Family history should reveal more than facts and dates, lists of names and places it should bring ancestors alive in the context of their times and the surroundings they knew and research into local history records is one of the most rewarding ways of gaining this kind of insight into their world. That is why Jonathan Oatess detailed introduction to these records is such a useful tool for anyone who is trying to piece together a portrait of family members from the past. In a series of concise and informative chapters he looks at the origins and importance of local history from the sixteenth century onwards and at the principal archives national and local, those kept by government, councils, boroughs, museums, parishes, schools and clubs. He also explains how books, photographs and other illustrations, newspapers, maps, directories, and a range of other resources can be accessed and interpreted and how they can help to fill a gap in your knowledge. As well as describing how these records were compiled, he highlights their limitations and the possible pitfalls of using them, and he suggests how they can be combined to build up a picture of an individual, a family and the place and time in which they lived.
Through the research advice, resources and case studies in the book, researchers can learn about their ancestors, their families and the society they lived in and record their stories for generations to come.
Jonathan Oates’s clearly written new handbook gives you all the background knowledge needed in order to go into this engrossing area of family history research.
A thorough genealogical resource explores the techniques of discovering the secrets of one's family history and locating one's ancestors, covering everything from how to identify the members of one's family tree, to using different types of ...
Parish records are essential sources for family and local historians, and Stuart Raymond's handbook is an invaluable guide to them.
French inventors the Lumière brothers introduced Britain to the first film shown from a manual projector called a cinematograph, to a small, awestruck audience who had each paid a shilling to see the 40-second film.
* Comprehensive, detailed introduction to county records * Comprehensive, detailed introduction to quarter sessions and other county records * Explains how these records provide insights into the life and times of individuals in the past * ...
The British public's hunger to meet their ancestors continues, and this unrivalled guide offers one of the best ways to explore people in the past through the holdings of The...
In many cases, they can be used as a starting point for developing your family history research into other equally rewarding areas.This highly readable handbook is packed with useful information and helpful research advice.
An essential guide to reading and understanding the old documents necessary for researching family or local history Genealogists and local historians have probably seen every birth, marriage, death, and census record available, and are ...
Researching family history has become increasingly popular in recent years. The documents held at the Public Record Office and the Family Records Centre span over 1,000 years and contain a...