The Edinburgh based Scottish Genealogy Society has been going since 1953, and has an impressive website at www.scotsgenealogy.com, which hosts a useful range of research guides, a shop, a family history index, and links to many topics relevant to Scottish genealogical research.
However, you may not be aware that the site also has its very own discussion forum at www.yabbers.com/phpbb/scotsgen.html, open to members and non-members alike.
Worth a visit...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Changes to TNA records copying service
The National Archives at Kew has made an announcement which I imagine will be seen by many as not being its best move of the year, particularly for those who do not live near the facility:
Please be aware that from spring 2009 we will be making the following changes to our services - full details will be provided nearer the time.
Records Copying Estimating Service
You will need to specify your requirements precisely, including the number of pages, for us to provide you with an estimate of the cost of record copying. We will no longer be able to search within documents to identify the items to be copied for estimation purposes.
If a search is required to identify the items to be copied, you will now be offered the options of engaging an independent researcher or using our paid search service.
We have taken this decision because, while we have been providing an increasing number of estimates, the number of actual copy orders from these estimates is declining. As a result, the service no longer covers its costs.
The bottom line appears to be that if you have located an item via the TNA catalogue, where before you could ask for an estimate on how much it would cost to copy particular documents, you will now have to hire somebody either at TNA or privately to look at the documents prior to ordering them, in order to work out how many pages need copying. Further announcements on this are expected soon.
Having relied on the service myself in the past, I personally think this is an unfortunate development from an institution that has done so much in recent years to try to make its material so accessible to the general public.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Please be aware that from spring 2009 we will be making the following changes to our services - full details will be provided nearer the time.
Records Copying Estimating Service
You will need to specify your requirements precisely, including the number of pages, for us to provide you with an estimate of the cost of record copying. We will no longer be able to search within documents to identify the items to be copied for estimation purposes.
If a search is required to identify the items to be copied, you will now be offered the options of engaging an independent researcher or using our paid search service.
We have taken this decision because, while we have been providing an increasing number of estimates, the number of actual copy orders from these estimates is declining. As a result, the service no longer covers its costs.
The bottom line appears to be that if you have located an item via the TNA catalogue, where before you could ask for an estimate on how much it would cost to copy particular documents, you will now have to hire somebody either at TNA or privately to look at the documents prior to ordering them, in order to work out how many pages need copying. Further announcements on this are expected soon.
Having relied on the service myself in the past, I personally think this is an unfortunate development from an institution that has done so much in recent years to try to make its material so accessible to the general public.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
New monumental inscription books from ANESFHS
Two new monumental inscriptions books have been published by the Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society.The first, covering the kirkyard at Doune (Macduff) contains inscripitons from over 900 stones, and includes a handy fold out map identifying the location of each lair.
The second, on the kirkyards of Kinneff and Catterline, contains inscriptions from three churches - Kinneff, Catterline St. Catherine, and Catterline St. Philip's (Episcopal).
Both cost just £2.25, plus postage - 66p for second class UK, £2.55 for airmail to North America, £2.55 airmail to Australia, £1.55 to Europe and £1.50 surface mail to all other countries.
For more information, visit www.anesfhs.org.uk.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Fire at Kelburn Castle in North Ayrshire
A fire occurred in the early hours of Monday at the 13th century Kelburn Castle, between Largs and Fairlie, home to Lord Glasgow, 10th Earl of Glasgow. Both he and his son evacuated safely from the building. The fire has damaged the roof and an upper floor room of the building, which is believed to be the longest building in continuous use in Scotland by the same family, for some 800 years..
The full story is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7892247.stm.
Kelburn Castle is about five minutes from my house, so I'll provide an update in due course.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
The full story is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7892247.stm.
Kelburn Castle is about five minutes from my house, so I'll provide an update in due course.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Scottish Mining Museum - funding crisis
The BBC is reporting a funding crisis at the Scottish Mining Museum, located at Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange. Historic Scotland and Midlothian Council have both withdrawn funding, essentially cutting the mueum's funding by a third. Midlothian Council argues that as a national museum, it should receive national funding.
The full story is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7892429.stm , with a blog post on the subject from reporter Pauline McLean also located at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/paulinemclean/2009/02/heavyduty_museum_issues.html.
The main museum website can also be viewed at www.scottishminingmuseum.com.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
The full story is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7892429.stm , with a blog post on the subject from reporter Pauline McLean also located at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/paulinemclean/2009/02/heavyduty_museum_issues.html.
The main museum website can also be viewed at www.scottishminingmuseum.com.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Book of Scottish Connections
The Book of Scottish Connections is a new public record held at the General Register Office for Scotland which allows people all over the world with a Scottish connection to apply for a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership abroad to be recorded by the Registrar General in Edinburgh. To qualify for registration, the original event has to have already been previously registered with the civil registration authorities of the applicant's country. A commemorative certificate of the event, with a description of the Scottish connection, will then be available from the GROS, which can be preserved as part of the family history record.
