Genealogy News - 31st May

Recent releases by Ancestry include great news for Surrey researchers - see their 'updates page' and follow the links.

Live near London and fancy a free lecture or three? Then check out the June listing for the excellent Gresham College. The talks are free and open to all (and most of the old ones are online at their website, too)

Scots may wish to take a look at this major forthcoming conference in October which is being organised by the Scottish Genealogy Society ... who have also released a few new publications.

Are you into community archives &/or heritage? Then you should check this newsletter out.

A couple of new podcasts have popped up at TNA's dedicated website.

Those of us with Bevin Boy ancestors may be interested in this.

An interesting story about a bid to identify Belfast soldiers.

Lots of Irish news, as usual, is available at Claire Santry's 'Irish Genealogy News' blog - so much of late, in fact, that I'm simply going to ask you to click through to her website and have a browse for yourself. In short, there's news on NLI's 'Summer of Genealogy', Derry's Great Parchment Book, an Irish Famine Conference, and lots, lots more.

A couple of items for Scottish researchers via blogger Chris Paton:

• Scottish Online Catalogue Project;
• Scottish Catholic records.

Check out a list of 10 free parish register websites.

Many genealogists may wish to follow blogger John D Reid's advice and take an online course.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC...

• The week's 'History Headlines' will soon pop up here (where you can also peruse previous instalments);
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More to be found at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Questionable advice...

How Not to Woo a Man

Genealogy News - 28th May

The Spring Bank Holiday seems to have temporarily choked the flow of genealogy news. Oh well, let's see what we can dig out...

Some reading to begin with, and the latest Lost Cousins Newsletter + the Bank Holiday edition from S&N Genealogy Supplies.

Big news for Scottish researchers: the launch of the 1895 Valuation Rolls at ScotlandsPeople.

More Scottish news via Chris Paton: Scottish Monumental Inscriptions update.

And yet more for the Scots: don't forget to keep tabs on Electric Scotland's newsletters.

You may wish to catch up with recent developments at TheGenealogist.

Here's the regular history links collection from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

And that's about it. Well, apart from the usual forthcoming events listing...

• Saturday 1st June - South Ayrshire History & Family History Fair, Troon;
• Saturday 1st June - Sheffield & District Family History Fair, Sheffield;
• Saturday 1st June - Shropshire FHS Open Day & Fair, Shrewsbury;
• Advance warning of a GOONS seminar for budding One-Namers;
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• PRONI event for those 'in the industry';
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming SoG events;
• Forthcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And remember that there are other oddments to be found via the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 24th May

Once again, we begin with blogger of all things Irish, Claire Santry, and her report on the terrific news about the island's Civil Registration Indexes. Chris Paton's take on the news is here. Claire also fills us in on more available Church of Ireland records.

Not long before I published this post news broke of the release of over 450,000 new parish records from FindMyPast. The new datasets cover several parts of England, so do at least have a quick look just in case your area of interest is included.

I've been sent a link to a handy 'Interactive People Finder' which genealogists may find useful.

Here's an interesting project from Northumberland, and more specifically Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Thanks to @NLIreland on Twitter (among others) for pointing out this great resource for Irish history.

A little news item re. Wales and its libraries can be perused here.

Think you may have an interest in Brompton Cemetery, London? Try this.

Yorkshire researchers may wish to take a look at Chris Paton's post on the subject of Bradford's planned new library.

Latest issue of Irish Roots Magazine.

Interesting theory: our ancestors were smarter than us (thanks to @FamilySearch on Twitter).

Blogger Christine Woodcock has flagged another couple of useful general websites - the first recommendation (for Scots) can be found here and the second (for the whole of the world!) is here.

A tale of conservation from the NLI.

There's a half price offer on historical maps from Ordnance Survey.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC HistoryExtra website:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• June issue of the BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed!

Genealogy News - 21st May

As is prone to happen from time to time, we have a distinct lull in genealogy-related news at the moment. But here goes anyway...

