accepted-in-lieu-of-tax-2/):

Part of the archive of the Northamptonshire estates of the Dukes of Grafton has been accepted in lieu of tax by the government.

Notable material includes accounts, correspondence, deeds, estate maps, architectural drawings, and manorial records from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Any library, record office or institution in the United Kingdom interested in acquiring the papers should contact Philip Gale, Head of Standards and Improvement, Archives Sector Development, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU (email asd@nationalarchives.gov.uk) for further particulars in the first instance.

Applications for allocation of this material must be received in writing at the same address by Friday, 22 February 2019.

COMMENT: For what it's worth, my self-employed tax return is due end of this month. If HMRC wants a copy of my family history as part payment, by all means, do drop me a note, happy to discuss! :)

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.

National Archives has January book sale

The National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) is holding a book sale this January, with up to 70% off on certain titles.

To view the titles available, visit http://bookshop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/11/Bargains-and-offers/.

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.

Changes to TNA fees from February 2019

From the National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) in Kew, England:

Changes to our fees

From 1 February 2019, there will be changes to some of the fees we charge.

As a government department providing a public service, we are able to charge for some statutory services (as defined by the Public Records Act ) on a cost recovery basis. The Fees Order, which regulates our fees, has been refreshed from the last calculation which came into effect 1 April 2017. We are maintaining the standard approach in line with the HM Treasury publication, Managing Public Money, to set charges at a level that will recover full costs, ensuring that The National Archives neither profits at the expense of consumers nor makes a loss for taxpayers to subsidise.

There are both price increases and decreases, for example a digital copy up to A3 size goes up by 10p to £1.20. Currently, our research service costs £23.35 per 15 minutes, this will go up by £1.00. However, the charge for a copy of a naturalisation certificate will go down by 25p to £27.15.

As there is no legal requirement for The National Archives to digitise physical public records these services are by definition discretionary. We have therefore removed the following digital surrogate related lines:

• The creation of digital surrogates funded by others (for a commercial return, or to widen access)
• Reprographic charges (Production and Estimation)
• Image Library (Serviced Copies – Colour Photograph)
• Digital Downloads
• Conservation for Digitisation

In addition to, but separate from, the Fees Order changes, we are introducing a fee for the provision of letters of no evidence of naturalisation, in the same way that we charge for certified copies of naturalisation certificates. They will incur a fee of £27.15 which is regulated to be the cost recovery price (i.e. the cost to The National Archives doing the work).

A full list of fees can be found here.

(With thanks to @IHGS for flagging up - TNA's original announcement is at http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/changes-to-our-fees/) 

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.

Ancestry adds UK, Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has a new collection which may be of interest for those who may have UK ancestors interned as Allied prisoners of war between 1939 and 1945:

UK, Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61642
Source: Original data: AIR 40: Rolls of POWs 1939-1945, WO 392: POW lists 1943-1945, WO 361: Casualities and Missing Personnel 1939-1945, WO 345: Japanese Index cards of Allied POWs 1942-1947, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.

About UK, Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
During the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of allied troops were captured during and following military battles and were held in Prisoner of War Camps in both Europe and Asia. Whilst a large number were liberated once fighting had ceased, sadly many died before the end of the war, whilst being held in the camps. This collection contains information about the soldiers captured, where they were held and often, what happened to them.

Whilst details vary between sets of records, you may find the following information (where available):

Name
Camp name
Nationality
Place and Date of birth
Place and Date of death
Father’s name
Mother’s name
Gender
Date and Place of Capture
Service (e.g. Army, Air, Navy, Civilian)
Service rank
Service number

COMMENT: Some basic index information is returned on Ancestry for a search - but just for the record, I think that it stinks that Ancestry wants you to pay for another subscription on its Fold3.com platform to see the original record.

And equally for the record - I think that it also stinks that The National Archives is going along with this.

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.

