1881 Scottish Census at FMP

NEWS

A freshly-transcribed version of the 1881 Census for Scotland is now available at Find My Past. For full details and the relevant link see here. And, as far as I'm aware, you can still get 10% off the membership rates for FMP by using the promotion code NEWYEAR12 - or if that doesn't work try STFTW12 (until 31st January - try the site out here).

FMP have also released additional records for the county of Cheshire - see here.

DeceasedOnline have come forward with more releases - this time from the Scottish Highlands.

The February issue of Family History Monthly is now available.

Pen & Sword Books have issued another 'offers' bulletin.

And finally, news-wise, I will give you the next announcement (via the FFHS's Roger Lewry) in full...

The following announcement has been received from the Ancestral Tourism Partnership:

Dr Nick Barratt will be among speakers at the Archives, Digitization and Heritage Tourism Workshop taking place at The Centre for the Historical Record, Kingston University, London 2.30 - 5.30pm on Wednesday, 22 February 2012. This innovative workshop aims to facilitate discussion and dissemination of information about the latest digital developments in the field of archives and heritage that are designed to increase public use and awareness of historic records and to encourage more people to visit local repositories and sites of historic interest. It will be of particular interest to archive, museum and heritage professionals, local councils keen to promote heritage and tourism in their area, and anyone interested in public history, local history and family history.  Everyone is welcome and entrance is free but places are limited so please reserve your seat online (http://number8glass.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dd1d56a1060255e3c02857d1b&id=2ae699084b&e=b2cded504a).  This link will also provide more information about the scope of the workshop. For more information please contact Dr Nicola Phillips, The Centre for the Historical Record at:  n.philllips@kingston.ac.uk or 020 8417 2895.

WEBSITES

The 3rd anniversary of GeneaBloggers has just passed - which gives me an excuse to direct you to a neat little post on the worthy set-up, here.

Fell across the MemoryBistro website on Twitter, and thought it was worth a mention. Doesn't appear to have launched yet, but looks like an interesting concept.

ARTICLES

The Family Recorder blog has two recent articles of interest. Firstly, there's a piece on Free Online Genealogy Tools; then there's an item on an unusual, and often ridiculed, occupation - the 'monthly nurse'.

MEDIA NEWS

What looks like a great week ahead for history on TV & radio can be scrutinised here.

TWITTER BITS

• 'Napoleonland' theme park (from @74guns via @2nerdyhistgirls);
• 1984-85 Miners' Strike (from @heritagehistory);
• Dublin City Book Fair on 22nd (from @findmypastIE);
• Early Photography (from @Amateur_Casual);
• Wolverhampton events (from @WolvesArchives);
• 1960s London footage (from @peter_watts);
• Pram fashions - fantastic! (from @BritishPathe).

Need a Genea book or software? Try...

BI-Gen Store

Two Handy Newsletters + TNA Stuff

NEWS

The most informative and entertaining genealogy e-newsletters are probably those issued by Lost Cousins and S&N Genealogy Supplies. The first is very much an 'independent' affair, with lots of news and views from across the whole sector, whereas the latter concentrates on events at S&N/TheGenealogist. In the last couple of days both have published another effort, thus:

• Lost Cousins Newsletter - lots of debate concerning the GRO (England/Wales and Scotland), plenty of interest for East Anglian researchers, + GenesReunited news, the British Newspaper Archive, various other bits 'n' pieces ... and plenty of offers;
• S&N Email News - Cornwall, Worcs & Devon added to their 1911 Census datasets, FH Fairs news, many new directories and PRs.

The National Archives have issued an announcement regarding the disposal of some of their old reels of microfilm - stock which they no longer need due to digitisation. If you're interested in laying your hands on some of the freely-available material click here.

And TNA have also unleashed their new 'Archives Media Player' - fabulous!

ARTICLES

Muhammad Ali turned 70 yesterday, of course, and I'm sure many of you enjoyed the TV specials and the like which were aired in his honour last night. MyHeritage also has a look at the great man's ancestry - see here. More classic Ali here.