We'll begin with blogger Claire Santry and her further observations re. the release of the 1926 Irish Census.

The latest GOONS Newsflash is now available.

Here's news of a DNA project for Caithness and Sutherland (thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter).

And here are details of an Oxfordshire DNA project (related posts here and here).

There's also an interesting DNA Native Indians-in-Iceland tale here.

Chris Paton informs us of the latest news on the 'Family Tree' TV comedy show, currently airing in the US and due 'over here' in July.

Now available: the latest Offaly History newsletter.

Christine Woodcock points to a couple of avenues for those of us with Scottish rural ancestors.

As for Northern Ireland (and its GRO records), take a look at this post from Chris Paton. And here's some new material for County Down.

Forthcoming events (not a great deal happening!):

• Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May (10am-4pm) - Channel Islands FHS Exhibition, St.Helier Town Hall, Jersey;
• Events, etc., at the National Library of Scotland (+ other NLS stuff);
• Scottish Genealogy Society's 'Programme of Classes';
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget about the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Way too complicated...

Einstein & Genealogy

Genealogy News - 17th May

It appears that the organisers of next year's WDYTYA? Fair have tinkered with the dates. The show will now run from Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd February 2014 - see the official site.

Seafaring ancestors? Then check this out from FMP.

More on that interesting-looking development from MyHeritage - namely their 'Record Detective' feature. Oh, and there's mention of something else from MyHeritage here.

Good news for Peterborough researchers. And there's more from DeceasedOnline here (inc. London news).

If you've English Catholic interests then you should have a look at this useful post.

Those of you with RAF ancestors may be interested in this from TNA.

Need Irish news? Then you'll know that the place to go is Claire Santry's 'Irish Genealogy News' blog. Some of the more prominent stories of late are...

• IGRS Library re-opens at SoG;
• 'Plantation Families' 2-day conference;
• Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives update.

The results of the 2013 Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence can be found here (thanks to @familytreemaguk on Twitter).

The June issue of Family Tree magazine is now out.

Ah, here are some free resources from Your Family Tree magazine!

A history crossword.

Latest from the BBC...

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And two more important things to remember:

• If you need a family history researcher or any other genealogical service/product then don't forget to peruse the category tabs at the top of this blog (and please mention that you came via the BI-Gen Blog!);
• And please pop in to visit the BI-Gen Twitter feed for all the latest genealogy news & stories ... and you don't have to be a registered Twitter user to do so!

Genealogy News - 14th May

The latest Lost Cousins newsletter is up for grabs.

Thanks to Claire Santry for the latest on the Irish 1926 Census release.

A major WWI project is in the offing - see Chris Paton's take on the news here.

MyHeritage subscribers will probably already know about the new 'Record Detective' feature of their website - but if not, here's a YouTube clip. Looks pretty neat.

If you're Scottish based and interested in historical newspapers, then please take note of this.

DNA research fans will want to take a look at this from Debbie Kennett's blog.

It's about time we had a look at worldwide genealogy news via the GenealogyInTime newsletter.

Here's the latest batch of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Interesting piece on child migrants from TNA's blog.

Here's a brief history of the Huguenots.

Many of you may remember an appeal by genealogist Anthony Adolph for British folk related to Abraham Lincoln ... well, here's how it panned out!

And, of course, here's your forthcoming events:

• Saturday 18th May - 'Yesterday Belongs To You' Local & Family History Fair, County Hall, Durham (despite the lack of online info this is a 'big one', so do get along if you can);
• Saturday 18th May - Dumfries Book Fair;
• Saturday 18th May - Lincoln Book Fair;
• Sunday 19th May - Kent Family History Fair, Maidstone;
• Upcoming stuff at West Yorkshire Archives Service;
• Irish events (not all in Ireland!) and here - thanks Claire;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Remember to also keep an eye on the BI-Gen Twitter feed for the latest news.

