|
|
|
|
The concept of Family History Online was born at the Federation of Family History Societies General Meeting at Chichester in 1998, where Chad Hanna explained how an online system could provide an alternative for a postal research services. The concept of the online system proposed by Chad, really gained momentum at the FFHS general meeting in September 2001. Chad's prototype system was presented and accepted at the Warwick General Meeting spring 2002. FamilyHistoryOnline, entered beta testing with three societies in the months before Christmas and went live on Christmas Day 2002. Data was added at an average of a million records per month and adding data from the National Burial Index and the 1881 census index helped create a critical mass of useful information and today FamilyHistoryOnline holds 326 databases containing over 67 million records. There were several enhancements over the years, more flexible searching with excellent support for wild-card characters, and then images with gravestone inscriptions particularly in mind, but with hopes that census images might follow. To allow for greater data investment, increased marketing and to raise the profile of the FamilyHistoryOnline data, the FFHS has entered into a partnership with Findmypast.com, whereby the data will be hosted on their website. We are convinced that transferring the operation to Findmypast.com will be a positive move for the Federation and the contributing societies. We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their help and support over the years with FamilyHistoryOnline
Chad Hanna & Gillian Stevens
The Cheshire BMD site was the first in the country to offer
access to the original registrars' indexes when it went on-line
in 2000. It's now the first of the web sites to use the UKBMD
software to offer on-line ordering of certificates. Initially
it covers the three main regions of Cheshire, namely East,
West and Central, but it is hoped that other regions within Cheshire, and
the other counties, will be able to offer this facility in the near
future. Traditional paper based ordering still exists for
those that prefer it and also for the cases where the applicant
needs to include additional information in the order. GENfair has the largest number of family history products of any UK website, with more than 20,000 items from over 120 suppliers.
You can select products by area or products by type. The comprehensive search facility
will help you find items by highlighting any products containing your
search terms. To improve your society sales and membership, why not join GENfair, it’s very easy to apply, just ring Emma on 01722 717003 or use the "contact us" link on the website. It's now easier than ever to create your own stall at the virtual fair with our online stall creator. GENfair is the official
retail outlet recommended by the FFHS.
The National
Archives has commenced a new programme of family history talks,
lectures and other events, in association with Ancestors
magazine. The talks and lectures will take place in the new
Talks Room on the first floor, and
last roughly one hour. For further details of all TNA’s events
please visit the website at:
Over 12,000 people visited this year’s 'Who Do You Think You Are? Live!' event at Olympia, London over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, thirsty for knowledge. This year saw over 60 family history societies and associated groups exhibiting - the largest gathering of its kind anywhere in the UK. In total there were over 175 different organisations and commercial companies represented at the event. Dick Eastman author of "Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter." interviewed a number of people during the event for the internet based TV station 'Roots TV' These and many other interviews can be seen by visiting Roots TV > Please note next year’s event 27 February to 1 March 2009 at Olympia London. Top of page
FamilySearch recently made available for public access its new beta search
engine. FamilySearch is testing its new online digital image
viewer and search utilities. Between its corps of online volunteer
indexers, microfilm to digital conversion initiatives, and digital
acquisitions program, millions of newly indexed names or unindexed
digital images are generated weekly. FamilySearch hopes to be able to
publish regular online updates to these digital records and databases.
There are some 500 million names and images in the test database.
National Archaeology Week is your unique chance to discover and explore the archaeological heritage of the United Kingdom. During this nine day event, which will run from 12 – 20 July, you can take part in excavation open days, hands-on activities, family fun days, guided tours, exhibitions, lectures, ancient art and craft workshops and much, much more.
The aim of this
annual event is to encourage everyone, and especially young people and
their families to visit sites of archaeological/historical interest or
museums, heritage and resource centres, to see archaeology in action
and to take part in activities on-site.
‘Tracing your Roots’ Do you have any unanswered questions about your ancestors? BBC Radio 4’s ‘Tracing your Roots’ is looking for your family history stories or queries for their third series. Are there any unusual causes of death in your family? Did your ancestors train as health professionals or work in the medical profession? Do you have any interesting Jewish or Irish ancestry stories? Have you always wanted to know the history of medals in your family? Or, did your ancestors name feature in a war memorial? Does illegitimacy feature in your family tree? If so, do you want to find out more? The five part series will be broadcast in the autumn of 2008. Please send your queries ASAP to tracingyourroots@bbc.co.uk
Advertising
in the FFHS Ezine
is by the following methods: |
The FFHS will be attending the following event: English Heritages Festival of History Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire on Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 July
Event includes free talks by Paul Blake and Peter Park
on both days covering, starting your family tree; discovering
the history of your house and researching your soldier
ancestors.
The
next FFHS General Meeting is being held on Saturday
30 August 2008, hosted by Essex SFH and
Suffolk FHS as part of their
National Family History Conference “The Way We Were?” at
the University of Essex, Colchester on 29 - 31
August 2008. To win one of 10 *Annual subscriptions to familyrelatives (worth £37.50 each) simply answer the following questionHow many family history records does familyrelatives have available online? a) 6 million *The Annual subscription provides complete access to the records and images of the current databases. Send your answer in the Subject Line of your email to competition@ffhs.org.uk to arrive no later than 31 July 2008.
Due to the failure of the software used for the recent online FFHS Ezine & Website Survey, we have had to reluctantly abandon the survey. Many thanks to all of you who took the time to complete it and hope that you will be able to participate again when it is re-run later this year as your views are very important to us.
FFHS-NEWS is a
'one-way' Mailing List which is used to make announcements from
the Federation and to publish information of general interest,
as and when it occurs.
Just Beginning Your Research?
2011 UK Census consultation
The Federation of
Family History Societies is seeking to elect a Trustee/Treasurer. We
are looking for a committed individual who will play a crucial role in
the future organisation and development of the Federation of Family
History Societies. Trustees are
unremunerated but all travel and reasonable expenses will be
reimbursed.
For information
and details of the closing date please email:
Competition Winners
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Lutterworth LE17 9BJ
If you require a printed copy of the FFHS
Ezine please contact: |