MEDIA NEWS

Episode 3 of Nick Barratt & Laura Berry's 'Family History Show' is now available. In the latest instalment the experts give their 'Top Ten Tips' on the Census Returns, there are some case histories, plus there's a visit to the Institution of Civil Engineers Archive.

TWITTER BITS

• Warfare Magazine News out (from @WarfareMagazine);
• First Oscar-winning movie (from @casematepub);
• Hitler's birthday celebrations (from @HISTORYmag);
• Irish online research tool (from @ancestrystudent);
• Women at sea (from @2nerdyhistgirls).

Need family history stuff? Try...

Scottish Bits, Ancestry + Podcasts

NEWS

Details of the timetable for the SAFHS 2012 Conference on Saturday 21st April in Dundee has been spotted by Chris Paton - see his post here and follow the link.

In what is a very busy year for anniversaries, the National Library of Scotland is commemorating the ill-fated Captain Scott expedition to the South Pole - see here.

And there's another news item of interest to historically-minded Scots with a piece on TNA's website about the loan and display, in Scotland, of a 700-year-old William Wallace letter.

Two new history Podcasts are available:

• BBC HistoryExtra (early modern Germany, and Victorian notions of Ancient Egypt);
• TNA Podcast (Henry III Fine Rolls)

Ancestry have released Electoral Registers pertaining to Dorset covering 1839-1922 - see their updates page.

And Ancestry have also released a free update to Family Tree Maker for Mac2.

Oh, and the February issue of HistoryToday is now available.

ARTICLES

The week's 'History Headlines' from the BBC can be viewed here.

OTHER STUFF

A history crossword for you to tackle (darn tricky).

OTHER BITS FROM TWITTER

• BookShelfPorn - pics of bookshelves! (from @EHChalus);
• SoG's Book of the Month (from @SoGGenealogist);
• Don't forget free WWI stuff today! (from @AncestryUK);
• Family Tree Mag competition (from @familytreemaguk);
• Emilia Fox at WDYTYA? Live (from @wdytyamagazine);
• Irish TV history programme (from @findmypastIE).

And you can 'follow me' at Twitter by clicking on the relevant button at the top right of this page.

Need a Genea book or software? Try...

BI-Gen Store

And what about a Kindle?

Libraries Bite Back!

NEWS

Tucked away on the BBC website is a story to warm the hearts of library lovers, historians and genealogists across the land concerning the decision taken by Somerset County Council to scrap their plan to close several of the county's libraries. Fact is, they have had their hand forced by the High Court, no less - and it looks like it will lead to a bit of a cash injection for the institutions, too. Wow! One would assume that a precedent has now been set...

The Parish Chest has issued its latest newsletter, which includes details of the release of many, many new genealogical products.

As this year sees the passing of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, I guess we'll be hearing rather a lot from the guy in the near future. Londoners can kick off with this offering from the Museum of London.


I had a look at Claire Santry's Irish Genealogy News blog this morning, and realised that I'd fell behind a bit with the same! Claire has been busy catching up with various bits and pieces concerning Irish research - so I'd urge you to go there now and bring yourself up to speed on items such as ... oh, there's too much, so just take a look for yourself!

It seems that legendary blogger, Dick Eastman, is over the worst of his health scare.

And Pen & Sword Books have more offers up for grabs, here.

MEDIA NEWS


TV & radio guides for the next few days can be found here and here.

ARTICLES

Another story out of Somerset, with the unearthing of an alleged 'Jack the Ripper' manuscript.

And if, like me, you're just getting into Twitter (or are thinking about it), then check out these two online articles on the same which I found most helpful:

• GenesReunited item on 'Social Media';
• New to Twitter? piece for genealogists.

Thanks to the many of you who have already decided to 'follow me' (see http://twitter.com/HistoryMick ) - which means that I shall have to at least try to entertain you as best I can with regular instalments!

