Genealogy Chat

Check to see if there is a family history society in your area. You can usually turn up on spec to their meetings. The huge advantage that most talks or courses have over these boards is the opportunity to see plenty of examples for yourself. I have been to more talks in my time than I care to remember, but there are only a very few that I don't learn something new from. There are so many, many sources besides census, GRO indexes and parish registers. Last week I found one I'd never used before and now am itching to get to the relevant county record office to see the originals. Family history has changed amazingly over the last five years for the very basic research, and a few of the older speakers are having difficulty getting to grips with this, but many of my best discoveries have been prompted by a brilliant talk I have heard.

I have to add, that I dont think anyone could teach you in a short course what this board and records can. I read family history magazines and books before I found this site and Im sure I learnt more just reading every message on here than any mags, courses or books could teach me. And you can do it whenever you want, as often for as long as you want and I can tell you NO course teacher will do look ups for you!

hiya, i did a basic introduction to family history at our local community centre, a few yrs back, and signed up to to the intermediate course, however, the day of my new course my mum died, so i didnt get to finnish it, (and the imminent birth of my son) It did give me alot of insight as to where/what and how things worked, BUT, i have found the knowledge and help from people on here, who are patient enough to help/explain things is absolutly priceless, and It does help alot you do learn as you go along, and as you begin by buying certs, you can then verify, and hopefully not chase wrong lines, I personally try to verify all information, before I do purchase a cert, be it by Parish records, or by other family documents, HTH Julie

I can't imagine that Glen can be all that comfortable in his armchair with all that tinsel!! I'm not a great fan of courses either!! (not having been on any, I am, of course, highly qualified to hold this view!!!)......I just think it must be extremely difficult for anyone to find a course at the right level.....too simplistic and you are bored, too complex and you lose interest. (I used to have to go on many courses when I was a working person, but always seemed to know more than the person holding the course.......!!) Merry

from the open university website: Start Writing Family History Course content This 12-week course will help you to interpret and write about family history. Through interactive exercises, short readings and longer assignments marked by your tutor you will have an opportunity to practise, improve and reflect on a range of core skills in historical research, concentrating throughout on family history. These skills include distinguishing between primary and secondary sources and interpreting oral and visual sources. The course consists of five blocks: What is family history? This introductory block asks the basic questions: why study family history at all, what is the family and what is history? You will be invited to consider the difference between genealogy and family history, the value of different kinds of sources and how they may be used in writing. From family tree to family history investigates some of the main sources of family history, including the census and registers of births, marriages and deaths. Through a variety of online exercises and activities you will be encouraged to reflect on the nature of these sources and the ways in which they can be used when writing family history. The block will demonstrate how you might use individual case studies to make general judgements and arguments about the family in the past. Writing lives: autobiography, biography and diaries in family history concentrates on diaries, letters and autobiographies. Such first-person narratives can be rich and important sources for writing family history because of the insight they give into the way family life was experienced. Through selected extracts, you will be shown how to critically read first-person narratives and how to use them as evidence. The block will also introduce some of the issues involved in reading and writing biography as history. Picturing the family: photographs in family history looks at some of the ways photographs can reveal, and sometimes conceal, important information about the past. This block teaches the skills and provides some of the knowledge needed to interpret such pictorial sources. Family stories: oral history considers how spoken memories can provide information about the past. It will introduce you to the skills needed to record and interpret oral history. The course’s audio CD provides examples of oral history that are the basis of exercises and activities for this block. Through them, students will be encouraged to consider the many ways that the family is remembered and the importance of family stories to family history. These five blocks are presented on a website and supplemented by an audio CD and a printed course guide. You are encouraged to participate in an online conference through which you can interact with other students and with your tutor.

Tanks everyone i think i might have a trip to the library on Wednesday and see what they have got and go from there. Heather i'm afraid i'm only 23. Thanks Jen

Jennifer, if you contact your local Adult Education (should be in yellow pages) they will tell you about any courses. Our local records office also has courses. So do local history societies. Just give your Adult Ed and Records office a ring to ask - they arent usually that expensive and I think the Workers Education Association WEA do them. Also - I dont know your age - but for the over 50s check out the Third Age University which does courses in this area.

Hi Jennifer I would think most of them show you how to look for bmd refs,and using the census to trace family groups.Doubtless the sort of thing you are doing already. They will probably go onto advice and how to access parish records etc,but to be honest i think you would learn just as much through this board,in the comfort of your awn home. A good book would be an alternative,but you can only have 'how to search the birth index' explained in a few different ways. Glen

Jennifer I have not done any courses, I have learned on the job, so to speak!!! Why not go to your local library and borrow a few books on basic Family History, the shelves are groaning with them. It really doesnt matter which books you read, all have strengths and weaknesses and the more you read, the more you will learn. Personally, I would recommend the 'sitting next to Nellie' approach - in other words, ask questions on here, read the posts, see how other people solve their problems etc. OC

I think that it depends really on what you would like to do - are you wanting to become a professional geneologist and research peoples trees for a living? If not, I think that the best way is to learn as you go along, read magazines. Also the help on this board is priceless from such knowledgable members such as OC, Nell, Merry and Heather. Although, I haven't really looked at a course or what they cover, I'm sure others will have a different opinion. tom.

I was wondering if you could recommend a family tree course if any of you have done one or if not do you think it would be worth looking to see if i can find one? I know it will cost a bit of money but i'm not worried about this. If it stops me going down the wrong family then it would be worth the money or would you say that it is best to learn as you go along and built up your knowledge this way? Thanks Jen