Researching Abroad Day 2

Day 2 of Researching Abroad was German-European research, with Dirk Weissleder as the main presenter.  His presentations included Primary and secondary sources on genealogy in Germany ; Introduction to European research ; The International German Genealogical Partnership  ; and Archives, libraries & institutions for genealogical researchers in Germany.  I had not had the chance to hear Dirk speak before, but I greatly enjoyed his expertise and humour, and would not hesitate to attend his presentations again, and I can only say that Dirk’s command of the English language is far, far better than my own very limited command of German.

I have been researching my own German ancestors for a number of years, both through online resources and by writing to archives and record repositories in Germany.   My single year of High School German is simply not up to the task of trying to communicate with officials, nor for translating the records I have managed to find.  Clearly I was not the only Australian with German ancestors facing this problem, and a recurring question throughout Dirk’s presentations was “Is that record/website in English?”  The answer was generally no, and I could hear a little sigh go around the room each time.

Some highlight points include :

• Remember to consider the history of Germany – the country only exists as a unified nation since 1871.  Before then, it was an amalgamation of Kingdoms, Principalities, Duchies, and Free Cities.

• For many people their regional background is more important than the national background.  Someone from Hamburg may identify as being from Hamburg first and from Germany second.

• Good preparation is essential.  Aim for precision not speed, and be defined in what you want to find.

• Destruction of records in Germany is going to be a problem that may require some lateral thinking and creativity to work around.

• Family Books were definitely a new resource to me, as were several websites and possible avenues for further research – there is always something else to look for!

Again, there were other presentations during the day.  The Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies and the Genealogical Society of Victoria both spoke about their European Resources, there was another presentation about My Heritage, and Patsy Daly spoke about using DNA to solve genealogical puzzles.

Finally - the opportunity to chat with other researchers, swap stories, successes and favourite resources, catch up with a few familiar faces I only see at days like these or have talked to online but never actually met – it is always a wonderful part of any genealogy seminar.  Many thanks the Alan and the team at Unlock the Past for organising yet another wonderful genealogy event.  I hope to see you at the Deniliquin Genealogy Expo in October, where I am happy to note Unlock the Past is listed among the exhibitors.

Researching Abroad Day 1

A while ago I said I was booked in for the Unlock the Past Researching Abroad roadshow in Melbourne - and if you have not booked in to the Roadshow at one of its locations you are definitely missing out.  Last Friday and Saturday I was at the Veneto Club in Bulleen, Melbourne for two days of wonderful talks.

Day 1 concentrated on the British Isles, with Chris Paton the main speaker.  His four presentations covered British and Irish Newspapers ; Scottish Research Resources before 1800 ; British Censuses and Substitutes ; and Discover Irish Land Records.  A few gems from among the 20 plus pages of notes I took during the day (I concentrate better with a pen in my hand)

• Some newspapers publish two (or more) editions during a day and each will vary - and not every version will be digitised.  It pays to check.
• Browse as well as search - you never know what you might find if you look around.
• Scotland is not England - Scotland has its own legal, religious and cultural structures and seems to have delighted in doing things differently than their English counterparts.  Before 1707 they even had their own units and measures - and Scottish handwriting had its own little ways too!
• Ireland is also not England - they too had their own structures and ways of doing things.
• People lie (this I already knew, but it is worth reinforcing).  Any record is only as good as the informant - and for a variety of reasons sometimes people lie!

 Also on the day Unlock the Past had a table of brochures to pick up and books for sale, and their were also tables staffed by VicGUM, Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies, Genealogical Society of Victoria and FIBIS.  Intersperced with Chris's talks there were presentations from AIGS and GSV on the British Isles resources they have available, and a presentation on what My Heritage and Living DNA have to offer.

Family History Feast at the State Library of Victoria

One again during Family History Month the State Library of Victoria is offering their Family History Feast, a wonderful day of free Family History sessions by a group of great speakers.  This year the Feast will be held on Monday 21st August, and bookings will open 9am on Monday 24th July.  While the Feast is free it is vital to book as there are only so many places and it does tend to book out.  If you do miss out, don't despair as the Feast will be filmed and broadcast live
.
To give you a taste of what the Feast has to offer, below is the program from the SLV's website.

Family History Feast 2017 Program

9.30am Doors open
10–10.05am
Welcome
Kate Torney, Chief Executive Officer, State Library Victoria
10.05–11am
Exploring Koorie history and genealogyJohn Patten, Manager Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Museums Victoria
11–11.45am
Overview of Public Record Office Victoria land records 
Charlie Farrugia, Senior Collections Advisor, Public Record Office Victoria
11.45am–12.05pm
Care and preservation of your family history collection
Conservation staff, State Library Victoria
12.05–1pmBreak
1–1.45pm
Farmland and manor houses to air fields and hospitals: military property acquisition during WWII
Terrie Page, Assistant Director Access and Communication, Victorian State Office, National Archives of Australia
1.45–2.15pm
From cattle yards to war workers: the plan collection of Bendigo Regional Archives Centre
Dr Michele Matthews, Archives Officer, Bendigo Regional Archives Centre
2.15–3pm
Family history on the map
Sarah Ryan, Coordinator Map Collection, State Library Victoria
3–4pm 
2017 Don Grant Memorial Lecture – Families and land: land settlement and the role of families, Victoria 1870–1940
Dr Charles Fahey, Convener History Program, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University
Introduced by Jan Parker, President, Victorian Association of Family History Organisations (VAFHO)

Family History Month Blogging Challenge

While looking through the many events listed on the National Family History Month website and asking myself if I can possibly fit anything else into August that I have not already committed to (answer - probably, but I may have to give up sleeping), I found the NFHM Blogging Challenge.