OTHER BITS FROM TWITTER

In the meantime, I realise that many (most?) of you don't bother with Twitter, so the blog shall very much remain the main medium through which I work. And here are a few more little stories from the, er, Twittersphere, as I believe they call it...

• Footage from Ireland in 1962 (from @thejournal_ie);
• Canadian Emigration Papers release from FMPIreland (from @findmypastIE);
• 'What a clever girl' story from Ireland (from @the_irish_times);
• Online Palaeography lesson from TNA (from @familytreemaguk);
• History in schools discussed in House of Commons (from @HistoryExtra);
• History of Leinster House (from @findmypastIE).

TNA Stuff & a Good Deal of Reading

NEWS

A couple of announcements from The National Archives first:

• BT Archives to be digitised;
• Closure of 'Your Archives'.

And there is also a new TNA Podcast to take in - Anxiety, Dread & Disease: British Ports 1834-1870.

The Scottish Genealogy Society is offering free advice sessions for newbie genealogists - see their homepage. (thanks to Chris Paton/Chris Halliday).

And followers of US blogger, Dick Eastman, will no doubt already know about his recent illness.

ARTICLES

And with a good few articles to get through, we'll start, in fact, with the aforementioned Mr Eastman, and a strange tale about genealogy and crime detection. 

The Passionate Genealogist blog's post from a couple of days ago makes mention of two very interesting articles. Firstly, there's a lengthy piece on War and Famine in Ireland, 1580-1700; and then there's a light-hearted piece about how NOT to conduct your FH research. Access both here.

And the eternal question of the location of the geographical centre of Great Britain is tackled on the OS blog.

MEDIA NEWS

Several blogs and websites are reporting the beginning of a new series of BBC Radio Scotland's Digging Up Your Roots. It began on Sunday - access it on the BBC iPlayer, here. It's only online until 15th - but is also available as a download from iTunes.

OTHER BITS FROM TWITTER

As I've just signed up to Twitter (@HistoryMick), I will, in due course, be working out ways of bringing you extra snippets of news from this area of the Internet - just as soon as I've got used to the darn thing. For the moment, though, I'll tag a few bits on at the end of my daily posts for you to take or leave as you wish...

• TNA looking for help with their new guidance notes (from @UkNatArchives);
• TNA Chief to speak in London (from @KathrynHannan);
• @findmypast recommends this TV programme;
• New book on dieting in history (from @genesreunited);
• Predictions for the future from 1900 (from @findmypast);
• 1940s POW twitter diary (from @genesreunited).

If you want to 'follow me' then please do (@HistoryMick). Once I'm up to speed with the set-up, I shall no doubt contribute as best I can!

Check out the TEXTBOOK SALE at...

News from ALL Five Nations!

NEWS

Unusually, today we have news from all five major 'nations' of the British Isles...

The biggest announcement of the day is probably Ancestry's release of 130-year's worth of London electoral registers, 1835-1965 - a whopping great resource by the sounds of it, though I've not yet investigated it myself. Have a look at the story here.

Ancestry has also released a new batch of records for Kent, namely, the Tyler Index to Wills, 1460-1882 - see Ancestry's updates page.

And, lastly from England, there's this news story about the threat to the future of the Wedgwood Museum & Archive in Staffordshire.

News of a forthcoming Open Day at the National Library of Wales can be found here. Note that some sources are giving the date as 29th January - but surely the library's website itself can be trusted with the correct date, namely, Saturday 28th January. Not sure if the talks have to be booked.

Electric Scotland has issued another update - follow the relevant link from here.

There are genealogy courses available on both sides of the border in Ireland - see Claire Santry's blog entry on the topic.

We're off to the US now for a useful video presentation by FamilySearch regarding search methods which may be employed when using their website. A neat lesson in lateral thinking which could come in handy when using other databases and websites.

ARTICLES

We return to Ireland for an article from the Irish Echo (via the CIGO website) about the campaign for the early release of the 1926 Irish Census - with plenty of background info, too.

