Genealogy News - 28th June

FindMyPast have added 1.2 million records to their Wales Collection. More comment here.

More price reductions from FamilyTreeDNA - as outlined here by blogger Debbie Kennett (BTW, don't worry about the prices in US dollars, as you can still order from the UK).

For Scottish researchers: the latest issue of Broadsheet.

Here's an interesting option from Forces War Records.

I see English Heritage is to become a charity (thanks to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter).

Here's a great story about an accidental find in the rafters of an old building.

As for the rest of the week's news, well, I'm going to be a bit lazy and divert you elsewhere! Seriously, though, it provides me with an excellent opportunity to give a little plug to two other excellent sources of British & Irish genealogy news...

Claire Santry's Irish Genealogy News blog is, of course, essential reading for Irish researchers, and there has been a mini rush of news from this corner of the world. Rather than me steal all her stories, why not have a browse for yourself - there are items on PRONI, Co.Clare, Irish newspapers, as well as a reminder about free access to the Irish BMD records this weekend.

Similarly, you are probably familiar with Chris Paton's British GENES blog. Chris specialises in Scottish and Northern Irish matters, but actually covers all things UK & Irish on his blog - and there has been plenty to take in this week, too. So, again, why not have a wander through his recent posts, which include the latest 'Ireland's Genealogical Gazette', Ancestry's search features, and alternative comment on many of the stories also covered by Claire Santry's blog - and there is much more besides.

And then there are the usual Friday bits and pieces from the BBC:

• Latest 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcasts;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More news, etc., can be found at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 25th June

Potentially explosive news for us genealogists from the legal corridors of the EU (thanks to @YourFamTreemag on Twitter).

From the keyboard of Chris Paton: a useful report on the PRONI User Forum Meeting (note the very last item - a major fair and a conference!). Thanks for that, Chris. And thanks, too, for this useful and informal guide to visiting PRONI.

Fancy meeting the top dog at The National Archives next month? Click here for more info.

TNA's online bookshop is to be re-vamped - see here.

Those of you who follow the adventures of the Scottish Genealogy Network will wish to take in this blog post.

A little update from the British Newspaper Archive.

Here's the latest (and very impressive) newsletter from the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies.

I see that PAF (Personal Ancestral File), the family tree programme launched by FamilySearch in 1984, is to be discontinued.

If you think you might be interested in Derry's Great Parchment Book, then check out this blog post.

The latest Eneclann newsletter can be found here. As you can see, the first story indicates that the Genealogy Advisory Service at the NLI is set to continue.

The National Library of Wales has put out an appeal entitled 'Calling all clubs & societies'.

Those of us who are fans of the Europeana website/blog may wish to sign the petition to keep the organisation alive.

And here's your weekly round-up of entertaining history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events:

• Saturday 29th June - Yorkshire Family History Fair, York (this is a big one!);
• Friday 28th & Saturday 29th June - Family History Event at Sutton Coldfield;
• Sunday 30th June - Heart of England Book Fair, Solihull;
• Upcoming SoG events (change the month setting on the page for future stuff);
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• National Library of Ireland (JFK) stuff for July;
• Yet more Irish stuff!;
• National Library of Scotland events;
• Upcoming events at Linen Hall Library, Belfast;
• Advance notice of the JGSGB Society Family History Fair at Elstree on 7th July;
• Advance notice of the Surrey Parish Records Launch Event at Woking on 6th July;
• Advance notice of the Annual Lecture Day at Pudsey on 6th July (hopefully not too late to book);
• Advance notice of the Community Archives & Heritage Group Conference at London on 10th July (hopefully not too late to book);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And I hope you don't mind an advance 'plug' for a major event in September which is right on my doorstep:

The National Family History Fair 

at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

More news and articles at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 21st June

Want some free online genealogy reading? You can have all you want here (thanks to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter for the tip-off).

The same source (Dick Eastman) also provides interesting food for thought here.

Oh, I see the latest Lost Cousins newsletter is out, too. Another great read!

For those of you keeping up with the shenanigans surrounding the release of the 1926 Irish Census, see here.

A good spot by Chris Paton re. free access to Irish BMD indexes from FindMyPast.com (we're all assuming that the other FMP formats will fall into line in due course - co.uk, ie, au).

Chris also nicely summarises developments at Origins.net - including lots of things to come.

A newspaper update from FindMyPast.

Latest issue of Your Family Tree Magazine.

Here's a decent-looking offer from WDYTYA? Magazine.

A selection of Irish events over the coming weeks and months.

Latest offers from Pen & Sword Books. And some special offers from TNA.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines' will soon appear here;
• Latest Podcasts;
• Latest issue of BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @HistoryforGirls on Twitter...

The Life and Age of Woman

(then click on image to enlarge)

Genealogy News - 18th June

As the popular family history TV series Long Lost Family returns to our screens here in the UK, look out, too, for the forthcoming Secrets from the Workhouse which begins next week - preview here.

The latest repository to suffer at the hands of the Europe-wide recession is the Irish Architectural Archive.

Latest from FindMyPast: London Volunteer Soldiers, 1859-1955.

Check out the latest from TheGenealogist.

For those with an interest in President Obama's Irish ancestry, then check this out.

Get to grips with GenealogyInTime's worldwide genealogy news.

Here's the latest e-bulletin for Family Historian users.

Fancy a free Family History guide from GenesReunited?

