Scottish Archaeology Month

September has been designated Scottish Archaeology Month, with various events happening around the country to explore our rich archaeological heritage. To find out what is happening in your neck of the woods, visit www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk/projects/sam.html.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Congratulations to Strathclyde genealogy students

Just a quick note to congratulate all the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma courses in Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Whilst the results will be due soon, it's an achievement in its own right to have survived what were two very intensive but highly rewarding courses. A huge thanks to Bruce Durie and Graham Holton, and to all the tutorial assistants, and I look forward to seeing you all at the party later today in Glasgow. And if you're an overseas student, we'll raise a glass to you in your absence - air ur slàinte mhath!

The next courses from the university will be run entirely online from January 2009. To do the diploma, you must have completed the certificate, but if you are interested in doing the certificate, visit www.strath.ac.uk/cll/continuingprofessionaldevelopment/genealogy . Applications must be in by Monday, October 13th 2008.

To the future (but always with reverence to the past!),

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk

Scotland's Greatest Story

Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Free access to US Federal Census index for 1900

The first of Ancestry's joint initiatives with FamilySearch, the US Federal Census for 1900, went online today. To celebrate, Ancestry is giving free access for a short period to the index.

The newly uploaded census contains new digitised images of the enumerators' returns, and a new index, jointly created from Ancestry's old census index and FamilySearch's index.

For more information, visit http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008/08/29/ancestry-familysearch-merged-1900-us-census-index-now-live/ .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Family Tree Maker 2009 released in the US

Family Tree Maker 2009 has now been released in the US, and Ancestry has been blogging about its new and enhanced features. To find out what's new, visit their blog at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008/08/28/family-tree-maker-2009-release/ , and for more on one of the new features, a migration map, see http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008/08/28/family-tree-maker-2009-see-an-ancestors-life-migration-path/.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Scotland's oldest clock works again

Scotland's oldest clock, dating back to 1565, is to be re-instated today inside the bell tower of the 14th century St. Bride's Church in Douglas, Lanarkshire. The mechanism has been overhauled by contractors working for Historic Scotland after it began to fail last year, and a new clockface has also been built.

For more info, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7586681.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Memorial unveiled to Castlecary rail disaster

A new memorial has been unveiled in the village of Castlecary, North Lanarkshire, dedicated to the memory of thirty five people killed in one of Scotland's worst ever rail tragedies, which happened in December 1937.

For more information, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7586523.stm

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association 2008 newsletter online

The Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association, set up in Macduff in 2006 (nice place, tad windy!), has launched its first ever annual newsletter online. The newsletter, hosted by Electric Scotland at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/bmha/Nautical_News_%202008_issue1.pdf , details the progress of the association in the last year, including attempts to secure permanent funding for its museum. The organsiation has decided not to extend a two year lease on its premises at Duff Street due to high costs, and is the only museum in Aberdeenshire not funded by Aberdeenshire Council. The BMA has also assisted two youngsters on a project for the Prince's Trust, and recently found itself face to face with a full scale replica Dalek at an exhibition which it ran!

Amongst its many hopes for the future, the association, which is completely voluntary, is hoping to be able to obtain permanent premises, and to buy a video camcorder to start an oral heritage project in its area after being knocked back for funding by the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership. The body also hopes to develop a website in the near future, but currently has a holding site at www.webhistorian.co.uk (click on 'sites', 'regional' and then 'Scotland').

The newsletter unfortunately does not provide any contact details for the association, but does advertise that it holds meetings every first Monday of the month at the Town Hall in Macduff, from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Forthcoming Scottish lectures and events in September

All the latest information on events of Scottish interest in Scotland, England, and around the world. If you would like to list an event, please contact us at enquiry@ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk.


Exhibition - Imprentit: 500 Years of the Scottish printed word
National Library of Scotland
Friday 27 June to Sunday 12 October, at George IV Bridge Building, Edinburgh.
Monday to Friday: 10.00-20.00. Saturday: 10.00-17.00Sunday: 14.00-17.00. Admission free. No need to book.
Web: www.nls.uk/events/printing-exhibition/index.html


Meeting
Banff Maritime Heritage Association
Mon 1st September 2008, 7.00pm-8.00pm, Town Hall, Macduff, Aberdeenshire
(No further information available)


Regular Meeting
West Lothian Family History Society
Tues 2nd September 2008, at Connolly House, Blackburn
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


Introduction to Family History
Largs & North Ayrshire Family History Society
Sat 6th September 2008, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs
E-mail: webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk Web: www.largsnafhs.org.uk


Quarriers, by Josephine Bell
Largs & North Ayrshire Family History Society
Sat 6th September, at 7:30 pm, Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs,
E-mail: www.largsnafhs.org.uk Web: webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk


Scottish Session – Who Do You Think You Are?
New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc. - Scottish Interest Group Sat 6th September, at 1.00pm, Papatoetoe Branch, at Papatoetoe Depot, 91 Cambridge Terrace, Papatoetoe. Door charge $3.00
E-mail: nzsg-contact@genealogy.org.nz Web: www.genealogy.org.nz


Members’ Day Open discussion group
Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society (Moray/Banff branch)
Sat 6th September 2008 at 2.00pm
E-mail: enquiries@anesfhs.org.uk Web: www.anesfhs.org.uk
Tel: 01224 646323


Fisher Lassies, by Mrs Sherrard & Cook
Fife Family History Society
Tues 9th September 2008, at 7.00pm, Methil Community Centre,Bowling Green Street, Methil
E-mail: webadmin@fifefhs.org Web: www.fifefhs.org


