A quick review of tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are, featuring actor William Roache from Coronation Street - spoilers ahead if you haven't seen it yet!
It was really mind-numbingly dull.
Essentially we got to see an interesting photograph collection at the start, a trip to Alton Towers where his gran once ran a restaurant, a street corner in Blackpool where his great great grandfather once worked at electrocuting people for medical reasons, another street corner with something else I completely missed as I was drifting at that point, and then a quick mystery at the end about his gran and her two sisters not being raised together. A fleeting mention of the Married Women's Property Act was about as far as it went in terms of bringing something new to the party in the series.
This was definitely the episode that was buried in the middle of the run for a reason - a real pity, because the last few weeks have produced a cracking run of episodes.
Onwards and upwards!
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
More old Asian colonial photos placed online
The National Archives at Kew (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) has placed hundreds of early photographs of Asia dating back to the 19th century online as part of its Asia Through a Lens project. The images have been sourced from the Colonial Office's Photographic Collection. For further details, visit http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/768.htm
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Who writes this crap?
Seriously - the wording of FindmyPast US's latest press release:
Are you related to the Queen?
Having dreams of carriage rides, crown jewels or dining with heads of state? Do you yearn for noblesse oblige, waving to crowds, or having three unflinchingly rigid tea times per day?
According to genealogical research, millions of Americans are directly related to the English royal family and have no idea. Simple facts about your family background can easily predict the odds that you are related to the Queen herself.
Take our short seven question quiz, Are You Related to the Queen?, on the findmypast US Facebook page and find out your chances for royal lineage.
Who knows, you might be invited to the next garden party or Royal Variety Performance.
Maybe it's because I'm a dyed in the wool republican (you know - like Americans!), but I strongly suspect that if you do find a simply whizzer blue-blooded connection to old Blighty's finest via an online record set, the Queen is not going to bring you along to Buck House for champagne and strawberries, or take you to the Royal Variety Performance. Call me old fashioned, but honest, I really, really doubt it.
Who writes this crap? What next - free corgi with every subscription?
Jeez...
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Are you related to the Queen?
Having dreams of carriage rides, crown jewels or dining with heads of state? Do you yearn for noblesse oblige, waving to crowds, or having three unflinchingly rigid tea times per day?
According to genealogical research, millions of Americans are directly related to the English royal family and have no idea. Simple facts about your family background can easily predict the odds that you are related to the Queen herself.
Take our short seven question quiz, Are You Related to the Queen?, on the findmypast US Facebook page and find out your chances for royal lineage.
Who knows, you might be invited to the next garden party or Royal Variety Performance.
Maybe it's because I'm a dyed in the wool republican (you know - like Americans!), but I strongly suspect that if you do find a simply whizzer blue-blooded connection to old Blighty's finest via an online record set, the Queen is not going to bring you along to Buck House for champagne and strawberries, or take you to the Royal Variety Performance. Call me old fashioned, but honest, I really, really doubt it.
Who writes this crap? What next - free corgi with every subscription?
Jeez...
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Buckinghamshire FHS October talks
The Rootschat forum has details of forthcoming talks in October organised by Buckinghamshire FHS. Talks include Leave No Stone Unturned (3rd), and From Scribble To Script (10th), both given by Meryl Catty and Audrey Gillett. An untitled talk on October 20th is also to be given by a member of The Centre For Buckinghamshire Studies.
For full details on locations and more, visit www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=617041.msg4657428;topicseen
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
For full details on locations and more, visit www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=617041.msg4657428;topicseen
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Irish Famine museum to open in Connecticut
Irish Central has an article online about the new Ireland's Great Hunger Museum (http://ighm.nfshost.com) to be opened in Hamden, Connecticut, next month, which will tell the story of the Irish Famine. The piece includes an interview with Quinnipiac University President Dr. John Lahey, and is online at www.irishcentral.com/news/First-ever-Great-Hunger-museum-opens-next-month-in-the-US-171316181.html.
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Did Hitler plan to invade Ireland?
Did Hitler plan to invade Ireland? The Daily Mail certainly thinks so... The newspaper has an article concerning some documents on sale at Ludlow Race Course tomorrow (Thurs) which it claims show that had the Germans conquered Britain, neutral Ireland may well have been next.
The full story, with images of many of the documents, is at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2208860/Top-secret-dossier-uncovered-containing-detailed-maps-postcards-Hitlers-plan-invade-neutral-Ireland.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
The full story, with images of many of the documents, is at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2208860/Top-secret-dossier-uncovered-containing-detailed-maps-postcards-Hitlers-plan-invade-neutral-Ireland.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Kent records on FamilySearch
FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) has added two new collections for Kent, as sourced from Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone.
The collections are:
The unfortunate news is that the collections can only be browsed at a family history centre, and not from home. For details of local centres visit https://familysearch.org/locations
John Reid on the Anglo-Celtic Connections blog has posted details of another resource for Kent, at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mrawson/, with various free to access resources.
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
The collections are:
- England, Kent, Workhouse Records, 1777-1911
- England, Kent, Register of Electors, 1570-1907
The unfortunate news is that the collections can only be browsed at a family history centre, and not from home. For details of local centres visit https://familysearch.org/locations
John Reid on the Anglo-Celtic Connections blog has posted details of another resource for Kent, at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mrawson/, with various free to access resources.
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
FindmyPast adds Middlesex baptisms and burials
FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added 95,545 baptismal records from 1538-1882 and 79,541 burial records from 1538-1890 for Middlesex to its site. A fuller breakdown of parishes covered is available at www.findmypast.co.uk/content/news/middlesex-sept12
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Forthcoming London history and genealogy events
Forthcoming London based genealogy and history based events, mainly at London Metropolitan Archives (www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/default.aspx):
Exhibition: Workhouse
Charles Dickens created the popular contemporary view of the nineteenth century workhouse system in his novel Oliver Twist. It’s a bleak picture of punishment, cruelty and neglect. But what do the archives from this period tell us about life in the workhouses after 1834 and the passing of the Poor Law (Amendment) Act?
The act sought to abolish out-relief and ensure that any relief provided by the new Poor Law Guardians was given within the confines of a workhouse. The records provide insights into the ways in which the Poor Law Guardians sought to run their workhouses and deal with the variety of people who had fallen on hard times.
The records at London Metropolitan Archives are a rich source for the social and architectural history of the period as well as for tracing the history of people admitted to the workhouses. Inspired by Dickens and his desire to reveal the horrors of nineteenth century poverty, we’ve searched the records for the stories of real Londoners in the workhouse, from Master to the inmate, to uncover what the archives tell us about their lives.
This exhibition held at London Metropolitan Archives from 24 September 2012 - 10 January 2013 is FREE. Visitor information is available here.
Workhouse: Dickens and Philanthropy
A morning of talks, document discovery and an introduction to the new exhibition on life in the workhouse. In the afternoon a guided walk around Clerkenwell will focus on Dickens and philanthropy.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Friday 26 October from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm is £10 (bring a picnic) Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.
LGBT History Club: Photography and LGBT Activism
As part of Black History Month, photographer and artist Ajamu will present on his work recording Black LGBT people, discuss his forthcoming exhibition, Fierce, at Guildhall Art Gallery and recount his adventures on his 19 day walk from London to Huddersfield to raise funds for the artwork.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 3 October from 6 to 7.30 pm is FREE – drop in.
Introducing an Autumn Series of Dockside Walks
A one hour talk by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours introducing the series of four dockside walks he will be leading for the Archive this autumn from Wapping and Limehouse, to St George’s and Old Poplar.
This talk held at London Metropolitan Archives on Tuesday 9 October at 2 pm is FREE. Visitor information is available here.
St Katharine’s Dock and Wapping
This autumn visitors will be able to explore life in the Docklands with a series of four dockside walks, led by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours.
Starting with the Pool of London and a detailed look at London’s best preserved dock this walk explores the story of one of the capital’s oldest river side communities and how the building of the enclosed docks at the beginning of the 19th century and their demise in the 1960s and 70s affected it.
This guided walk on Tuesday 23 October at 11 am is £8. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. No bookings on the day. Meet at Tower Hill Tube (outside the main exit adjacent to Tower Hill Gardens).
Focus on Family History
Starting your family history? Come along to this workshop and learn how to get the most out of digitised family history sources, including our records on Ancestry.co.uk. This workshop is aimed at beginners.
This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 10 October and Wednesday 24 October from 2 to 3 pm is FREE. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.
In Living Memory
The third in a series of LGBT writing workshops. The early part of the twentieth century saw some changes in the way Lesbian and Gay people were treated. Find out what the Public Morality Council had to say and be inspired to do your own writing.
This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Saturday 13 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £10. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.
Caring for Your Family History
Get useful advice in how to care for your precious photographs, documents and keepsakes.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Monday 29 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £8 (or book four sessions for £25).
(With thanks to the City of London)
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Exhibition: Workhouse
Charles Dickens created the popular contemporary view of the nineteenth century workhouse system in his novel Oliver Twist. It’s a bleak picture of punishment, cruelty and neglect. But what do the archives from this period tell us about life in the workhouses after 1834 and the passing of the Poor Law (Amendment) Act?
The act sought to abolish out-relief and ensure that any relief provided by the new Poor Law Guardians was given within the confines of a workhouse. The records provide insights into the ways in which the Poor Law Guardians sought to run their workhouses and deal with the variety of people who had fallen on hard times.
The records at London Metropolitan Archives are a rich source for the social and architectural history of the period as well as for tracing the history of people admitted to the workhouses. Inspired by Dickens and his desire to reveal the horrors of nineteenth century poverty, we’ve searched the records for the stories of real Londoners in the workhouse, from Master to the inmate, to uncover what the archives tell us about their lives.
This exhibition held at London Metropolitan Archives from 24 September 2012 - 10 January 2013 is FREE. Visitor information is available here.
Workhouse: Dickens and Philanthropy
A morning of talks, document discovery and an introduction to the new exhibition on life in the workhouse. In the afternoon a guided walk around Clerkenwell will focus on Dickens and philanthropy.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Friday 26 October from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm is £10 (bring a picnic) Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.
LGBT History Club: Photography and LGBT Activism
As part of Black History Month, photographer and artist Ajamu will present on his work recording Black LGBT people, discuss his forthcoming exhibition, Fierce, at Guildhall Art Gallery and recount his adventures on his 19 day walk from London to Huddersfield to raise funds for the artwork.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 3 October from 6 to 7.30 pm is FREE – drop in.
Introducing an Autumn Series of Dockside Walks
A one hour talk by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours introducing the series of four dockside walks he will be leading for the Archive this autumn from Wapping and Limehouse, to St George’s and Old Poplar.
This talk held at London Metropolitan Archives on Tuesday 9 October at 2 pm is FREE. Visitor information is available here.
St Katharine’s Dock and Wapping
This autumn visitors will be able to explore life in the Docklands with a series of four dockside walks, led by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours.
Starting with the Pool of London and a detailed look at London’s best preserved dock this walk explores the story of one of the capital’s oldest river side communities and how the building of the enclosed docks at the beginning of the 19th century and their demise in the 1960s and 70s affected it.
This guided walk on Tuesday 23 October at 11 am is £8. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. No bookings on the day. Meet at Tower Hill Tube (outside the main exit adjacent to Tower Hill Gardens).
Focus on Family History
Starting your family history? Come along to this workshop and learn how to get the most out of digitised family history sources, including our records on Ancestry.co.uk. This workshop is aimed at beginners.
This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 10 October and Wednesday 24 October from 2 to 3 pm is FREE. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.
In Living Memory
The third in a series of LGBT writing workshops. The early part of the twentieth century saw some changes in the way Lesbian and Gay people were treated. Find out what the Public Morality Council had to say and be inspired to do your own writing.
This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Saturday 13 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £10. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.
Caring for Your Family History
Get useful advice in how to care for your precious photographs, documents and keepsakes.
This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Monday 29 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £8 (or book four sessions for £25).
(With thanks to the City of London)
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Archives Hub - regional search facility
From the Federation of Family History Societies (www.ffhs.org.uk):
Thank you to Jane Stevenson from Archives Hub for the following -
You may be interested to know that the Archives Hub (http://archiveshub.ac.uk/) now has a regional search at http://archiveshub.ac.uk/regionalsearch/
The idea is to make it easier to search for archives held in particular parts of the country, which is particularly useful where a researcher wants to limit travel time. We've done this by including pre-defined regions. But we also have a search area box that can be moved by manipulating the corners, so researchers can customise the area. We would like to make it possible to resize and then drag this search area box, so that's on the 'to do' list.
In addition to the regional search, we have been working on our results list, which now includes the title and dates, and also our display, which includes a new utility bar, designed to enable us to add functionality over time, such as various links, output option, social networking widgets and information about digital content (e.g. http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb1837des-rhz - this is an example where you can see images as you scroll down the description).
NB: This is more for academic based archives than county based records offices etc, but very useful indeed for that!
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Thank you to Jane Stevenson from Archives Hub for the following -
You may be interested to know that the Archives Hub (http://archiveshub.ac.uk/) now has a regional search at http://archiveshub.ac.uk/regionalsearch/
The idea is to make it easier to search for archives held in particular parts of the country, which is particularly useful where a researcher wants to limit travel time. We've done this by including pre-defined regions. But we also have a search area box that can be moved by manipulating the corners, so researchers can customise the area. We would like to make it possible to resize and then drag this search area box, so that's on the 'to do' list.
In addition to the regional search, we have been working on our results list, which now includes the title and dates, and also our display, which includes a new utility bar, designed to enable us to add functionality over time, such as various links, output option, social networking widgets and information about digital content (e.g. http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb1837des-rhz - this is an example where you can see images as you scroll down the description).
NB: This is more for academic based archives than county based records offices etc, but very useful indeed for that!
Chris
Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)