 

And please, PLEASE follow the link to some wonderful old colour footage from the 1920s...

London in 1927

Genealogy News - 10th May

Not a great deal happening this week. Enough, though, to keep us ticking over...

Irish researchers may wish to check out FindMyPast Ireland's online memorial to the Irish Famine.

The ScotlandsPeople May newsletter is available here.

Ever wondered about Northern Ireland and the 1926 Census?

FindMyPast have posted an article on the ancestry of actor Michael Kitchen.

The National Archives' May e-newsletter is here. One of the more prominent news items is the release of 19th century immigration records (see also here).

New exhibition at the National Records of Scotland.

Here's Essex Record Office's May e-bulletin.

Monaghan researchers ... check this out.

Latest TNA Podcast.

Here's a good 'spot' by @GuildOneName on Twitter: a surname distribution tool.

The very latest issue of the completely free Irish Lives Remembered is now available.

And more Irish news via Claire Santry:

• Irish events;
• Latest issue of HistoryIreland;
• Irish wills news.

Thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter for flagging this article on 'What Makes the British'. Debbie also highlights this article about our inter-relatedness.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And the BI-Gen Twitter feed can be found here.

Genealogy News - 7th May

I'd almost forgotten about this, but of course May is 'Local History Month'. The best there is on offer as regards a central website is (as far as I know) this effort from The Historical Association. Even better ... just pop along to your local library for a booklet and/or relevant guidance. There's lots going on!

Still thinking about joining The National Archives' 'Community' website/forum? Read all about it here.

Here's a regular read that gets better and better: the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies newsletter.

Have a historical interest in the Essex police force? See here.

Latest newsletter from the Community Archives & Heritage Group.

Here's a useful list which has just been updated: GenealogyInTime's 'First Name Abbreviations'.

Latest Podcast from TNA.

Two useful posts from blogger Chris Paton:

• Book review: How Our Ancestors Died;
• Highland Archive Centre: a review.

London map enthusiasts may be interested in this from the British Library (thanks to @CharlotteFrost1 on Twitter).

The latest Eneclann newsletter is now available.

Scots Italian? See here (thanks to @ScotlandsPeople on Twitter).

More Scots stuff: the latest issue of 'Broadsheet'.

Need research help or wanna give it? See Mocavo's new service, here.

Here's your weekly collection of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events:

• Friday 10th & Saturday 11th May - History & Genealogy Village, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin;
• Saturday 11th May - Scottish Association of FHS Conference, Galashiels;
• Saturday 11th May - Sussex FHG Local & Family History Fair, Haywards Heath;
• Saturday 11th May - Romany & Traveller FHS Society Day, Weston-super-Mare;
• Saturday 11th May - Darlington Book Fair;
• Sunday 12th May - Dorchester Book Fair;
• Advance warning of the South Ayrshire History & Family History Fair on 1st June in Troon (booking required for talks);
• Advance warning of the Archives for London Seminar: Volunteering in the Archives Sector, LMA 6th June (booking essential);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way). There is also a postcard fair at Kinross Church Centre, High Street, Kinross, on 11th May, 10.30am-4pm (contact: Gareth Burgess on 01368 860365);
• BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget about the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks, again, to the Two Nerdy History Girls for...

Curious Tudor Laws

Genealogy News - 3rd May

The May newsletter from S&N Genealogy Supplies is now out - see here. This issue includes some important news items, so don't miss out.

Talking of newsletters, here's the latest effort from the Parish Chest.

Oh, and here's another: the CWGC May e-newsletter.

And there's serious reading to be had with the launch on 1st May of this new genealogy e-mag.

DeceasedOnline have added records for Altrincham to their datasets. Some info can be found here, and no doubt an article will pop up on their blog in due course.

Here's something for Scottish diaries for August.

Ancestry have added a new collection of 'UK City & County Directories' to their website - see here and follow the links.

News re. Oxford wills from Origins.net.