And FindMyPast Ireland has a piece on Irish Marriage License Bonds.


On a slightly grander scale, we have another media rumour about Henry VIII and the identity of who should have been the 'real Queen Elizabeth I'.

MEDIA NEWS

The WDYTYA? Magazine website has a media update, including a chance for you to appear on TV.

Click here>>>  BI-Gen Store   <<<Click here

FamilySearch Bonanza

NEWS

FamilySearch have announced massive additions to their datasets over the holiday period - over 100 million new records from 33 countries. Included are developments relating to the 1871 Census for England & Wales, Norfolk PRs, and Welsh Probate Abstracts.


There's more information about the release of additional detail from the 1911 Census for England & Wales at FindMyPast. Important that you read this, too, as there's a special offer on regarding purchasing credits for viewing the 1911 Census.

Manchester researchers will want to keep an eye on the Manchester Histories Festival website. This year the programme runs from 24th February to 4th March.

Southampton City Archives are due to re-open soon. However, the occasion has been put back from Tuesday 10th January to Tuesday 17th January - keep an eye on the situation here.

And there's a new history Podcast from the BBC, here.

ARTICLES

Following on from yesterday's effort, there's another twins story, here.

There's the week's 'History Headlines' from the Beeb.

And there's a 'taster' article from the Jersey Evening Post about governmental record releases. Though the article doesn't give much away, I think you get the gist - especially when you read the comments underneath! One of the comments actually makes an interesting (and valid, I think) point about confidentiality regardless of any 100-year-rule... (thanks to James).

MEDIA NEWS

I see the US is preparing itself for another series of WDYTYA?

In Vision and Sound

NEWS

OK, so it's not exactly riveting viewing, but some brave soul ventured onto the roof of the National Library of Wales yesterday to capture this footage of bit of the roof blowing around in the gale force winds. The emergency soon passed, though, and it seems that no serious damage was done to the building nor its contents (see also here).

There's more video viewing to be found of Irish rural life in the 1930s at YouTube, here. Rose-tinted specs and all that, of course. Also worth having a look at the related videos down the right-hand side.

Something to listen to, now, in the shape of a Podcast from The National Archives - and the extraordinary story of one of Queen Victoria's favourites, Duleep Singh.

The latest issue of Your Family History is now on sale - see here.

Pen & Sword Books have launched their January sale.

And don't forget that FindMyPast.co.uk are still offering 10% off all new subscriptions during January - just use the code NEWYEAR12 when signing up for a package.

WEBSITES

Several sources have mentioned forthcoming developments at www.militaryarchives.ie - the website of 'Defence Forces Ireland'. About the best description of what is afoot can be found at Chris Paton's British GENES blog, here.

ARTICLES

I suspect the strange story of the twins born five years apart will not be quite so unusual in the future, but it still makes interesting reading in the present.

And The Family Recorder blog has an important lesson about swotting up on your geography - or at least not jumping to hasty conclusions due to your ignorance!

MEDIA NEWS

TV & radio for the week ahead can be found here.

Mainly Scottish (& Irish) Stuff

NEWS

Scotland has recovered from Hogmanay with a splattering of news items, thus:

• New public record releases by the Scottish Government (15/30yr rule);
• New edition of Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors now available;
• A selection of forthcoming talks, etc., by Scottish FHSs;
• Scottish Catholic researchers may be interested in this post by Chris Paton;
• And Chris also has an item concerning upcoming lectures at the RCAHMS in Edinburgh.

FindMyPast Ireland has made a new release in the shape of the Clonfert Wills, Administrations & Marriage Records 1663-1857. More useful insight from Claire Santry, here.

Elsewhere, we have news of the Android version of the Ancestry App.

And a small detail regarding the various versions of the 1911 Census for England & Wales is ably explained by blogger John Reid, here. As John says, though, there are very few census entries affected by this development.

ARTICLES

The MyHeritage blog has a piece about inherited diseases/disorders and family history research.