TNA podcast - West Africa and the First World War

The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) in England has a free to podcast online which may be of interest to those researching the First World War:

West Africa and the First World War
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/west-africa-first-world-war/

The First World War had a great impact on West Africa, as Britain ordered the invasion of German colonies in Cameroon and Togoland, using its own colonies as base. The West African Frontier Force, drawn from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia played a key role in the campaign. War had also had a great impact on the civilian population, as the British drew off workers and resources. How did African soldiers experience the campaign, and what did the war mean for West African societies as a whole?

There is a downloadable media file on the page which can also be interacted with as you listen.

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.

TNA podcast: Henry VIII and the break with Rome

The latest podcast from the National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) in England is based on the story of the English Reformation under Henry VII.

Henry VIII and the break with Rome is a recording of a talk given by Dr Suzannah Lipscomb at a recent two day long conference entitled Reformation on the Record.

At just over 47 minutes long, the recording can be accessed via the archive's media platform at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/reformation-record-suzannah-lipscomb-henry-viii-break-rome/.

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.

Over 650,000 criminal records added to TheGenealogist

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

Over 650,000 criminal records added to TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist has added 651,369 quarterly returns of convicts from The National Archives’ HO 8 documents to their Court & Criminal Records collection. With this release researchers can find the details of ancestors that broke the law and were incarcerated in convict hulks and prisons in the 19th century.

The new data includes:

● 651,369 Records covering the years 1824 to 1854

● Quarterly returns from Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic Asylums

These fully searchable records are from the The Home Office: Sworn lists of convicts on board the convict hulks and in the convict prisons (HO 8). They give the family history researcher fascinating facts that include the particulars of age, convictions, sentences, health and behaviour of the convict, as well as which court sentenced them and where they were serving their sentence.

Read TheGenealogist’s article “Criminal records of convicts on the Hulks” at: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2018/criminal-records-of-convicts-on-the-hulks-739/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

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.

National Archives launches Suffrage 100 portal

The National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) has launched a new platform to commemorate the securing of the right to vote for some women a century ago. From the site:

100 years of women’s suffrage

2018 marks 100 years since some women were given the vote in parliamentary elections and 90 years since women got to vote on equal terms to men. The National Archives has a world-renowned collection of documents relating to the 20th century women’s suffrage movement. The wealth of records come from a range of government departments and illustrate the huge impact suffrage campaigns had across government.

Suffrage 100 is part of the nationwide Vote 100 campaign

To view the new platform visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/suffrage-100

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.

Royal Air Force centenary conference

2018 sees the 100th anniverary of the Royal Air Force. To mark the year, the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) is hosting an academic conference entitled There will be wings: the First World War origins of the RAF on March 2nd 2018, in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the RAF Museum, and the National Army Museum. Here are the programme details:

Programme

09.30 - 10.00 Registration and refreshments
10.00 - 11.00 2 into 1: Wing Commander (ret'd) Jeff Jefford MBE and William Spencer (The National Archives)
11.00 - 11.15 Break and refreshments
11.15 - 12.15 Body and Soul – health and morale in Britain’s Air Arms: Dr Lynsey Shaw-Cobden (Air Historical Branch - RAF) and Dr Emma Hanna (University of Kent)
12:15 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 Air Vice-Marshal (ret’d) Dr Peter Dye (Cross and Cockade International) and Peter Hart (Imperial War Museum)
14:00 - 14:15 Break and refreshments
14:15 - 15:15 Keynote – The Creation of the Royal Air Force, Professor Richard Overy (University of Exeter)
15:15 - 16:00 Open Discussion and close

To books tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/there-will-be-wings-the-first-world-war-origins-of-the-raf-tickets-39324353199

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.

Forthcoming events at the National Archives in England

Forthcoming events at the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk):

Behind the scenes tour
Friday 26 January 2018, 11:00
FULLY BOOKED

The history of public information films

Tuesday 30 January 2018, 14:00
PAID

Emigrants: why the English sailed to the New World
Wednesday 31 January 2018, 14:00
PAID

The changing face of Kew
Tuesday 6 February 2018, 14:00
FREE

Spanish Flu: the global pandemic
Thursday 8 February 2018, 14:00
FREE

Behind the scenes tour - Authors in the Archives
Friday 9 February 2018, 11:00
FULLY BOOKED