Tartans and kilts are fine, but what better and more tangible way is there to show that your family's Scottish connection has been forever remembered in your ancestral country, and that you yourself have been officially recognised by your Caledonian cousins as a member of the greatest diaspora in the world - one of Jock Tamson's Bairns...!
For more info, see www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/regscot/book-of-scottish-connections.html.
Chris
Tartans and kilts are fine, but what better and more tangible way is there to show that your family's Scottish connection has been forever remembered in your ancestral country, and that you yourself have been officially recognised by your Caledonian cousins as a member of the greatest diaspora in the world - one of Jock Tamson's Bairns...!
For more info, see www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/regscot/book-of-scottish-connections.html.
Chris
Saturday, 7 February 2009
New Scottish records at the Genealogist.co.uk
Nigel and the team at The Genealogist.co.uk have been busy placing new records online at their site, which includes some Scottish holdings.
In the new Schools, College and University Registers section you can now access the Aberdeen University Roll of Graduates from 1901 - 1925, whilst Glasgow University's Matriculation Albums from 1728 - 1858 are also available.
In the Directories section, the 1923 - 24 Aberdeen Post Office Directory is available and the Official Guide to Edinburgh, circa 1930. In addition, the Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild Brethren is also available in the same section, covering the years 1406 - 1700.
To see the records, available for a small premium, visit www.thegenealogist.co.uk.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
In the new Schools, College and University Registers section you can now access the Aberdeen University Roll of Graduates from 1901 - 1925, whilst Glasgow University's Matriculation Albums from 1728 - 1858 are also available.
In the Directories section, the 1923 - 24 Aberdeen Post Office Directory is available and the Official Guide to Edinburgh, circa 1930. In addition, the Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild Brethren is also available in the same section, covering the years 1406 - 1700.
To see the records, available for a small premium, visit www.thegenealogist.co.uk.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940
The Irish Government has funded a new online database of interest to those with architects in their ancestry. The Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940 at www.dia.ie can be searched by the name of the architect in question, or by the work he created. As well as Irish architects it also lists those who were from overseas who produced buildings in Ireland, and so, for example, we find that Scottish born William Henry Playfair (1790-1857) is listed, having designed Drumbnanagher in County Armagh in 1829 and Brownlow House in Lurgan between 1833 and 1835.
Don't forget that Scottish architects can also be researched online, at www.scottisharchitects.org.uk, which covers 1840-1980.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Don't forget that Scottish architects can also be researched online, at www.scottisharchitects.org.uk, which covers 1840-1980.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Friday, 6 February 2009
Scottish lochs and Gaelic in the Home
The latest newsletter from Electric Scotland has announced a new book being transcribed on the site, Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs, by James M. Mackinlay, and first published in 1893. See www.electricscotland.com/history/water/index.htm.
In addition, the newsletter also carries a note from Finlay MacLeod of Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich (CNSA), discussing the popularty of its new Gaelic in the Home course, designed to help parents raise their children confidently with the language at home. If you are interested in Scottish Gaelic, and in teaching it to your children, you can contact Finlay for advice - I met the man many years ago at a ceilidh in London, and he is very approachable! His details are as follows:
Finlay M. Macleod
CNSA
92 Academy Street
INVERNESS
IV1 ILU
Tel CNSA: (0)1463-225469
Mobile: (0)7789-826934
Home: (0)1542-836322
Email: finlay@cnsa.org.uk
(Source: Electric Scotland)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
In addition, the newsletter also carries a note from Finlay MacLeod of Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich (CNSA), discussing the popularty of its new Gaelic in the Home course, designed to help parents raise their children confidently with the language at home. If you are interested in Scottish Gaelic, and in teaching it to your children, you can contact Finlay for advice - I met the man many years ago at a ceilidh in London, and he is very approachable! His details are as follows:
Finlay M. Macleod
CNSA
92 Academy Street
INVERNESS
IV1 ILU
Tel CNSA: (0)1463-225469
Mobile: (0)7789-826934
Home: (0)1542-836322
Email: finlay@cnsa.org.uk
(Source: Electric Scotland)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
1891 Canada census online
The following announcement comes from Library and Archives Canada:
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new online database, Census of Canada, 1891. Through this online database researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1891 Census.
The database is available at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html
The 1891 Census marked the third regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. Information was collected for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and the North-West Territories (which at the time covered much of modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).
The 1891 Census also marks the launch of a new feature that allows visitors to suggest a correction to a record. This will be launched on a wider scale in the next few months.
The project is a collaboration with Ancestry.ca, and is great news for those whose Scottish ancestors migrated to Canada.
(Source: Eastman's Online Genealogy Blog)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new online database, Census of Canada, 1891. Through this online database researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1891 Census.
The database is available at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html
The 1891 Census marked the third regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. Information was collected for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and the North-West Territories (which at the time covered much of modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).
The 1891 Census also marks the launch of a new feature that allows visitors to suggest a correction to a record. This will be launched on a wider scale in the next few months.
The project is a collaboration with Ancestry.ca, and is great news for those whose Scottish ancestors migrated to Canada.
(Source: Eastman's Online Genealogy Blog)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
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