Sally Magnusson: Roots – A Daughter of Iceland and Mull
The Islands Book Trust
Tues 9th September 2008, at 7.30pm, An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
E-mail: alayne@theislandsbooktrust.com Web: www.theislandsbooktrust.com
Tel: 01851 820946


Committee Meeting
West Lothian Family History Society
Tues 9th September 2008, at the Community Centre, Blackburn
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


Meeting
Lochaber and North Argyll Family History Group
Tues 9th September 2008, at 7:30pm, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church hall, Fort William
E-mail: landnafhg@fsmail.net
Web: www.lochaberandnorthargyllfamilyhistorygroup.org.uk


Tangled Roots and Branches: Hints on Sorting, storing and presenting your Family History, by Anne Agnew
Lothian Family History Society
Wed 10th September, 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Email: lothiansfhs@hotmail.com Web: www.lothiansfhs.org.uk


A Tale of Two Tankards, by Donnie Harper
Caithness Family History Society
Wed 10th September 2008, Miller Academy , Thurso
E-Mail: sandy.gunn@btinternet.com Web: www.caithnessfhs.org.uk


OFHS Annual Dinner
Orkney Family History Society
Thurs 11th September 2008, 7 for 7.30pm, Lynnfield Hotel, Kirkwall, £20.00 per person. The meal and menu must be booked by Friday 5th Sept, booking form in the Office, Tel 01856873166, Ext 3029 or Hazel at 01856781327


Dating Photgraphs from Costumes, by Rebecca Quinton
Lanarkshire Family History Society
Thurs 11th September 2008, 7.00pm – 9.00pm, GLO Centre, Muir Street, Motherwell
E-mail: info@lanarkshirefhs.org.uk or society@lanarkshirefhs.org.ukWeb: www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk


National Family History Fair, Gateshead
Sat 13th September 2008, 10.00a.m - 4.30p.m, Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead, England. Admission £3.50 Accompanied Children under 15 Free
E-mail: info@nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com Web: www.nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com


The Souters of Marcassie and Forres, by Keith Mitchell
Aberdeen & North East Scotland Family History Society (Aberdeen branch)
Sat 13th September 2008 at 2:30pm, Unitarian Church, Aberdeen
E-mail: enquiries@anesfhs.org.uk Web: www.anesfhs.org.uk
Tel: 01224 646323


Airt Show Commemorating 90 Years of the RAF
RAF Leuchars
Sat 13th September 2008. Proceeds to the RAF Benevolent Fund.


Meeting
Queensland Family History Society Inc. – Scottish Interest Group
Sat 13th September 2008, 10.00am – 12.00noon, Library and Resource Centre, 58 Bellevue Ave, Gaythorne, Queensland, Australia
E-mail: secretary@qfhs.org.au Web: www.qfhs.org.au


Tayroots Family History Fair
Tay Valley Family History Society
Sat 13th September 2008, 10.00am - 4.00pm, at St Andrew’s and Glasite Church Halls, 2 King Street Dundee, DD1 2JB. (Next to Wellgate Centre)
E-mail: tvfhs@tayvalleyfhs.org.uk Web: www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk
Tel: 01382 461845


So Who Are We Related To? A Biblical Reflection of Genealogies in the Old Testament, by Father Neil McGarrity
Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society
Mon 15th September 2008, at 7:30pm, St. Peter’s Hall, Chancellor Street, Partick Glasgow
Web: www.gwsfhs.org.uk Tel: 0141 339 8303


Donald and Keifer Sutherland, by Graham E. MacDonell (and meeting)
The Scottish Genealogy Society
Mon 15th September 2008, at 7.30pm Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
E-mail: sales@scotsgenealogy.com Web: www.scotsgenealogy.com
Tel / Fax: 0131 220 3677


An Irvine Farming family, by Robert Laird
Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society
Tues 16th September 2008
E-mail: info@troonayrshirefhs.org.uk Web: www.troonayrshirefhs.org.uk


Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, by David Dobson
Tay Valley Family History Society
Wed 17th September 2008, at 7.15 p.m, University of Abertay, Bell Street, Dundee
E-mail: tvfhs@tayvalleyfhs.org.uk Web: www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk
Tel: 01382 461845


Smuggling in the Carrick area, by Tom Barclay
Alloway & Southern Ayrshire Family History Society
Thurs 18th September 2008, at 7.30pm, Alloway Parish Church Halls, Auld Nick's View, Alloway, KA7 4RT
E-mail: secretary@asafhs.co.uk Web: www.asafhs.co.uk


Erskine Home for Ex Servicemen, by Linda O’ Malley
Renfrewshire Family History Society
Thurs 18th September 2008, 7.30pm at Paisley Museum
Web: www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk


Italian Prints in a 17th century Scottish Heraldic Manuscript, by Professor Michael Bath
The Heraldry Society of Scotland
Sat, 20th September 2008
E-mail: c.napier@napier.aol.com.uk Web: www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk
Tel: 0131 553 2232


Trip to the grave of the poet Duncan Bahn MacIntyre at Dalmally
Appin Historical Society
Sat September 20th 2008
Web: www.appinhistoricalsociety.co.uk Tel: 01631 730309


West Lothian Libraries History Fair
West Lothian Family History Society
Sat 20th September 2008, Linlithgow Academy
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


Symposium - Perceptions of Early Christianity in Lewis: Different Approaches to Interpreting the Evidence, by Ian Stewart-Hargreaves And Rachel Barrowman (followed by visit to Teampull Mholuag at Eoropie and other local sites)
The Islands Book Trust
Sat 20th September, at 10.30am, Ness Heritage Centre
E-mail: alayne@theislandsbooktrust.com Web: www.theislandsbooktrust.com
Tel: 01851 820946


