Family History in Lockdown

Well here we are again, back in lockdown.  As a Victorian, this is my sixth, and it is time to get back into organising my family history files, checking that all my research is properly recorded and filed.  The time definitely goes faster when I have a project to immerse myself in.

I expect we are all guilty of occasionally letting filing and updating get a little behind, and I have certainly got some catching up to do.  My printed family sheets, that I use when researching, are covered in scribbled notes and references to new documents I have found.  My 'new' folder of documents that I need to check are properly referenced on my family group sheets and filed in their appropriate folders is starting to bulge.  My backup files could do with updating too.  I really have a fair bit of work to do.

There has been a number of special opportunities made available to Family Historians around the world during lockdowns.  Ancestry has allowed many libraries subscribing to Ancestry Library Edition, normally only accessed on site, to be accessed from home by members.  For Campaspe Library members, go to the library homepage and click on Genealogy in the page menu, then click on Databases.  There you will find the link for Ancestry Library Edition from Home.  Follow the prompts to type in your library card number and PIN, and enjoy free access to the worldwide database from home.

Another great resource to access right now are the digital records available through the National Archives UK.  While their Reading Room access is limited due to restrictions, they have been offering all their digital records you would normally pay to obtain for free.  Registered users are able to order and download up to 10 items at a time, to a maximum of 100 items every 30 days.  And yes, registration is free as well.

If that isn't enough to keep me occupied, I still have several videos to watch from the truly excellent 'Family History Down Under' conference held earlier this year.  So many knowledgeable speakers, so much learning to do.  Then there are the many events listed for Family History Month Australasia 2021, which is held throughout August.  While I expect a number of events will be cancelled or postponed because of the current situation around the country, many were already planned to be held online and hopefully will still go ahead.

So to everyone out there who is locked down at home right now, take some time to revisit your family history, make sure all your research is up to date and backed up, and take advantage of the various free learning and researching opportunities out there.  I've only touched on a few.  There are more out there - so go find them!

Ancestry News

Major family history website Ancestry has announced that it is acquiring UK military records website Forces War Records.

Ancestry, which holds over 24 billion family history records from 80 countries, has purchased Clever Digit Media, which owns and operates Forces War Records as well as family history research service British Genealogy.

Since it was founded in 2010, Forces War Records has transcribed 26 million Commonwealth military service records from the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts, two million of which are exclusive to the site.

Ancestry has not yet announced what the acquisition will mean for Forces War Records’ collections, but an Ancestry spokesperson said they expected it would be “business as usual” for the site.

In further Ancestry news, it has been announced that home access to Ancestry Library Edition will continue until 30 September 2021.  Ancestry made the decision back in April 2020 to allow this database, normally only accessed in the library buildings using our public PCs or wi-fi, to be accessed from home while the CoronaVirus pandemic impacted library access for many.  So Campaspe Library members can continue to access this fantastic genealogical resource from home.

To access Ancestry Library Edition, you need to go to the Campaspe Regional Library web page at https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library  On the left hand column, click on 'Genealogy' and then on 'Databases'.  The link for Ancestry Library Edition from home is at the top right.  You will be prompted to log in using your library card number and PIN, then follow the prompts to Ancestry's page and continue researching your family history from the comfort of home.

Free Records from The National Archives UK

Although TheNational Archives UK is now reopening after lockdown on a limited basis, it is continuing to offer free access to thousands of its digitised family history records.

To access these , you have to register for an account on its website Discovery. This is free, and enables TNA to check that you are complying with its ‘fair use’ policy. The main restrictions are that you can’t put more than 10 items in your basket per visit, and you can’t download more than 100 items over the course of a 30-day period.

What you can access free includes :

• Army and military records - Many records have been digitised and are now hosted on the major subscription websites, but there are a good number of useful records that are now freely available on TNA’s website. Some, like the First World War Medal Index Cards (MICs), are also available on commercial websites.  Other collections include the service records of First World War nurses, the Household Cavalry records which cover both the First World War and earlier service and Recommendations for military honours and awards 1935–1990.
• RAF records -  These include the Royal Air Force Operations Record Books (ORBs), the Women’s Royal Air Force service records, and combat reports from the Second World War. The last is an incomplete collection and can only be searched by pilot, air gunner or date, but is fascinating nonetheless.
• Royal and Merchant navy records -  The collections include service records for both officers and ratings, as well as medal records for merchant seamen covering both world wars and the unpaid pensions claims from 1830–1860 which often include supporting documents such as wills, death certificates and marriage records.
• Wills from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) - Dating all the way back to 1384, these wills can be a gold mine of information if you find an ancestor in them. PCC wills are available on various commercial sites as well, but there are other records here that can’t be found elsewhere. 
• Migration records - These include the aliens’ registration cards 1918–1957, which usually include photos; and the naturalisation case papers from 1801–1870. If you see “naturalised” in the “Where born” column of a census record, then the case papers would be worth investigating.
•  First World War service appeal tribunal records from Middlesex - Tribunals were set up across the country to listen to those who appealed against conscription. Although conscientious objection was allowed as a reason not to serve, the records show that most people appealed for other reasons. This is one of the few sample collections that survive – the rest of the tribunal records were destroyed after the war.

So take the opportunity to explore this wonderful free access to records you would normally have to pay to obtain, yet another example of how  many companies are changing their practices to keep people going through the pandemic.