What a great idea!  I do like blogging challenges - they get me thinking and blogging about topics I wouldn't have come up with in my own - and I especially like the literary theme (I am a librarian).  I have read all four books listed - some many years ago - and I love the inclusion of All the Rivers Run, as I can remember the filming of the miniseries here in Echuca back while I was at school.

So now its time to revisit the books and start thinking about how I will respond to each for the blogging challenge.  Have a look at this and the many other NFHM activities and see what is there for you.  Thanks to everyone out there who is participating - the more the merrier!

Family History Month

August is Family History Month and Campaspe Library is offering a number of free classes at all our library branches during the month.  Below is the schedule and bookings are now open via our homepage.  Check out the Family History Month website for all the wonderful events taking place around the country and see what is available in your area - there is sure to be something to interest you.

Library	Topic	Date and Time
Echuca	Ancestry Library Edition	Tuesday 1st August 2.30pm
	FamilySearch	Tuesday 1st August 3.30pm
	German	Tuesday 8th August 2.30pm
	Irish	Tuesday 8th August 3.30pm
	National Archives Aust.	Friday 11th August 2.30pm
	Workhouses	Friday 11th August 3.30pm
	Trove	Tuesday 15th August 2.30pm
	PROV	Tuesday 15th August 3.30pm
	Military Records	Friday 25th August 2.30pm
	Convicts	Friday 25th August 3.30pm
	Online Resources	Sunday 27th August 2.30pm
	Online Resources	Tuesday 29th August 2.30pm
	Organising your research	Tuesday 29th August 3.30pm
Kyabram	Ancestry Library Edition	Wednesday 2nd August 10.00am
	Convicts	Wednesday 2nd August 11.30am
	National Archives Aust.	Wednesday 2nd August 2.00pm
Rochester	Ancestry Library Edition	Monday 28th August 10.00am
	German	Monday 28th August 11.30am
	Convicts	Monday 28th August 2.00pm
Rushworth	FamilySearch	Wednesday 9th August 10.00am
	Trove	Wednesday 9th August 11.30am
	German	Wednesday 9th August 2.00pm
Tongala	Military	Wednesday 16th August 10.00am
	PROV	Wednesday 16th August 11.30am
	Irish	Wednesday 16th August 2.00pm

Family History Month

Once again August is Family History Month, and events, talks and activities are taking place across the country.  Campaspe Regional Library is again offering a number of Genealogy talks, so I will take this weekend to limber up my vocal chords before the first sessions start Monday at our Tongala Branch.  Bookings are available via the library homepage so please check out what is on offer and book yourself in - all the sessions are free and will be held in Echuca, Kyabram, Rochester and Tongala.  The updated notes from each session will be uploaded to the library homepage shortly.
Topics include :

• Introduction to online records
• Organising your Family History research
• Using Ancestry Library Edition
• Using FamilySearch
• Online records at the Public Records Office of Victoria
• Trove and the National Library of Australia
• Researching your military ancestors
• Irish Family History records online
• History of the Workhouses

Family History Month

August is Family History Month and Campaspe Regional Library is offering a series of talks about some of the resources available.

• Introduction to Online Resources
  A 2 hour session introducing some of the major online databases available free to researchers.
• Ancestry Library Edition
  Ancestry is probably the biggest subscription database for family history records worldwide, and is available free using the library computer or wifi.
• FamilySearch
  Created by the Mormon Church, FamilySearch is the result of millions of hours of transcription of parish and other records worldwide and is free for anyone to search.
• PROV
  The Public Records Office of Victoria holds the records of the State Government of Victoria and has a number of databases of digitised records available.
• Trove
  Trove brings together content from libraries, museums, archives and other research organisations.  Search digitised newspapers, books, images, maps, music, archives and more. 
• National Archives of Australia
  Discover more than 100 years of Australian Government records, documenting the history of individuals, communities, and the nation including military records, naturalisations, passenger lists and more. 
• World War 1
  With the Centennary of the start of WW1 this year a number of projects helping people research their WW1 ancestors online have been developed. 
• Organising Your Research
  As you gather more and more information about your family, keeping organised and being able to find and link people and data becomes more difficult.  Gain some hints and tips of how to make organising easy.

Various sessions are being held in Echuca, Kyabram and Rochester libraries and bookings for all these talks are now open via our Campaspe Regional Library website.  You can also see the events taking place all over Australia through the Family History Month website.