Scottish Family History on The Web, by Ina Penneyston
Anglo-Scottish Family History Society
Sat 20th September 2008, at 2.00 pm in the Society’s library at Clayton House, Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Web: www.mlfhs.org.uk Tel: 0161 2369750


Beginners Research Workshop (Non-Members Welcome)
Largs & North Ayrshire Family History Society
Sat Sep 23rd September 2008, at 7.30pm, Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs
E-mail: www.largsnafhs.org.uk Web: webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk


Evening visit to New Register House
West Lothian Family History Society
Tues 23rd September 2008
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


1820 Scottish Radical Uprising, Ian Bayne
Renfrewshire Family History Society
Tues, 23rd September 2008, at 7.30pm, Waterfront Leisure Complex, Conference Suite in Greenock
Web: www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk


Captain Cook and the Ednam connection, by Ruth Boreham (and Society Meeting)
Borders Family History Society
Sun 28th September 2008, at 2.30 pm, Corn Exchange & Ormiston Institute, Market Square, Melrose
Web: www.bordersfhs.org.uk


Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Opportunity for Scottish FHSs

Calling all Scottish family history societies...!

The Federation of Family History Societies and the Society of Genealogists in England have jointly announced the creation of a Regional Theatre Workshop for the next Who Do You Think You Are LIVE next February in London. As the song goes, "It's a Long way to Tipperary", but as I am sure many of you are aware, it's also a bleedin' long way by car to London, and therefore quite expensive to have to pay for a stall, travel and accommodation in order to attend the event. This workshop is a new initiative that might therefore be attractive.

Essentially, the SOG and the FFHS are offering a stage for local FHSs from across Britain to supply a single representative who can give a presentation on their local areas, providing info to attendees on where to search for records, a bit of history, relevant websites, and of course, the FHSs in the area as well. After the talk, it is hoped that the speaker will then stay at the FFHS stall for a time as a point from which they can then deal with queries from the public following on from the talk. It is an excellent opportunity, and if you are interested in availing yourselves of it, please contact Else Churchill of the SOG at 020 7702 5488, or by e-mail at genealogy@sog.org.uk .

There is a deadline for applications which is September 30th. Having been on the phone to the FFHS's publicity officer Marian French yesterday, I know they are desperately keen to have more Scottish representation at the event, so this might be worth thinking about. If interested but unsure what WDYTYA might be able to offer, please do see my report on the event from May at http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com/2008/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-live-report.html and I'd be happy to offer a perspective on how the event worked, having spent two days there and having worked on one of the stalls.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Routes to your Roots Conference - June 2009, Stirling

A more detailed itinerary has been revealed for the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor… Routes to your Scottish Roots conference to be held from June 19th - 21st 2009 at The Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, and organised by Stirling Council Library and Archives Department.

Friday 19th June 09 - Theme: Stirling’s resources

The Conference gets off to a strong start by examining the types of records usually available to family historians locally, and although the focus is on Stirling’s records they are representative of those held elsewhere in Scotland. The morning sessions deal with local authority material, with the afternoon’s speakers discussing more specialised sources.

Registration: 9.00 – 9.45 Welcome: 9.45 – 9.50

9.50 Registrars’ Records - Speaker: Jacqueline Taylor, Senior Registrar, Stirling Council

10.20 Final Resting Place - Speaker; Barbara Docherty, Cemeteries Officer, Stirling Council
Questions 10.45 – 11.00

11.30 Not just a load of old books: resources in Central Reference Library - Speaker: Elma Lindsay, Local History Officer, Stirling Council

12.00 Resources for Family History Research in Stirling Council Archives - Speaker: Pam McNicol, Archivist, Stirling Council

Questions: 12.25 – 12.45, followed by Lunch (Not supplied)

2.15 Special Collections at the University of Stirling - Speaker: Helen Beardsley, Senior Subject Librarian (Arts), University of Stirling

2.45 600 Glengarried Men – and a few more: resources at the Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - Speaker: Joyce Steel, Museum Manager, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum

3.15 People, Places and Pictures of the Past: Family History Resources in the Local Museum - Speaker: Dr E King, Director, Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

Questions 3.40 – 3.55

Stalls open until 4.30.


Saturday 20th June 09 - Theme: Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor…

Today’s speakers discuss the diversity of situations in which our forebears may have found themselves; from rich to poor, from tradesman to traveller; those who fought and fell for their country or who sailed the seven seas; those whose personal circumstances ensured them a comfortable life - or those who fell foul of the law. The emphasis of each lecture will be the sources we can use to help us find these forebears, and where the sources are held.

Registration: 9.00 – 9.45 Welcome: 9.45 – 9.50

9.50 Wanderers of the Mist - Speaker: Jess Smith, traveller and author

10.20: Tailors – Trades and Crafts from Medieval Guilds to Victorian Shops. - Speaker: John Harrison, historian and writer

Questions 10.45 – 11.00 followed by break

11.30 Researching the Soldier: A Church Perspective - Speaker: David Brown, Local Historian

12.00 The Kincardine Sailors’ Box - Speaker: Sue Mowat, historian and writer

Questions: 12.25 – 12.45 followed by Lunch (not supplied)

2.15 ‘Fresh Laurels to the old Family Tree’: the papers of the Murray Family of Polmaise - Speaker: Elma Lindsay, Local History Officer, Stirling Council

2.45 Providing for Tomorrow: Friendly Societies in an Unfriendly World - Speaker: Dr Alastair Durie, University of Stirling

Questions: 3.10 – 3.30 followed by break

3.50 The Welfare of Families: records of the Poor Law - Speaker: Pam McNicol, Stirling Council Archivist

4.20 In Search of Thieves, Felons and Other Stirlingshire Folk - Speaker: Dr Tristram Clarke, National Archives of Scotland

Questions: 4.45 – 5.00

Stalls remain open until 5.30

Saturday evening: Smith Art Gallery

You’ve heard the speakers, you’ve bought out the bookstalls; it’s time to relax and chat to fellow enthusiasts. Head along to the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday evening; enjoy a glass of wine, a buffet supper, then listen ‘Travellers Tales’ - songs and stories from Jess Smith who is making a second appearance in the Conference programme, having given a presentation in the morning. Jess is one of Scotland’s most popular authors and is a member of a well-known travelling family. A truly charismatic speaker with innate storytelling ability, Jess is also a keen family historian herself.