MEDIA NEWS

Though not of immediate interest to those of us outside the US, this new genealogy TV show may well find its way over the Pond in the coming months - so keep an eye out for it.

* NEW *

Blank Family Tree Sticker Charts from...

Latest Family History Magazines

NEWS

I've been a bit lax of late when it comes to mentioning new releases of our genealogical magazines - so here are the latest editions of the periodicals in question:

• Family Tree
• Your Family History (not sure if Jan issue out yet)
• Your Family Tree (out on 3rd Jan)
• Who Do You Think You Are?
• Family History Monthly

Additionally, of course, there are:

• BBC History Magazine (out 3rd Jan)
• HistoryToday
• Best of British

As regards HistoryToday, a great round-up of some of their more notable articles from 2011 is freely available here. Some good reading is available there, so don't miss out!

And there's also a Podcast available in connection with the BBC mag. Oh, and the week's TV & radio can be found here.

If anyone is thinking of buying anything from Lulu.com, then now's a good time to do so as they're offering 25% off until the end of 6th January (UK pounds only). It's completely free to join/register and there are no catches. Click on the homepage and you should see mention of the voucher code. And remember, my Lulu Storefront is here.

A warning for users of TNA's website: there may be some disruption to online services on Tuesday 3rd - see here.

Today is Day 6 of 'Start Your Family Tree Week' - click below for further info...

And the week's activities have been backed up with some extra guidance from several sources, including both the Family Tree magazine blog and Your Family Tree magazine website. Plenty of useful reading there, especially for beginners.

That's all for today and, erm, the year, of course. Thanks for dropping by - and remember to make BI-Gen a regular port of call during your genealogical wanderings in 2012!

Scottish News & TNA Releases

NEWS

Chris Paton's British GENES blog brings us a selection of news announcements from the National Library of Scotland - see his post here. It includes news of the NLS 'Roadshow' in March.

The turn of the year sees the usual release of a new batch of public records by TNA (30-year rule, and all that) - see the announcement concerning the unveiling of the 1981 files here. Look out for the link to a related Podcast concerning the same, too, near the bottom of the item.

There's more information on FMP Ireland's release of 'Thom's Irish Who's Who 1923' (which I mentioned yesterday) to be found here.

Looking forward to 2012, I see that North Yorkshire County Record Office has organised a special 'Next Steps in Family History Day' on 4th February. It's a full-day course, bookable in advance - so get in ASAP to secure your place.

MEDIA NEWS

The British Library is carrying an interesting piece about their role in a forthcoming BBC Radio 4 programme entitled In Our Time: The Written World.  Fascinating stuff.  The press announcement is here - and be sure to click on the link after the second paragraph, too.

ARTICLES


The Ordnance Survey blog is carrying a 'best of' post which includes some interesting reading. Those of you who are a bit unsure of how to read maps (grid references, etc.) will want to take in the relevant articles.

OTHER STUFF

We began with a Chris Paton blog post, so we will end with one. Here's a bit of humour from the Inverness kirk session minutes.

Day 5 of 'Start Your Family Tree Week'...

Genealogical Festive Offers and News

NEWS


FindMyPast are offering 10% of all subscriptions from (as far as I can tell) now until the end of January. Reports vary as to the length of this offer and even when it officially starts, but I'll be carrying a link on my blog entries for a few days to remind you of the same - at least until we get through the 'Start Your Family Tree Week' during 26th Dec - 1st Jan....



Pen & Sword Books are (again) in discount mood, too - check out their latest bulletin, here.

Ancestry have made a couple of 'techie' announcements: the first concerns their new 'Android App', and the second relates to updates to their 'Image Viewer'.

Off to the Society of Genealogists now, and a reminder of their holiday opening hours on their main page; and they have also began pushing their January lectures.

There's bad news concerning the future of Carmarthenshire County Museum, with various blogs and websites reporting on the source of the news story, here.

And BBC History Magazine has posted another Podcast, here (Exeter's underground tunnels and the perils of water in Tudor times).

