Donating Your Research

Have you ever considered what will happen to all your family history research after you are gone?  Do you have family members who are interested in genealogy who will take on your research and pass it on, who understand your work and value it?  Or do you wonder if all your details and documents will end up in boxes in the garage until they are eventually thrown out?

While I have provided casually interested cousins with some details of my research and copies of documents and photographs, I have no close relative who is interested in continuing the family history research I have been accumulating for decades.  Several of my friends are facing the same situation - their children and grandchildren might enjoy a few stories now and then, but they are not interested in the detail and have no desire to continue the research.

Donating your research to a local, state or national Genealogical Society is an option worth investigating.  The Society of Australian Genealogists accepts both published and unpublished materials which have value for genealogical research.  They accept both hard copy and digital formats, and their website has both a Background Information Leaflet on donating your research to the SAG, and an Assessment Form for unpublished materials.

Your research does not have to be complete to be donated, and they accept relevant supporting documents such as immigration and military service records, correspondence, birth death and marriage records, and research notes.  Any research you donate will be able to be viewed by other researchers, and you will be expected to fill out a donation form. 

There are other Genealogical Societies around the world who are prepared to accept donations to preserve the information for future generations of researchers, so consider who will look after and pass on your research, and if donating a copy of all you have learned is worthwhile.

WDYTYA Magazine

The latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine is now available free online for Campaspe Library members via our subscription to RB Digital eMagazines.

Inside this month's issue

• Missing birth records Can't find your ancestor's birth? Genealogist and former deputy registrar Antony Marr shares his top ticks for tracking them down
• VJ Day 75 years later Historian Kevin Telfer looks back on the turbulent months between the end of the Second World War in Europe and in Japan
• Slavery in Jamaica In light of the debate about the legacy of the slave trade, Richard Atkinson reveals how it felt to discover that his ancestors owned slave plantations
• Getting started More people than ever started their family tree in lockdown. Jonathan Scott picks the best websites for beginner family historians
• The lives of Boy Scouts Writer and Scout leader Nina Hoole reveals how the Scout movement made a difference to thousands of our ancestors
• Lancashire Our complete guide to family history in this historic northern county
• Plus... Finding records of Japanese PoWs; discovering the lives of chimney sweeps; reader stories from the Battle of Britain, and much more…

History Magazines Online

Campaspe Regional Library has expanded its selection of online magazines available for patrons through RB Digital.  The selection now available includes a number of history magazines, which can all be downloaded and read on you PC, tablet or iPad.  Below is a small selection of the "All About History" specials available.

On Bosworth field in 1485 the feud that had caused bloodshed and battle for three decades came to an end. The victor was the last hope of the Lancastrians, Henry Tudor. In this book, you'll get the full picture of how Henry's Tudor dynasty cemented its place in history, from the red-soaked fields of the War of the Roses, to the string of Tudor monarchs, to what everyday life was like for the lowly population. Packed with beautiful illustrations and insights into the period, this is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the most legendary period of English history. Featuring: Battle for the throne - Find out how the War of the Roses came to be and the key battles that decided its victors The key figures - From Henry VII to Elizabeth, by way of Henry VIII's wives and Thomas Cromwell, get to know the key Tudor players Tudor life - See what life was like for everyday folk as well as the upper classes in the Tudor period Change & Legacy - From religious to artistic revolution, discover how the period has affected life to the present day.

The mid-17th century was one of the most explosive periods in history across the British Isles. In England, a desperate king fought bitterly against his defiant Parliament; in Scotland religious turmoil sparked invasions from the north; and in Ireland, an oppressive regime led to an all-out Catholic rebellion. In this bookazine, we explore the how all these events, and more, combined to make up the British Civil Wars, from the political machinations of Parliament to the bloody battlefield clashes at Edgehill, Naseby and Marston Moor. We follow the meteoric rise of Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army, as well as the tragic decline of Charles I – a king executed by his own subjects. We also investigate how the countries transformed in the period of Interregnum, for better and for worse, before taking a look at how the monarchy made a stunningly peaceful return during the Restoration.