Day 3 Sunday 21st June - Theme: A Fine and Private Place: the importance of graveyards to the family historian

Sunday’s lectures examine the value of burial grounds and why they should be high on the list of must-sees for anyone researching their family’s roots. The importance of good maintenance will be discussed as will the history of the garden cemetery movement which swept Europe, and the morning closes with an explanation of the many intriguing headstone symbols, knowledge of which can unlock secrets of your family’s past. Join us for guided walks in the Old Town Cemetery in the afternoon.

Registration: 10.00 – 10.30 Welcome: 10. 30 – 10.35

10.35 Stirling’s Old Town Cemeteries Come Alive - Speaker: Barbara Irwin, Senior Project Officer, Turner and Townsend Project Management

11.05 ‘A Pleasure Ground of Graves’ – Landscaping for the Dead. - Speaker: Christopher Dingwall, Garden Historian and Consultant

11.35 Gravestone Symbolism - Speaker: John Harrison

Questions 12.00 – 12.25

Stalls remain until 12.45

Afternoon

Walks round the Old Town Cemetery


For more information on the conference, please contact:
Elma Lindsay, Local History Officer, Central Library, Corn Exchange Road, Stirling, FK8 2HX
Tel: 01786 432107 Email: lindsaye@stirling.gov.uk

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Vandals smash tombstone of King James III

Vandals have smashed the tomb of James III at Cambuskenneth Abbey. Repairs are estimated at a cost of £2000, and will be carried out by Historic Scotland.

For more info see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7582021.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Irish famine ship drops anchor in Derry

The Jeanie Johnstone, a replica 19th century famine ship which carried emigrants to America between 1848 and 1855, made an unexpected stopover last week in Derry when it could not get into the Donegal port of Rathmullan. Having sailed from Galway, its next stops re scheduled to be in Larne and Dublin, before sailing to Spain later in the year.

For more on the story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7571860.stm , and to find out more about a 19th Century 'coffin ship', visit the Jeanie Johnstone website.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New project to replace DOVE?

For those devastated at the loss of the English and Welsh DOVE project, there may be a ray of hope peering through the murk. The Digitisation of Vital Events project was supposed to create a digitised collection of entries for births, marriages and deaths going back to 1837, but spectacularly collapsed just a few weeks ago, with the job only half completed. Whilst the images were not to be made available online, a secondary project called EAGLE (Electronic Access to GRO Legacy Events) was to create a series of online indices which would have made it considerably easier to find the right certificate to order.

The Federation of Family History Societies down south sent in a petition protesting at the collapse and a demand for the project to be restarted. The petition closed on July 26th, and the following response has just been received by the body:

The General Register Office (GRO) has a statutory obligation to make index data for registration records publicly available. Since the closure of the Family Records Centre in March 2008, it has provided copies of the indexesin microfiche format at several libraries and record offices across Englandand Wales. Many people who would previously have had to visit London to view the indexes are now able to do so much closer to home. Further details onwhere to search the full range of GRO indexes from 1837 to 2008 can be found at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/research/groindexes/holders_of_the_gro_indexes.asp

GRO recognises that the creation of a publicly-accessible online index will be of even greater value to many family historians. GRO was transferred on 1 April 2008 from the Office for National Statistics to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). IPS has confirmed that the creation of an accessible online index is a commitment which GRO will continue to work towards.

A necessary pre-requisite is that all the registration records from 1837 must be created in a digitised format. The project to achieve this has encountered delays, with about half the records currently digitised. IPS isi nvestigating a new project to complete the work and to address the requirement for an online index. At this stage options for the best method of implementation are being reviewed, and new timescales will be announced as soon as decisions based on the outcome of the review can be taken.

(With thanks to the FFHS)

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Should the national census be scrapped?

The BBC have today carried a report, both on the Today programme on Radio 4 and on their news website, about the recommendations of the New Local Government Network, which has advocated the cancellation of the 2011 census, and all future censues, citing them as being too costly and useless for the purposes designed. Clearly the New Local Government Network does not like genealogists!

It is an interesting question though - does the decennial census still fulfill the needs of the Government as much as it did when first introduced in 1801, when the key issues on the table were Napoleon and food shortages? The Government requires information from the censuses in order to plan a national strategy with regard to the allegation of resources around the country, but the Network suggests that the same information can be obtained from a local head count based on GP surgeries, school places, electoral registers and tax records. One to ponder!

For more on the story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7573004.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Ancestry teams up with JewishGen

From http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2786 :

The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com, and JewishGen, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and promoting Jewish genealogy and an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, today announced a partnership designed to provide easier online access to millions of important Jewish historical documents. JewishGen’s collection of databases will be integrated and be made available for free on Ancestry.com, making these historical Jewish records and information more accessible than ever before. As part of the agreement, the JewishGen site will also be hosted in Ancestry.com’s data center.