ARTICLES

The BBC also has a raft of special 'Festive Features' on offer. And of course there is the usual batch of 'History Headlines' for the week.

MEDIA NEWS

... Oh, and don't forget the next week's worth of TV & radio highlights.

OTHER STUFF

The HistoryToday website has posted its latest prize crossword.

And if you're a follower of Nick's Barratt's new-ish Family History Show website, then you may wish to offer a bit of feedback, here.

GRO Debate Continues

ARTICLES

Blogger Audrey Collins has joined the 'GRO certificates' debate with an interesting analysis of her own on The Family Recorder blog. It's a funny old situation and it now needs to be carefully looked at by the folk in charge. It seems hard to believe that a system cannot be devised to modestly cash in on the sizeable demands of us family historians.

I see that Claire Santry has begun a series of guest blogs on the 'Certificate of Irish Heritage' website, with an article entitled 'In Search of the Townland'.

A short reminder of our early days of research is provided by the Genes Reunited website with their Top 20 Family History Tips as compiled by their members. Always useful to be reminded of such simple matters every now and again!

NEWS

Due to relocation in early 2012, Ceredigion Archives have revised their opening times for January and February - see here. It does, however, seem that they will specially open up for you if travelling from 'another continent', as they put it!

TheGenealogist has issued an update for it's Diamond subscribers - see here (mainly English stuff).

The National Library of Scotland has issued a fresh 'Events' listing covering January-March.

A listing of 'Black and Asian British History Seminars 2012' has popped up on The Historical Association's website.

MyHeritage have released a new version of their popular (and free) software program, Family Tree Builder - see the lengthy feature on the same here.

Check out some unusual discoveries made in The National Archives' holdings.

And I haven't mentioned the ReadIreland Book Database for a while - so check it out here (then click on 'Read Ireland Book News').

MEDIA NEWS

Here are a few TV/radio programmes which may interest you over the next week or so.

Genes Reunited News

NEWS

I can't speak with any great authority on the matter as I'm not a fully paid-up member, but the Genes Reunited website seems to be experiencing problems at the moment. A recent 'technical update' is the latest offering, so hopefully things will be ironed out soon. Another announcement on the site seems to indicate that the new-fangled British Newspaper Archive is accessible through Genes Reunited - but, again, I've not tried this myself.

The Irish Genealogy News blog has a mid-December update from the Ireland Genealogy Project Archives - see here.

Irish researchers may also wish to know the festive opening hours at PRONI.

WDYTYA? Magazine have a competition for you, here.

And blogger John Reid points us in the direction of some Scottish naming stats/patterns, here.

ARTICLES

Dick Eastman has posted an interesting piece about the family histories of the 2012 presidential candidates. Stick with the piece, as it leads onto an even better article about other inheritance traits (eye colour).

And thanks to The Passionate Genealogist for flagging a story on the concept of making a pack of playing cards bearing the images of your ancestors.

MEDIA NEWS

Tomorrow (Thursday) sees the final episode of the Find My Past TV show. Catch a preview here (main website here).

Special offer from...

... by clicking above, then clicking on 'Home' you can get even more than 10% off!

Big News for the Genealogy Big Boys

NEWS

Proposed changes to the way in which archives, museums and libraries deal with public information are set to rock the genealogy industry. The details of what could prove to be a seismic shift in attitudes, procedures and, basically, the law, surrounding the availability of data sets are outlined in this post on the Open Genealogy Alliance blog. Wow!

GenesReunited are gearing up for 'Start Your Family Tree Week' (26th December - 1st January) with this little lot.

There really is no excuse for London-based local history freaks to miss out on the superb ongoing series of free public lectures on offer at Gresham College. The main website (with its many, many online lectures) can be found here.

DeceasedOnline have made a brief announcement regarding forthcoming record set releases (and a couple of other things) - see here.

A couple more 'techie'-type items now: first up is the MyHeritage mobile phone app - which actually looks like a lot of fun (though I haven't tried it); then there's an announcement from Ancestry about Family Tree Maker for Mac2.