Sad news: Salford Heritage Services to be slashed (via @SpeakUp4Libs on Twitter).

Royal Navy interests? Check this out.

This looks interesting for Irish researchers.

More Irish stuff: updates to the Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives.

Latest from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio;
• Special 'History Weekend' in October.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed !

I do hope you haven't just eaten...

Botched Beheadings

On a lighter note (I think), more confusion for future genealogists...

Natural Insemination

Genealogy News - 30th April

Many of you may have heard about the fire at the National Library of Wales. For a neat overview check out Chris Paton's short post on the topic. Chris also highlights an important recent press release from the NLW re. copyright issues.

Here's a fascinating story via blogger Dick Eastman (thanks also to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter).

The 'Abroad in theYard' blog has an interesting piece on red-heads.

If you're deeply into Scottish genealogical research - especially as a profession - then you'll want to keep tabs on these recent developments.

There have been a few updates made to Ancestry's records - have a quick look here (1911 Census + Liverpool stuff).

For NEW customers only: use discount code TELLY when registering at FindMyPast.co.uk to secure 40 free credits.

Want to know about Inquisitions Post Mortem? Here's a good spot by @CharlotteFrost1 via Twitter.

Dabbled in genetic genealogy lately? Then take this survey by John D Reid.

Thanks to @MyHeritage on Twitter for this story about three sisters born in nine months ... and they're not triplets!

A couple of new podcasts have appeared on TNA's website. Click here, and browse through all they have to offer.

Here's your weekly dose of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events...

• Saturday 4th May - Gloucestershire FHS Family History Fair & Open Day, Gloucester;
• Saturday 4th May - Market Harborough Book Fair;
• Sunday 5th May - Travel & Exploration Book Fair, London;
• May programme at Gresham College, London (free & open to all);
• May events at SoG;
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Events at the National Library of Ireland;
• May events at Linen Hall Library, Belfast;
• Advance warning: 11th May - Scottish Association of FHS Conference, Galashiels;
• Not sure if you've still time to book for... the Irish Genealogical Research Society Open Day in London on 11th May;
• More Irish events ... and here ... and here ... and here (thanks Claire!);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Via @AncestryUK on Twitter...

Feet: Where Do Your Roots Lie?

Genealogy News - 26th April

FindMyPast have released new WWI Swansea records.

Don't miss out on the latest Lost Cousins newsletter. Great stuff, as always.

DeceasedOnline's recent efforts concerning the cemetery records of Trafford Council (Manchester) can be examined here.

Tyrone & Fermanagh researchers should check this out.

Northumberland researchers should take note of the latest from FamilySearch. FamilySearch have also posted some new training videos.

More from the North-East of England: TNA have released more County Durham Home Guard records.

Here's an interesting 'remote' transcription project/idea from the National Railway Museum.

This is a good spot by Chris Paton: a TNA talks session on the subject of DNA. And here's a nice DNA-related article from the Wellcome Library.

Check out this idea from The National Archives. As they themselves say on Twitter: 'Sign up to our new community to join discussions, make suggestions and help develop & shape our online services'. Sounds promising.

Yet more from TNA: 5th tranche of colonial records has been released.

An important announcement from the National Library of Scotland and Wikipedia can be found here.

Thanks to @GenealogyGent on Twitter (among others) for this interactive surname map of the UK.

Check out Dick Eastman's post on the subject of the latest genealogy TV effort. Should find its way over to the UK & Ireland eventually.

Latest issue of Your Family Tree magazine (check out this subscription offer, too).

If you're still looking for a bit of reading then check out Chris Paton's report from an ongoing conference in Scotland which is of interest to us all regarding the general issue of archiving.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines' - appearing here soon;
• Latest Podcast;
• May issue of BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

Remember to keep an eye on the BI-Gen Twitter feed over the weekend.

Completely non-genealogical, but thanks to the Two Nerdy History Girls for...