For the first time ever, those interested in researching Jewish ancestry will be able to search JewishGen’s databases on Ancestry.com, taking advantage of Ancestry.com’s powerful search technologies, including tree hinting and the ability to search all JewishGen databases through one simple interface. The agreement will also give researchers the ability to make connections within family trees and to perform broader searches – searching JewishGen’s databases in combination with the other 7 billion names and 26,000 databases available on Ancestry.com. In addition, visitors will be able to network with millions of Ancestry.com members to connect with others interested in Jewish genealogy and discover distant relatives.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with JewishGen, an elite and well-respected resource in the Jewish genealogy community,” said Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of The Generations Network. “Both organizations are committed to the preservation of important historical records. We look forward to working with JewishGen and to making these wonderful collections even more accessible for free on Ancestry.

Under the new agreement, some of the important JewishGen content that will be available on Ancestry.com includes databases from many different countries, the Holocaust Database, Yizkor Books (memorial books from Holocaust survivors), The Given Names Database and JewishGen ShtetlSeeker, among others. The JewishGen collections will be available on Ancestry.com by the end of the year.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Perth and Kinross Family History Fair

Just a quick reminder that the Perth and Kinross Family History fair takes place this Saturday 23rd August 2008, from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Lots of fun all over Perth!

For more info, there is a leaflet on the day's events at http://www.pkc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3ED2B5F1-2D06-4E1D-BDE3-7F851ACBCDAB/0/FamilyHistory2008.pdf

See you there!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

FindmyPast parish marriage records released

An abridged version of a press release just issued by FindmyPast.com:

Online access to millions of nationwide parish marriage records pre- dating the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths UK family history website findmypast.com today announced it has added 3.2 million marriage records to its Parish Records Collection at http://www.findmypast.com/parish-records-collection-search-start.action?redef=0.

The new parish records, dating back to 1538, join the 15 million burial records already available to search on the site. The Parish Records Collection brings together in one easy-to-search central place the disparate records from local parishes, which have been collated by local family history societies since 1911, coordinated by the Federation of Family History Societies.

The registers are particularly valuable sources of information for people seeking to research their family tree back further than the civil records of birth, marriage and death, which began in 1837, and the nineteenth century censuses.

Thanks to the cross-database search facility at findmypast.com, you will be able to search for your ancestor by surname across all the parish records on the site without needing to know where in the country they came from, helping people to delve even deeper into their ancestors' pasts.

Over the coming months findmypast.com will be adding parish baptism records to the website too.

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Family Tree Maker 2009 - update

Interesting news on the FTM 2009 front. If you have a registered copy of FTM 2008, it looks like there might be a free copy winging its way towards you soon. This from Dick Eastman's blog, courtesy of Kathi Reid's Ancestors blog at http://ancestorsearch.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-tree-maker-2009-free-to-those.html :

If you have a copy of FTM 2008 and have not yet registered, now is the time to do so by going to Help>Register FTM. All those who registered their copy of FTM 2008 will receive FTM 2009 for free.

Here is the notice I just received from the FTM team: We’ll soon be releasing Family Tree Maker® 2009. When we do, we’ll send you an email that will tell you how to get this latest version for FREE. We want you to have a wonderful experience with Family Tree Maker. Because you registered Family Tree Maker® 2008, we’re giving you this new version at no cost so you can enjoy all the latest additions and improvements...

With thanks to Ina at TalkingScot.

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Scottish Mining Villages website updates

The excellent Scottish Mining Villages website at www.mining-villages.co.uk continues to get better by the day.

This month's updates include an article on a disaster at Grange Colliery in 1810, in which 17 men and women were suffocated after an explosion; lists of collieries in Scotland in 1860 and 1866; and a series of articles entitled Notes on Miners Houses reprinted from the Glasgow Herald of 1875.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

A History of the Scotch Poor Law

A transcription of Sir George Nicholls' 1856 work A History of the Scotch Poor Law in Connexion with the Condition of the People is now available to read at the Electric Scotland website, located at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/law/. The book gives a fascinating insight into the system of poor relief as used in Scotland.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

NAS - Strike action on Wednesday 20th August

The National Archives of Scotland website has posted an announcement stating that following a national ballot of members, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has informed the insitution that a one-day strike will take place on Wednesday 20 August 2008. The search rooms will be open as usual, but will only be able to offer a restricted service.

The NAS hopes to still be able to provide the following services:

• Access to self-service microfilm and digital images in the Historical and West Search Rooms
• Access to catalogues and open-shelf library books
• Adoption appointments
  

However, the following services will not be available:

• Document productions
• Copy orders
• Supervised locker facilities

If you require assisted access to any of the NAS buildings you are asked to telephone 0131 535 1334 in advance of your visit. For additonal queries, please telephone 0131 535 1365.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Family Tree Maker 2009

Dick Eastman's blog on genealogy carries a report on the imminent American release of Family Tree Maker 2009, which is reported as being available from August 26th 2008 through Amazon.com - see http://blog.eogn.com:80/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/08/family-tree-mak.html .

An initial check on Amazon.co.uk has no listing for the product here in the UK, though a user guide entitled The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker 2009 is stated to be available from September. The previous version of FTM (2008) was heavily criticised by users as it had less functionality than its predecessors, being a complete redesign, though updates were hurriedly made available to alleviate some of the concerns. This new version appears to have resolved some of the issues raised.

More news on this front as it comes!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Delays to National Library of Scotland manuscript orders

Between August 2008 and April 2009 the National Library of Scotland will be storing part of its manuscript collections outwith the George IV Bridge Building, affecting delivery times and in some cases preventing access to some items for short periods of time.