Pen & Sword have issued another 'money off' deal, this time on DVDs - though there are plenty of other bits and pieces in there, too. Check it out here.

Another BBC History Magazine Podcast has popped up here ('religion in war' and 'female voters in the interwar years).

MEDIA NEWS

And of course you'll be wanting your TV & radio guide for the week.

GRO Shenanigans

NEWS

The latest Lost Cousins newsletter has plenty to say about the GRO and its fees system. Peter Calver, with his background in economics, suggests that the folk in charge have missed a trick and should be looking to reduce the cost of certified copies of BMD certificates. There is, of course, plenty more on offer in the bulletin, including news of free access to the Lost Cousins website over the festive period. Read all about it here.

The BritishGENES blog has picked up an important piece of news for those of you with Jewish ancestry.

TNA has issued another Podcast - this one's entitled Untold Histories: black Britons during the period of the British slave trade, c.1660-1807.

Two items from the British Library: firstly, a new sculpture by Antony Gormley has been unveiled (in these especially tough times for our branch libraries I trust it didn't cost too much?); and there's a new Victorian Christmas iPad app available for purchase.

And for all you Europhiles, here's the December newsletter from Europeana.

WEBSITES

Two useful and interesting online resources have been doing the rounds of late - and The Family Recorder blog does as good a job as any of explaining them to us: firstly, there's a post relating to the 'Locating London's Past' website; and secondly there's an introduction to the 'Edible Archive'.

ARTICLES

Having, as I do, an interest in the early days of organised football, I was intrigued by Christine Woodcock's post on the subject of pioneer women's football. Those early press reports make extraordinary reading. Oh, and have you seen my own footie book, here? (couldn't miss a chance like that to mention it, now, could I?).

MEDIA NEWS

Thursday night's Find My Past TV show can be previewed here (main website here.).

And one or two other TV programmes can be found here.

Inbreeding: Facts & Figures

ARTICLES

Thanks to legendary blogger Dick Eastman for pointing us in the direction of a fascinating article about inbreeding - see his post and the relevant link, here. The main article provides some absolutely riveting facts and figures - and check out the astonishingly 'closed' royal family tree of King Charles II of Spain! (direct link to article here).

And here are the BBC's 'History Headlines' for the week (a bumper edition!).


NEWS


Irish Quakers are not an everyday topic of conversation among us genealogists, which is why this post on the Irish Genealogy News blog caught my attention - a new book on the subject, plus a handy link to further information.

Another update has been posted on the Electric Scotland website.

The National Library of Scotland has opened the doors of its new exhibition dedicated to, er, the English Bard.


Brent Archives have published a 'programme of events' of sorts - see their website, here.

The BBC's 'HistoryExtra' website has a new Podcast available (topics: WWI and Robert Boyle).

MEDIA NEWS

Nothing to do with genealogy, but check out the opening scenes of the very first episode of Coronation Street!

Why not check out one of the top genealogy 'Big Boys'...

More 1911 Progress at Ancestry

NEWS

Ancestry have announced the availability of more 'searchable records' pertaining to their 1911 Census holdings for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Read all about the latest developments here.

The National Archives have issued a couple of news items in the last day or so. The first refers to the pending release of records of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (follow the link in the piece for much more info); the second concerns movement at the highest level of the archive industry, namely, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and History's latest get-together with the sector's leaders.

Denbighshire Archive Service will be closed next week (Mon 12th to Fri 16th) for its annual stocktake - see here (where their Christmas hours are also on display).

A couple of special offers:

• Your Family History magazine have what looks like a great 'Starter Pack' up for grabs - and their latest issue is also now available;
• Pen & Sword Books have a '3 for 2' offer on all local & family history publications - see their newsletter, here, and click on the relevant banner.

The Christmas issue of BBC History Magazine is also now available.

MEDIA NEWS

TV and radio for the coming week can be found here.

ARTICLES

And a neat follow-up article to last night's Find My Past TV show on the subject of the Suffragettes is provided by writer and researcher Ros Bott - see here.

