Genealogy Chat

Thank you to everyone who has replied to this message. I felt a complete and utter idiot and very exposed. I think the tip about reading the guides is a very good one. I did look at them but I think sheer panic took over. Embarrassingly I earn my living as an Information Officer and Researcher but it's different when you know what you are doing. The staff are very helpful but you do feel such a twerp. Knowing I am not the only one is actually helpful in itself. Perhaps we should set up a Kew Visitors Support Group? Jenny

Interested to read this, as the info I've read about Kew makes it sound extremely daunting and unlikely that you will ever find what you are looking for! I found the FRC a bit strange too, but other researchers were very kind and showed me how to photocopy microfilm etc. Why do we always feel we're the only ones who don't know and that everyone else is feeling superior? They're probably feeling just as daft as you do!

Hi Kew is a bit daunting at first and you feel such a prat asking so many questions! But the leaflets are really useful. I think the key is to read the leaflets carefully and SLOWLY. Familiarise yourself where all the different tables are and where everything is as the microfilm room is huge and you find yourself walking back and forth. But after a while you get used to it. I felt really thick while I was there because I couldn't get the film on the reader, couldn't operate the printers it was soooo embarassing! I thought everyone was looking at me! But it was alright in the end. If you can get to Kew - go - it is well worth it. It is an amazing place. But it is a good idea to visit the web site first. Sue

I'm interested in any replies to this thread. I booked a couple of nights in London for this week with a view to spending 2 days at Kew looking for elusive mariners. I chickened out at the last minute having spent hours reading a couple of library books about the PRO. Decided that it was all beyond my comprehension! Jill

I went to Kew on Wednesday to look a divorce case I knew to be there as I had found it on the commercial National Archivist website. Found Kew very scary and it took me some time to get used to the system of tracers, location tables etc (perhaps I am particularly thick) and then to do battle with the microfilm reader. Try as I might I couldn't find my case and will have to put the whole thing down to experience and go again. Does anyone have an idea where I may have gone wrong? I am going to go back to National Archivist to check again. I think I am going to think of my first trip to Kew as a familiarisation exercise! Jenny