For more information, visit http://www.nls.uk/news/manuscripts-transfer.html , or phone 0131 623 3876.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Victorian Times Project website

This is actually a very old website from the University of Strathclyde, but one that seems to have become buried in obscurity. The site covers a vast range of topics that depict aspects of life in Victorian Britain (1837 to 1901), with one of my favourite parts being the section on old Punch cartoons.

Well worth a visit at http://victoria.cdlr.strath.ac.uk .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

August edition of FFHS Ezine now available

The Federation of Family History Societies is the magnificent umbrella body that covers FHSs down south in England and Wales. Their latest bi-monthly Ezine (electronic magazine), free to view, is now available online at http://www.ffhs.org.uk/ezine/ezine0808.htm.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

2009 census - managers required by GROS

If you have twelve hours a week to spare between October 2008 and March 2009, you might want to consider the part time post of Census District Manager for the 2009 test census in West Edinburgh, Lewis and Harris. The GROS is currently advertising for three suitable candidates who will recruit and train a team of field staff for the rehearsal, and to have management responsibility for the enumeration of the establishments involved. You will need a full UK driving licence and the use of a vehicle for the duration. The salary is £4,550.

To find out more, visit http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/census/censushm2011/census-vacancies/census-district-managers.html , email censushr@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call 0131 314 4347.

But hurry - the closing date is this coming Friday 22nd August!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Genograms - family trees with a difference

We are all used to compiling family trees with birth, marriage and death dates. But how much of the story do these trees really tell us? Well if you are bored and fancy a challenge, there is another form of tree that can be compiled which you might want to have a look at - the genogram.

A genogram is a form of family tree that displays how relationships exist and existed between various individuals - who liked who, who had issues, who lived alone, what illnesses did people have that were hereditary etc? The GenoPro website page Introduction to the Genogram does what it says on the tin, and is a fun read. Whether it will make it possible for you to have a go yourself is something I can't answer, not having tried it yet, but it is on my to-do list at some point!

Once I have figured out what all the funny wee symbols mean...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New series of WDYTYA gets off to a strong start

Patsy Kensit's "Who Do You Think You Are" journey into her ancestry last Wednesday got the series off to a strong start with a viewing figure of 6.9 million, and a 30% share of the audience, easily wiping the floor with ITV's Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation at 3.6 million (16%) and Channel 4's Big Brother at 2.7 million (12%) [Source: Media Guardian].

The emotional programme revealed that Patsy's grandfather, like her father, had a criminal background, but provided her with a more positive discovery of an earlier ancestor's involvement with the Church.

Next week - it's Boris! A preview clip from the next edition, postponed from the last run due to Boris's campaign to become London mayor, can be seen online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/new-stories/boris-johnson/index.shtml

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Channel 5 covers Red Hose Day

Scotland is a great country - incredibly insane at times, but a great country!

In April we brought you the announcement of the 500th annual Carnwath Red Hose Race (see 500 year old race to win a pair of red socks), instituted by James IV to find the fastest runner capable of bringing news of invasion. This year, the race was joined by Channel 5's Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventures television series, and the exploits of Paddy McGuinness's participation in the event can be viewed on the channel next Wednesday 20th August at 9.00pm.

Did Paddy win a pair of red hose? All will soon be revealed...!

For more info on the event visit www.redhoserace.co.uk .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

TNA podcast - the Special Operations Executive, the French Resistance, and D-Day

OK, leesten carefully, I shall zay zis only once....

The latest podcast from the National Archives at Kew is now online and looks at the role of the Special Operations Executive and the French Resistance during the D-Day landings of World War Two.

To listen in, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcast/special-operations-executive.mp3?pod=rss (may take a short while to load).

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Your Family Tree 68 on sale

The next issue of Your Family Tree (issue 68 September 2008) is now on sale, and is packed with genealogical goodies to gorge the soul...

This month's topics include the Great Fire of London, charity records, researching lawyers, finding money in the family, tracing non-conformist records, the dentist who embalmed his wife and put her on display (no kidding), whilst yours truly has written an article on how to research electoral records.

On the Scottish front, we're absolutely spoiled this month. On the free cover mounted CD, the 1861 Fife Directory is reproduced, and there is a Fife region guide by Archie Lumsden of Fife FHS. Scotland's Greatest Story's "Records of the Weavers of Perth Volume 1" receives a positive review, and genealogist David Webster makes the controversial point that the new ScotlandsPeople centre may be a step back - though not a point I would personally agree with! There is also a comprehensive four page user guide for those wishing to research their Scottish ancestry online, and the story of six year old Philip Nichol, who won a recent National Trust for Scotland competition that saw him as a guest of honour at the opening of the new Culloden visitor centre.

On sale now for just a few of Her Majesty's finest pounds, shillings and pence!

Chris

PS: Did I mention the crazy dentist who embalmed his wife and put her on display?! Worth it for that alone...!

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

The Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Centre and Museum

Yesterday I took my father, my wife and two boys for a long drive around Glencoe and Argyll, culminating in a stop at the Isle of Seil, where I have not visited for about four years. On this occasion I managed to spend time in the magnificent Heritage Centre and Museum at Ellenabeich, and I promised Mary Sandilands, one of the volunteers of the Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust, that I would give the centre a quick plug!

The islands of Belnahua, Easdale, Luing and Seil are known as the Slate Islands, for obvious reasons - not a thatched cottage in site! The museum at Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil has a magnificent display of photographs, models and artefacts depicting the life of the slate islanders from the early 19th century to the modern day. However, the centre covers all aspects of life on the islands, and there is a mountain of information there of interest to the genealogist.