Save 10% on Gold or Diamond Subscription to 'The Genealogist'...

The Family History Show, ep.2

MEDIA NEWS

The second episode of Nick Barratt & Laura Berry's online TV effort, The Family History Show, is now available for your delectation - see here for a little introduction before diving into the show itself. This time it's a 27-minute production, so is akin to what you might find on the old-fashioned TV - and it's very well put together, too. Furthermore, they've amalgamated several of their previous filmed segments into a similar-length Episode 1.

And as for the 'old-fashioned TV', here's a taster for tonight's Find My Past TV show - with the programme's website here.

As for other forthcoming TV/radio, try here.

NEWS

Scottish researchers will most definitely wish to peruse the latest bulletin from the Scottish Association of FHSs. There's the usual comprehensive summary of goings-on at the nation's many FHSs, plus a story among the other items concerning plans for closer collaboration between the SAFHS and the FFHS. Interesting to note, too, that FHS memberships are on the decline, despite the hobby enjoying something of a boom in popularity. Blame the Internet, I'd say.

'Electric Scotland', with its usual eclectic mix of bits and bobs, has issued another update - see here.

It is perhaps worth reminding you all again of the February extravaganza that is the 'Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2012 Fair at Olympia, London, during 24th-26th February. See the official website, here, where you will note that Richard Madeley has now made himself available to be gawped at.

And I see that the recently released Family Tree Maker 2012 software package has already been issued with an update - see the official announcement.

ARTICLES

More to do with family than family history - but I did enjoy this scientific explanation as to how Santa Claus manages to pack so many deliveries into a night's work. So now you know.

OTHER STUFF

A competition to win the complete WDYTYA? DVD Box Set.

News from the FFHS

NEWS

Those of you interested in the mechanics of the GRO - and maybe even having a say in how the institution operates - may well be interested in attending one of the forthcoming 'User Group' sessions. One will be held in London and the other in Southport. Check out the FFHS announcement on the subject.

Looks like I'm a tiny bit late with this one, but I have just spotted the November issue of the FFHS's E-Zine. Included within is the first mention I have seen this year of the annual 'Start Your Family Tree Week'.

Reader Niall McChesney points us in the direction of an interesting 10-minute programme on BBC Radio 4 last Sunday, namely, A Point of View. In it, the historian Prof Lisa Jardine (daughter of Jacob Bronowski) gives a talk where she begins by admitting a measure of academic stuffiness about family history, but goes on to say that she has been converted after hearing some oral history made by older members of her family. You can listen to the programme here. By a strange quirk of fate, within minutes of reading Niall's email I noticed the announcement re. Lisa Jardine's new role at The National Archives. One wonders if she was 'converted' prior to or following her prestigious appointment...


The HistoryToday website is carrying a story about an attack on the National Library of Wales by its own government for accepting a slightly dodgy bequest. There is a link in the piece to the original Guardian article of last week.


FamilySearch has added 18 million records from 12 countries to its holdings - see here. Nothing new from the British Isles in there, though.


There is now very little in the way of 'forthcoming events' to report in my regular Tuesday listings. All we have this coming weekend are:

• Saturday 10th December - Edinburgh Book Fair;
• Saturday 10th December - Ribble Valley Book Fair;
• Sunday 11th December - London Holiday Inn Book Fair (Bloomsbury).

WEBSITES

If you have ancestors in the North of England, then the website pointed out, here, by blogger Audrey Collins may interest you. All to do with the so-called 'Cause Papers of 1300-1858'.

ARTICLES

What may be classed as an independent review of the new Family Tree Maker 2012 has been posted by Ros Bott.

OTHER STUFF

I seem to have tripped over another discount coupon for the Lulu website at www.lulu.com - apparently WINTERSAVEUK305 will get you 30% off any order (up to £100 of savings - and ends 11.59pm on 7th December). My own Lulu Storefront is here - though the code can be used anywhere on the site.