The Life And Times Of The Stuarts focuses on a nation-defining period of British history that is every bit as enthralling, dramatic and pivotal as that of Henry VIII and co. BBC History magazine now turns its attention from The Story Of The Tudors to the seismic changes that occurred within the British Isles during the Stuart rule between 1603 and 1714. Inside you will find: • The Gunpowder Plot • The English Civil War • Charles I’s execution • Oliver Cromwell’s rule • The restoration of the monarchy • The ousting of James II in the Glorious Revolution and many other key events in British history! This special edition calls upon the expertise and analysis of the world’s leading historians as an in-depth and invaluable way to understand more about this absorbing time.

Meet the colourful monarchs who reigned though some of Britain’s most tumultuous and dramatic centuries Inside you will discover: -A timeline of key milestones, from the Norman conquest to the fall of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth -The regal women who stamped their mark on medieval Britain: Matilda, Isabella of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine -The motives and military exploits of Henry V, Edward I and Richard the Lionheart -How Owain Glyndwr and Robert Bruce fought English rule in Wales and Scotland -The debates that still rage about Richard III and the death of Edward II -Civil Wars that rocked England, pitting Matilda against Stephen and York against Lancaster

Ancestry Library Edition from home extended

Ancestry has just announced that home access to Ancestry Library Edition will continue for another month, until 31 August.  They made the decision back in April to allow this database, normally only accessed in the library buildings using our public PCs or wi-fi, to be accessed from home while libraries were either closed or only open to limited numbers.  So those Campaspe Regional Library members who are still unable to research Ancestry Library Edition in the library 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 right hand column, click on the link for 'Things to do from Home'.  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.

A huge thank you to Ancestry for making this resource available from home during the pandemic.  I hope you all enjoy access and stay safe.

Family Tree Magazine

Among the new eMagazines available for free Campaspe Library patrons through RB Digital is the US Family Tree magazine.  Check out the July/August edition now.

What’s Inside!

Highlights from this issue include:

• Our annual list of the 101 Best Genealogy Websites
• a quick guide to using Family Tree Maker
• Tips for becoming a professional genealogist—and other ways of using your genealogy skills in the workforce
• Expert analysis on how to protect your DNA information
• a FREE US census cheat sheet

Contents

Good as Gold by David A. Fryxell

We won’t see medals awarded this summer after all. But these 101 Best Genealogy Websites are all winners in our book.

Maker’s Mark by the Editors of Family Tree Magazine

Document and organize your hard-earned research with these 12 tips for using the Family Tree Maker software.

Red-Handed by Amanda Epperson

Because Irish records are often scarce, those researching ancestors from Ulster have their hands full. But these seven websites will help you find your Scots-Irish roots.

Hanging Your Shingle by Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer

Achieving genealogy credentials can help you raise your family history “rank.” Here’s how to earn them through the two most prominent organizations.

Alternate Roots by Sunny Jane Morton

You never know where the road of life will take you. Put your research skills to good use with these six genealogy “dream jobs.”

Plus!

• State Research Guides: Maryland and Oklahoma
• Lisa’s Picks
• Timeline: Archery
• Family History Home: Caring for Wedding Finery
• Stories to Tell
• Your Turn: Relationship Chart
• Document Detective: Cemetery Interment Ledgers
• Now What
• Tech Toolkit
• DNA Q&A: How Can I Keep My DNA Information Private?

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.

Traces Magazine

Traces uncovers Australian history, from ancient Indigenous heritage to European settlement, local history, artefacts and genealogy.

Launched in December 2017, Traces is the only quarterly printed magazine dedicated to providing its readers with insight into the latest historical research, news and heritage projects taking place around Australia. The expert voices of historians, researchers, heritage professionals, genealogists, and journalists uncover the fascinating characters and stories of our past.

With the partnership and collaboration of key national and local heritage organisations, as well as state libraries, Traces has its finger on the pulse of heritage news and developments around the country, making it the best consumer publication for anyone passionate about Australian history and genealogy.

Traces magazine is available free in digital form from Campaspe Regional Library via our eMagazines from RB Digital.  Ask our staff for more information or how to download onto your PC, tablet or iPad.