A couple of items via Chris Paton's blog:

• No WDYTYA? event for Glasgow in 2014;
• Some observations re. Ancestry's London Gazette coverage.

Here's an online exhibition from PRONI relating to Co.Fermanagh.

Claire Santry brings us another IGP Archives update from Ireland.

The usual history links round-up from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

And, of course, here are your forthcoming events for the next few days:

• Saturday 22nd June - Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society Open Morning, Churchstoke (for exact details ring them);
• Saturday 22nd June - Edinburgh Book Fair;
• Sunday 23rd June - Cheltenham Book Fair;
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way). There is also a Postcard & Stamp Fair at St Andrew Blackadder Church Hall, High Street, North Berwick, on Saturday 22nd June (10.30-4) - contact Gareth Burgess on 01368 860365.
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

 

Genealogy News - 14th June

At last we have a surge of genealogy news!

Most of you will, I'm sure, be interested to know about the line-up for the next series of WDYTYA?

Big news from FindMyPast for Lincolnshire researchers.

It seems that MyHeritage have started producing e-newsletters - well, this is the first one I've received from them!

World's oldest person dies (thanks to @MyHeritage on Twitter).

Sussex researchers - get a sneak peek of your new record office.

There's a little bit more info on the recent wills/probate release at GenesReunited to be found here.

Quite a bit of recent activity at Ancestry - check out their 'updates page' for the low-down.

Here's a major forthcoming event for those interested in Ulster.

More Irish stuff from Ireland Reaching Out.

The latest issue of S&N's Genealogy 'E-mail News' can be found here (inc. TheGenealogist's latest releases).

Here's what looks like DeceasedOnline's final announcement re. Brompton Cemetery in London (related blog post here).

An event I omitted from Tuesday's listing: Lincolnshire Archives Family History Day (15th) (thanks to @GenealogyGent on Twitter).

And it'll be a big weekend in Co.Carlow, Ireland!

Here's a review of a handy-looking book.

The July issue of 'Family Tree' magazine is now available.

The latest FamilySearch news release includes some Irish stuff.

And yet more Irish news re. everyday procedures at the National Library of Ireland.

From TNA's blog: part 2 of their series of posts on the Bevin Boys.

US blogger, Dick Eastman, flags an interesting new development for (literally) recording our everyday lives.

Another new online source which may be of interest: The Spectator magazine archive.

A history crossword.

The usual bits and bobs from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More news items at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @VictorianLondon and @SocialhistoryPS on Twitter for...

Killed by a Coffin!

Genealogy News - 11th June

Once more I'm struggling for news. Has everyone gone on holiday? Never mind, here's what I've got...

The latest news from The Parish Chest.

Platinum members at GenesReunited have an additional database to browse: the Bank of England Wills Extracts 1717-1845.

FindMyPast looks at the family tree of Clare Balding.

Audrey Collins has penned an informative piece on Armed Forces Birth, Marriage & Death Records.

A fabulous early map of London (thanks to @CharlotteFrost1 on Twitter).

Interesting info is provided by Chris Paton on the subject of the 1926 Census for Northern Ireland (and related issues). Here's Claire Santry's take on the news.

Thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter for flagging this article on 'What happened when I had my genome sequenced.'

Here's the weekly collection of entertaining history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events...

• Saturday 15th June - Wiltshire FHS Southern Family History Day, Wilton;
• Friday 14th & Saturday 15th June - London Book Fair;
• Sunday 16th June - Duxford Military Book Fair;
• Sunday 16th June - Totnes Book Fair;
• Irish events (and see here for an Irish event in N.E. England) - thanks Claire!;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 7th June

FindMyPast have added 2.5 million more Irish Petty Session Court records to their collection.

The damage caused by the fire at the National Library of Wales is summarised here.

There's more on Ancestry's recent Engineers' records release at their blog, here.

Quite a bit of reading is up for grabs...

June issue of Irish Lives Remembered.

The latest Essex Record Office e-Bulletin.

The June e-newsletter from TNA.

The latest Pharos Bulletin.

Lovers of London's cemeteries may wish to read this.

Thanks to blogger Claire Santry for these upcoming Irish events (also here).

Special offers from BooksIreland can be found here.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And remember to visit the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 4th June

It's the end of an era for Sussex researchers as the Maltings shuts its doors.

Another Lost Cousins newsletter has popped up - excellent reading as ever.

Here's the latest Eneclann newsletter.

Then there's the June newsletter from the CWGC.

Oh, and there's one more newsletter: the FFHS E-Zine (bit late with this one - sorry).

There's been a little flurry of action at Ancestry's updates page (those with engineer ancestors may be especially interested).

A couple of Irish news items:

• Belfast photos on Flickr;
• IGPA update.

And from Scotland ... the new National Records of Scotland website (via Chris Paton's blog).

The latest TNA Podcast is especially relevant to genealogists.

The latest round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

As for forthcoming events:

• Saturday 8th June - Gwent FHS Open Day/Fair, Newport;
• Saturday 8th June - Beverley Book Fair;
• Saturday 8th June - Scottish Borders Book Fair, Melrose;
• Forthcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• June events at the National Library of Ireland;
• Upcoming events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Advance notice of the Catholic FHS Conference in October;
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed, too, of course ... though it's been a bit quiet lately due to a lack of genealogy news!

From the Abroad in the Yard blog...

DNA and Family Resemblance

And finally, a century ago today...

Emily Wilding Davison