An Enormous Hoax

Also, you'll love this story via the Abroad in the Yard blog...

Century Chest Time Capsule

Genealogy News - 23rd April

A very happy Saint George's Day to you all (well, the English among you!). The BNA celebrate the occasion with this interesting post.

The FamilySearch indexing project, launched in 2006, has reached a major milestone with the processing of its one billionth record.

TNA catalogue users: beware the 30th April deadline date.

And here are a couple of TNA Podcasts:

• Decorating the Victorian Home;
• Government Spies, 1780-1830.

Thanks to Beryl Evans of the FFHS for this piece of news about a proposed Huguenot Heritage Centre in Rochester. Associated survey here.

The May issue of Family Tree magazine is now available.

Chris Paton's blog features an interesting story about Humanist weddings in Scotland - amazing!

Latest newsletter from the Community Archives & Heritage Group.

For Irish researchers: the latest newsletter from Eneclann. Also, PRONI acquire the Londonderry Papers.

Latest history links round-up from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events...

• Saturday 27th April - Pudsey Family History Fair;
• Saturday 27th April - LDS Family History Day, Coventry;
• Saturday 27th April - Devizes Book Fair;
• Saturday 27th April - Norwich Book Fair;
• Sunday 28th April - Tynemouth Station Book Fair, 10am-4pm (I shall be there as a stall-holder!);
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• Advance notice of the gathering of Scottish community groups, etc. on 23rd May;
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming Scottish FHS talks;
• Forthcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genes Reunited has over 13 million members and growing...

 

Thanks to @litreactor & @WellcomeLibrary on Twitter...

Weird & Wonderful Libraries

Genealogy News - 19th April

First up, don't forget about the weekend offer of 'free marriage records' from Ancestry. Seems like you have to go into the site via .com rather than .co.uk but you can still conduct searches then filter them down to 'UK only', or whatever.

DeceasedOnline are at it again. This time it's new records for Manchester.

Chris Paton also blogs about more cemetery records... for Derbyshire and Tameside.

A curious story about Iceland's 'incest alarm'.

Various upcoming Irish events; plus an update from the Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives.

Fans of MyHeritage may wish to take a look at the latest version of their free family history software package.

Some interesting new stuff for London researchers has popped up on the Ancestry website - see their 'updates page' and follow the links.

More Irish stuff in the pipeline in the shape of the 'Down Survey of Ireland'.

The May issue of WDYTYA? Magazine is now in the shops.

Here are some freebies on offer from Your Family Tree Magazine.

Special offers re. DNA testing to be found here (yes, you can send your samples to the US from the UK - I did).

The somewhat 'over the top' funeral of Margaret Thatcher this week has prompted Audrey Collins to hark back to the simpler days of the 1960s and the sending off of Clement Attlee.

Here's a great story about two brothers who were reunited after EIGHTY years apart.

Some bits from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Podcasts here and here;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And remember to keep dropping by at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Check out the extremely cheap Kindle version of the 

'Family & Local History Quiz Book' at...

Amazon.co.uk site

Amazon.com site

(65% of royalties donated to children's charities)

Other formats of the book are available here

- including old-fashioned 'hard copy'!

Follow the link from Dick Eastman's post for some...

Humorous Tombstones

Genealogy News - 16th April

Hey! It's 100 years since the opening of the UK's first county record office - see here.

Ancestry are offering something for nothing. Not quite sure of all the detail, but something to do with free marriage records during 17th-21st April.

I realise that I'm a few days late with this, but the Society of Genealogists has a new website. Here's a blog post to help you on your way.

This looks very useful: FindMyPast's presentations at the WDYTYA? Fair. Ooh, and here's some more goodies from the fair.

Latest 'NewsFlash' from the GOONS.

New podcast from TNA: The Hearth Tax.

Oxfordshire researchers may be interested in this item of news.

