Family History Course

Due to overwhelming demand, we are pleased to announce the return of our Family History Course this Autumn.

Run by professional genealogists and archivists this 6 week course will cover all you need to know to enhance your research as well as providing many tips of the trade.

Course dates and time:

Six consecutive Friday mornings (10am - 1pm): 21 October, 29 October, 4 November, 11 November, 18 November, 25 November 2016

Booking information:

£60 - booked as a complete 6 week course

Please book online at www.surreycc.gov.uk/heritageevents, in person at Surrey History Centre or in any Surrey Library, or phone 01483 518737.

Course structure:

1) An introduction to family history - 21 October

This covers all the basics, with tips for navigating the major family history websites, hints on how to record and store your research, and exploration of some valuable but less-known sources.

2) Crofts, Castles, Trades and Professions - 28 October

Explore available resources that show what our ancestors did and how they earned their living. Learn how to use maps, local directories, rate books and more to explore the homes and places where your ancestors lived.

3) Schools and Workhouses - 4 November

Find out more about the records of schools, orphanages, universities and colleges, and the information they contain. Learn more about the Poor Law and the workhouse, and why it was such an important part of our ancestors’ lives.

4) Fighting Talk: An Introduction to Military Records - 11 November

Discover the sources we can use to trace our ancestors who served in the army, navy and air force. What can we expect to find and where can we find First and Second World War and earlier records.

5) Mad, Bad and Sometimes Sad - 18 November

Was your ancestor in prison or in an asylum? Discover the records of hospitals and asylums, prisons, courts and institutions such as industrial schools. Examine access to sensitive records and the implications of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information acts.

6) Moving On: Immigration, Emigration & Transportation - 25 November

Discover why (and how) our ancestors emigrated and the records we can use to trace their journeys and new lives. Explore immigration records, and learn about techniques and resources for overseas research, including Ireland and mainland Europe.

This course is also being run in Spring 2017 and Autumn 2017. Please see www.surreycc.gov.uk/heritageevents for more details.