Film screening: Suffragette
Friday 9 February 2018, 18:00
PAID

The Time Travel Club - Pirates in the arrrchives
Tuesday 13 February 2018, 10:30
PAID

The Time Travel Club - Suffragettes: Badges, buttons and ‘behaving badly’
Thursday 15 February 2018, 10:30
PAID

Suffragettes: Did militancy help or hinder the fight for the franchise?
Tuesday 20 February 2018, 18:00
PAID

Elizabeth’s rival
Thursday 22 February 2018, 14:00
PAID

Behind the scenes tour
Friday 23 February 2018, 11:00
FULLY BOOKED

For further details visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/whats-on/events/

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.

TNA podcast - Sylvia Pankhurst

If you haveen't yet heard it, the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) has a podcast online entitled Sylvia Pankhurst: suffragette, socialist and ‘scourge of the empire’, a recording of just under 40 minutes of a talk given by Katherine Connelly. Here's the blurb:

From militant suffragette at the beginning of the 20th century to campaigner against colonialism in Africa after the Second World War, Sylvia Pankhurst dedicated her life to fighting oppression and injustice.

Katherine Connelly will examine Pankhurst’s role at the forefront of significant developments in the history of radical politics. Guiding us through Pankhurst’s activism – from her teens as a member of the Independent Labour Party and her time as a leading suffragette before the First World War, to her revolutionary socialist, anti-fascist and anti-imperialist campaigning in later years.

To access the recording, visit http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/sylvia-pankhurst-suffragette-socialist-scourge-empire/

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.

Tender issued for English and Welsh 1921 census project

The National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) has issued a tender for a partner to digitise and license the 1921 census for England and Wales. From the tender:

The National Archives is seeking expressions of interest for the 1921 Census records digitisation and licensing project.

The project will be to digitise, transcribe and publish online the records of the 1921 Census of England and Wales. The contract award will include a commercial license to publish the images (and associated transcription data produced by the project) online and to complete all the required processes to complete this (including such activities as digital image capture, transcription of data to allow for meaningful searches of the records, online publication).

To demonstrate eligibility to be considered for this tender, potential Suppliers must demonstrate:

a) Experience of managing and completing large-scale digitisation projects of heritage material;

b) Online publication of heritage material specifically for use by the Family History Market;

c) Viable commercial models that return an income stream to licensor partners.

The full terms of the tender are available at http://www.government-online.net/tender-for-1921-census-records-digitisation-and-licensing/.

The 1921 census is the last available full census for these two countries prior to 1951, with the 1931 English and Welsh census destroyed during the Second World War, and no census carried out in 1941 due to the war.  The National Identity Register for England and Wales, an effective census substitute carried out in 1939, is available on FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk).

There was no census carried out in 1921 in Ireland, with both the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland subsequently having a census on the same night in 1926 - of these, only the records from the Free State (now the Republic of Ireland) survive. The next available surviving census for Northern Ireland was recorded in 1937 (to be released in 2037), with the 1939 National Identity Register for Northern Ireland already available for consultation via the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni).

In Scotland, the 1921 census is held by the National Records of Scotland, which will digitise the records separately to the English and Welsh returns, for release and presentation in 2021. The 1931 Scottish census has also survived, and will be due for release in 2031, whilst the 1939 National Identity Register for Scotland is already available through the NRS (see https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/national-register).

For an indication of the information recorded by the 1921 census, visit www.1921census.org.uk. The census form can also be previewed at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/how-our-census-works/about-censuses/census-history/200-years-of-the-census/census-1911-2001/1921-census-form.pdf

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.

National Archives in Kew runs online survey

The National Archives in England is running an online survey - and there is some money up for grabs! From the archive:

We are carrying out research to find out more about people who are interested in The National Archives and how they use our services.
As part of this, we would like to learn more about you and what you think about us, especially our online services.
We would love to hear from you, even if you have never visited The National Archives or used our online services before.
As a thank you for completing the survey, you will be invited to enter a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a £100 retail voucher.

To participate in the survey, visit https://research.audiencesurveys.org/s.asp?k=151515522090

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.