The National Library of Wales' Summer Guide is now available. Welsh folk may also be interested in this item from the same institution: Aberystwyth Shipping Records.

Lancashire Catholics in your family history? Check this out.

The latest Offaly History newsletter.

Irish researchers should take a quick look at this post by John D Reid.

More information on that recent DeceasedOnline records release for Bedford.

Your usual weekly history round-up from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events (not many!):

• Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st April - Oxford Book Fair;
• Probably still time to book for the 'Changing Communities' Conference in Cheltenham on 26th-28th April;
• Advance warning of the GOONS Trades Unions Seminar on Saturday 18th May in Coventry;
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Keep tabs on the BI-Gen Twitter feed for the latest news.

Genealogy News - 12th April

A very quiet week (again). There is virtually nothing to report today - the notable exception being the addition of 600,000 new Kent records to the FindMyPast collection. Other than that, we're scraping the bottom of the old barrel, I'm afraid. Anyway, here's what we've got...

The latest E-newsletter from The National Archives is now available. TNA have also just announced the release of yet more colonial administration records.

And here's the most recent bulletin from the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies.

For the Scots there's the new issue of Broadsheet; and you should remember to check out Electric Scotland regularly, too.

Freemason forebears? Try this.

This looks interesting from FamilySearch.

Irish researchers should run their eyes over this piece of news from PRONI. Oh, and I think you should take a look at this series of lectures, too.

I see the National Library of Wales has a YouTube channel.

A history crossword, perhaps?

The BBC HistoryExtra website is a bit slow updating today, but the week's 'History Headlines' should soon appear here; and here's your forthcoming history TV & radio.

Blimey, is that it? I'm afraid it is.

If anything crops up over the weekend I shall report it on the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

From the always-entertaining Bizarre History Blog...

Four Strange Suicides

Genealogy News - 9th April

We'll begin with that most excellent of resources, the latest Lost Cousins Newsletter.

Here's another great read: the latest issue of the free, online Irish Lives Remembered.

Audrey Collins compares censuses from either side of the Atlantic.

Latest TNA Podcast. And here's an important item of TNA news re. the digitisation of WWI diaries.

A handy review/report on the recent Clare Roots Conference can be found here.

An interesting item re. early 'English Children in Canada' has popped up on the Anglo-Celtic Connections blog. The very same blog also gives us some useful Welsh leads and some advice concerning DeceasedOnline.

The April issue of the Essex Record Office e-bulletin.

A worldwide genealogy round-up from GenealogyInTime. And the same guys bring us this handy list of First Name Abbreviations.

Latest from Ireland Reaching Out.

And here's the National Library of Ireland's latest newsletter.

Taphophiles may wish to follow the leads in this post by Hazel Stewart.

I like this story about a very clever British teenager and his DNA experiments.

The weekly round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

And here's your forthcoming events:

• Saturday 13th April - York FHS Family History Fair;
• Saturday 13th April - Genealogy Roadshow, Cork;
• Saturday 13th April - Quaker FHS Conference, Bewdley (still time to book);
• Saturday 13th April - Bury St.Edmunds Book Fair;
• Saturday 13th April - Haydock Book Fair;
• Sunday 14th April - Wilts FHS Family History Fair, Swindon;
• Saturday 20th April - Cleveland FHS Family History Day, Scotch Corner (may still be time to book!);
• Irish events;
• Some advance warning of a Genealogy Summer School in Cork (June/July);
• A reminder about the upcoming SAFHS Conference in Galashiels on 11th May;
• More Scottish stuff here and here;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Check out the latest bits and bobs at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Two great posts from the excellent 'Abroad in the Yard' blog...

Ghosts of WWII

Descendants of convicts pose with loot

Genealogy News - 5th April

As it's still a little quiet news-wise, I'll begin with a bit of self-promotion...