Genealogy Events Online

As the Corona Virus pandemic shuts down so much across the globe and most of us are staying pretty close to home, more and more genealogy events that would have been held locally are now going online.  That means there are more and more talks, seminars, conferences and training sessions held around the world that we can attend online from the comfort and safety of home.  While for me attending online cannot beat personally attending these events - the chatting, the networking, the sharing ideas with other attendees - it does give me the chance to virtually participate in events I never could have traveled to in person.

Its really worth your time to look around at what is available.  Gould Genealogy has a list of online genealogy events on their homepage.  The Virtual Genealogical Association is completely online and offers a number of talks and presentations each month.  FamilySearch continues to offer a range of online classes and tutorials.  Legacy Family Tree is offering several webinars free each month.  And there are many more.

A number of research facilities are offering special or free access.  The UK National Archives has announced in April that it was offering free access to its digital records for as long as it remains closed to the public during the Coronavirus pandemic.  How much longer that access will remain free is unknown, but it has certainly been a boon to many who have been researching from home in the past few months. 
Ancestry recently announced that home access the Ancestry Library Edition for patrons of subscribing libraries will continue until 31 July.  The Family History Show made the move to host their annual conference online to replace the family history events closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.  The Family History Show Online took place in late June.  There are many more, from single talks to genealogy society meetings to major conferences, that have made the move to online in order to keep functioning.

Virtual tours of many cultural institutions have sprung up as well.  The British Museum is allowing virtual visitors to search the collection online to view specific objects or find out more about individual galleries. 
The Hermitage Museum announced they were preparing a large quantity of broadcasts to view on their YouTube and Instagram channels. So far they are only in Russian, but in the near future they plan to begin broadcasting in other languages too – English, Italian and more.  The Smithsonian Open Access applies to digital assets that are created, stored, or maintained by the Smithsonian. This might include text, still images, sound recordings, research datasets, 3D models, collections data, and more.

As the pandemic changes the way we live, genealogy has changed with it, and the way we research, learn and interact with fellow genealogists changes too.  For those who often miss out on conferences because of the cost of travel and demands of work and family, the increase of online participation may even prove an advantage in many ways.

So keep an eye on what is available online and check out some of the talks, seminars and conferences that are out there.  Happy researching.

National Archives UK Free Access

Have you been taking advantage of the free access to The National Archives during lockdown?  The UK National Archives has announced in April that it was offering free access to its digital records for as long as it remains closed to the public during the Coronavirus pandemic.  How much longer that access will remain free is unknown, but it has certainly been a boon to many who have been researching from home in the past few months.

Users can download records digitised by The National Archives and published through Discovery, its online catalogue. These include:

• First and Second World War records, including medal index cards
• Military records, including unit war diaries
• Royal and Merchant Navy records, including Royal Marine service records
• Wills from the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
• Migration records, including aliens’ registration cards and naturalisation case papers
• 20th century Cabinet Papers and Security Service files
• Domesday Book

Registered users can order and download up to 10 items at no cost, to a maximum of 50 items over 30 days. National Archives explains that the limits are there 'to try and help manage the demand for content and ensure the availability of our digital services for everyone'.  Registration itself is also free.

To access the service and download for free, users will be required to:

• Register/sign in to their Discovery account before adding items to their basket (maximum ten items per basket)
• Abide by the terms of the fair use policy
• Complete the order process to receive a download link, which will remain active for 30 days. (The link will also be saved in ‘Your orders’ in your account for 30 days)

So if you haven't already been downloading records, make sure you take advantage of this great offer of free records while they last, and see what new detail you can find about your family history.

Transcription Tuesday Makes A Comeback

As the coronavirus outbreak forces us to stay at home, Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine want to help their readers find fun and productive ways to pass the time, gain new skills and help others while observing social distancing.  As part of this, they have decided to bring back their popular Transcription Tuesday event.

For those unfamiliar with this annual event, WDYTYA readers have been able to transcribe vital family history records for volunteer projects, making them accessible to all.  Earlier this year, their army of volunteers collectively transcribed nearly 25,000 records, from nonconformist parish records to First World War Royal Navy crew lists.

WDYTYA describes transcription is a fascinating way to discover the individual stories hidden in historic records and improve your ability to read old handwriting.  It’s also a way to give back to the family history community. The record you help put online could be a vital breakthrough for another family historian.  Best of all, transcription can be done from your home on your computer or laptop – so it’s the perfect activity for the coronavirus outbreak.

During the coronavirus outbreak, WDYTYA will bring back Transcription Tuesday on a weekly basis, highlighting a different project every Tuesday.  If you have time during the day, even if it’s just a few minutes, you can take part and show your support by transcribing their chosen project.  For their first Transcription Tuesday project on 31 March, they partnering with Ancestry to support their non-profit World Archives Project.  Readers can help to work on a new set of records – English Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1843.  These records include original letters, prisoner registers and inspection reports relating to the administration of convict, ship and local prisons and to their inmates.  They reveal details of prisoners such as the name, residence, age, crime and sentence.

Click here for instructions to get started transcribing the records.  Note that you will also need to register for a free Ancestry account and download the Keying Tool if you haven't already done so.  You can find out how to do so here.

It is worth noting that you can participate in Transcription Tuesday any day you want - you're not limited to just one day a week.