The museum is run by the Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust, which was established in 1999, the remit of which involves aspects of the modern day to day running and conservation of Seil, as well as the historical, in conjunction with the Seil Community Council and Argyll and Bute Council. Membership of the Trust is by an annual subscription of £20 (£30 for joint membership), for which you will receive a journal twice a year, and there are various activities in which you can participate.

To join, call Membership Secretary Jenny Tarbatt at 01852 300114 or e-mail her at jenny@petrvore.com .

But even if you don't wish to join, I'd thoroughly recommend a visit not just to the centre, but to Seil and the other islands - one of Scotland's hidden gems!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk

Scotland's Greatest Story

Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Free Scottish Ordnance Survey maps online

The National Library of Scotland has made available online hundreds of six-inch to the mile scale maps as part of its historic Ordnance Survey mapping collection. The maps date from 1843 to 1882, when Ordnance Survey carried out its earliest comprehensive survey of Scotland. Located at Ordnance Survey Six-inch maps , they can be browsed by county or parish, or searched using an interactive map image and place names. The NLS has also rather brilliantly provided a Google maps overlay, and accompanying the series are a guide to OS abbreviations and a detailed essay outlining OS work in 19th-century Scotland.

This major update follows on from revisions to the NLS online collection, which includes a new-look maps home page.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Exhibition on Stornoway youth

Stornoway Historical Society is currently hosting an exhibition entitled Wee Coves and Wee Blones at its premises on the history of the youth of the town, including many youth organisations such as the Bridge/YMCA, Stornoway Youth Club, Sea Cadet Corps, ACF, ATC, Scouts, Guides, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade and the Sea Scouts, through photographs and artefacts.

The exhibition is open from 12 noon to 4.45pm, Monday to Saturday, in the Town Hall (old An Lanntair coffee sop), and admission is free, though donations are welcome. For more information on the exhibition, which runs until August 30th, visit www.stornowayhistoricalsociety.org.uk/events/ .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

The 1948 Berwickshire floods

On August 12th 1948, the county of Berwickshire endured one of its worst ever flooding disasters when the rivers Tweed, Blackadder, Whiteadder, Till and Eye Water all overflowed, after a third of the annual rainfall for the area fell in just six days.

The BBC looks back at the disaster at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7554405.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Free Scottish emigration records on WorldVitalRecords

Apologies to one and all for the limited number of posts in recent days - I'm currently finishing off a university dissertation, so have been slightly busy!

By way of a humble offering to make up for it, here is a cracking freebie for those with Scots ancestry (OK, I would have announced it anyway!). WorldVitalRecords.com have two new Scottish databases - Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration, 1725 - 1775: The People of Inverness-shire and Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America, 1550 - 1850 (click on the links to access). Both are free to access for the next ten days only, so if you have links with either, better get going quicky! After this time, they will be available by subscription.

The two collections are digitised from the books by well known Scottish genealogist, and expert on Scottish emigration, David Dobson.

Remember - ten days folks...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

DNA tests - Which? magazine misses the point

The consumer magazine Which? has issued a press release, We reveal online DNA tests are waste of money, in which it explains how it did tests through four different companies, namely DNA Solutions, Oxford Ancestors, 23andMe and (wait for it) "Ancestory.co.uk". The article appears to have misunderstood how such tests work, criticising the results from two companies in particular without understanding the basic fact that not all companies examine the same DNA markers, or indeed even name the ones that are in common the same way.

But in common with many nay-sayers on the DNA front, they also again appear to have been seduced by the "deep ancestry" aspect of the tests, in which one can find out if one's ancient caveman ancestor from thousands of years ago was originally from Outer Mongolia or inner Croydon. From a genealogy point of view, I would suggest that this aspect is really irrelevant, and if that is what you are after, then you probably are wasting your money. Dr Andrew Gritt's article 'How Many Ancestors Do I Have?' in the Family and Local History Handbook (11) reveals the simple fact that 20 generations ago we had 1048576 ancestors. On the deep ancestry front, a DNA test will tell you very little about just one of them, though you will get a nice pretty chart that probably looks very techie...!

The true value of such DNA tests in genealogy is in comparing your results with others with similar profiles, in order to try and identify a recent common ancestor. If you have found a brick wall on your line, and the new relative can go further back on his own line, his or her research can provide a possible way to bypass your own brick wall. An example of this happening is described within an article that I wrote some time ago which is now hosted on the Talking Scot website, at A Beginner's Guide to Genetic Genealogy. But DNA tests are nothing more than just a tool, and on their own can tell you little without additional documentary research to further investigate possible relationships flagged up by the test results.

My advice is to consider a DNA test only if you have a particular need to do so, whether that be because you wish to do a one name study or because you have a brick wall to overcome. However, before you take a test, make sure you understand exactly how it works. Ancestry (or Ancestory!) has a good online set up, which I have also written a beginners guide to - see DNA & Genealogy.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New military records released by The National Archives

The National Archives at Kew has released two major military collections through its Documents Online service.

The first is the release of the Medal Index Cards for those who were entitled to claim medals for service within the Indian Army during the First World War. These have been released as individual index cards, as opposed to six per page as with their oiginal release of WW1 cards.

The records of Royal Naval officers have also been released through the same service. These were kept by the Admiralty from the 1840s and record service for warrant officers joining the Royal Navy up to 1931 and commissioned officers joining the service up to 1917.

For more information, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/206.htm?homepage=news .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

What is a GEDCOM?

I'm sure many of us will remember the first time somebody asked if we could e-mail them a GEDCOM file. I know my first puzzled response to the question was something along the lines of "Your what's itchy?!!"

If you are just starting out, and haven't the foggiest what a GEDCOM is, then American genealogy blogger Dick Eastman has just put up a handy dandy explanation of what it means, and fortunately, talcum power is not required!