For those of you who have yet to secure a copy of the Family & Local History Quiz Book (see right-hand column), check out the free quiz from the same which appears in the latest issue of the excellent FFHS 'Really Useful Information Leaflet' - it's on page 15. The Quiz Book may have been published over a year ago but it's still in print and available in many formats - including a very cheap Kindle version - and it never goes out of date!

OK, then, onto the news...

A couple of announcements from The National Archives:

• Railway Conference (Sept);
• TNA's updated Business Plan.

New plans for Nottinghamshire Archives.

Latest newsletter from Parish Chest (remember to scroll down for the new releases).

New Bedford records from DeceasedOnline.

Here's an extraordinary story about a Soldier's Prayer Book.

This is a sad (and poignant) piece ... haunting photos of Alzheimer's patients (thanks to @traceydw on Twitter).

You may have heard the 'Tom Cruise is Irish' story - if not, here's a version of the same.

Some interesting news from Guernsey (thanks to James McLaren).

OK, so it's news from the US, but the new-fangled Digital Public Library of America will be of interest to us all. As it happens, the British Library has announced something similar for the UK - though it doesn't sound quite as far-reaching, access-wise.

It's not too late (I think) to book your place on the 'Funding Your Community Archive' event at Essex Record Office on 16th April.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC's HistoryExtra website:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Forthcoming history TV & radio.

More news and stories available at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Advice for youngsters...

Imperfect Parents

And also - 

Marginal Notes

Genealogy News - 2nd April

Some really great reading coming up ... which makes up for the continued lack of proper news!

We'll begin with that most excellent of efforts, the Lost Cousins Newsletter. I'm a bit late in reporting this piece of news so one or two of the offers have expired (apologies), but there is still plenty in there to take note of.

The powers-that-be should take heed of this thought-provoking post on the subject of family history and well-being. Very interesting.

Thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter for flagging this interesting article by Steve Jones, and also a BBC piece about a Celtic heritage project.

Here's your weekly dose of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

A couple of interesting posts from the blog of John D Reid:

• British WWI Pension Records;
• Genetic Genealogy Q&A.

The latest update from FamilySearch includes some UK WWI stuff.

I've seen a few references to this curious free online database which will be of interest to many of us - especially from the south-east of England. Here's Audrey Collins' take on the topic.

A spot of Irish news.

Chris Paton points out a slight reduction in the opening hours at Tyne & Wear Archives. This time of year often sees things like this being tinkered with, so best check your repository of interest before your next visit.

Upcoming events (not many!):

• Saturday 6th April - Stamford Book Fair;
• Sunday 7th April - Dartmoor Book Fair;
• Irish events and more here;
• Postcard fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Latest news can be found at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 29th March

Pleased to see that things are picking up a little in the genealogical world. Quite a few things to report on, so let's get cracking...

Some splendid news for Kent researchers from FindMyPast.

East London news (and here) from DeceasedOnline.

London & Irish researchers will want to check out Origins.net - and see 'Latest Updates' at the left-hand side. These new records are FREE until midnight on 1st April.

Military researchers may wish to have a look at this.

S&N Genealogy's latest Email News is now out.

A competition to win a GenesReunited subscription.

Latest issue of Your Family Tree.

As a local/family historian you may be interested in how we're teaching history in our schools.

Nice little mention re. Northern Ireland wills (and other stuff) from blogger John D Reid.

More Irish news from Claire Santry:

• IrishGenealogy.ie relaunch; (see also Chris Paton's write up);
• Derry Roadshow rescheduled;
• Dublin news.

As for Scotland, we have this from Chris Paton:

• Homecoming Scotland 2014;
• New series of 'Digging Up Your Roots'.

Yet more Scottish news from the National Library of Scotland, here and here.

Some interesting Norfolk news.

Here's a little Caribbean family history from TNA (and here).

The latest from the BBC's HistoryExtra website:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Latest issue of BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV/radio.

And don't forget to keep abreast of news over the Easter weekend by checking on the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @2nerdyhistgirls on Twitter...

Poisoned Stockings