To read Dick's explanation of GEDCOM, visit http://blog.eogn.com:80/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/08/gedcom-explaine.html

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Happy Birthday to the Spitfire

It's of pensionable age, but will never need a bus pass to travel in style! The Spitfire is still one of the world's most iconic planes, a remarkable achievement for a plane that has just turned seventy years old. The BBC has a tribute to the plane's enduring legend online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7540305.stm .

Of course, the plane was nothing without the pilots who flew them in the Second World War. I had the pleasure of meeting several of the Few, the pilots of the Battle of Britain, some eight years ago whilst working on a Channel Four documentary. Pictured below is former Sergeant Pilot Iain Hutchison, a Glasgow born spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, who took part in the documentary. I met Iain on three occasions, and on the third I had taken him along to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford to reminisce as a Spitfire there was flown for our filming purposes. Seeing the delight in Iain's eyes as the plane did several circuits around us overhead, I had a quick word with the pilot after he had landed, and then asked Iain if he fancied sitting in the cockpit again? I had barely got the words out of my mouth before Iain was up on the wing and climbing in! It was the first time he had been in the cockpit of the plane since World War Two, and if he had had his way, he'd have been off in it!

Sadly, Iain passed away last year, as have many others of his former collagues. So whilst we can commemorate the beauty and legend of the Spitfire, hopefully we can also remember the true heroes of the war, which weren't the planes, but those who risked, and in many cases lost their lives going up in them day after day.



Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

ScotlandsPeople Centre taking bookings from next Monday

The following info has just been made available on the ScotlandsPeople Centre website at www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk .

As previously announced, there will be a partial opening of the new centre on Monday, August 25th 2008, where visitors can try out the new facilities by way of a free two-hour taster session in the Adam Dome. Bookings for these searches will commence as of next Monday, 11th August, and can be made by calling 0131 314 4300 from that date.

The free search sessions will run from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 and both sessions will be followed by a short tour and talk on the centre and its records. Visitors will have access to all the digitised birth, death, marriage, wills, census and coats of arms records. However, as these are free sessions, there will be no access to microfilmed records, stand alone computers or the library. In addition, visitors will also not be able to use laptops in the Adam Dome.

Visitors will be able to print off copies or save images from the new computer system to a memory stick, for the following charges:

A4 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £0.50
A3 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £1.00
Save statutory record image entry to USB stick - exc. Coats of Arms £1.00
Save Wills and Testaments image entry to USB stick £1.00
Save Coats of Arms image entry to USB stick £10.00

As these are sessions for new and inexperienced users to get familiar with the centre, visitors are only entitled to one free search session each.

The shop will also be open from the 25th.

Remember though, hold off on trying to book a place until next Monday..!

The ScotlandsPeople Centre will also be participating in Doors Open Day on September 27th 2008, and the site will announce more on this in due course.

(Finally, whilst a link is up for the User Group Meeting Minutes for June 12th 2008, the link is currently defective, taking users to another version of the home page again. Hopefully this will be remedied soon!)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

More Burns, and a' that...

The University of Glasgow has announced it is to compile a new 'definitive' collection of the works of Robert Burns, in a 15 year project commencing next year, the 250th anniversary of his birth.

For more info, the BBC has the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7539600.stm .

Undoubtedly it will remain the definitive collection - until the next definitive collection comes along...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Regional Theatre Workshops at WDYTYA Live 2009

The following announcement is from the publicity officer of the Federation of Family History Societies, and will be of interest to any family history societies hoping to attend next year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live event (February 2009).

I am pleased to announce that a New Feature of Who Do You Think You Are LIVE 2009 will be The Society of Genealogists Regional Theatre Workshop in association with the FFHS.

The workshop will take the form of a series of lectures, answering the question “My Ancestor came from XXX - where’s the best place to get help?” Essentially the information being provided should include details regarding local Family History resources, County Record Offices, usefulwebsites etc. and of course most importantly Member Societies of the FFHS within the area.

This is an excellent opportunity for speakers to promote their region and ‘spotlight’ their local societies.

Whilst exhibiting Societies will be given priority, it is anticipated that some speakers will come from non-exhibiting groups. Where a society is unable to be present at the show, enquiries as a result of the lecture can be directed to the FFHS stand where the assistance of the speaker would beappreciated if possible.

Sessions are limited so if your region has an interest in participating in this excellent feature, it is advisable to make contact with us as soon as possible.

For further information please contact me at publicity@ffhs.org.uk. or Tel 01954 212094

To apply to be considered please forward the name of the Speaker/Area/Subject to:

Else Churchill
Genealogist
Society of Genealogists
14 Charterhouse Buildings
Goswell Road
London EC1M 7BA
Direct phone 020 7702 5488
genealogy@sog.org.uk

Please respond by the 15 September.

Marian French - Publicity & Communications Officer


A free platform to help promote your FHS - worth thinking about...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

River Bann website

Whilst doing some personal research into my family from Co. Londonderry, I have been very kindly helped by a gentleman called John Junkin who is based in the county.

John is an excellent photographer, and his website contains dozens of stunning aerial photographs of the Bann and surrounding countryside. If you have family from Derry, then pop along and have a look at http://www.riverbannireland.com/Photos.T274.aspx - if you don't, pop along anyway, you won't be disappointed!

A DVD with these images (and more) in a much higher resolution is available from the Lower Bann Partnership. For more info, contact Mark Christie of the Lower Bann Partnership Ltd, 20 Castle St, Bellaghy. Magherafelt. BT45 8LA. (Tel: 028 7938 6627)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving