Yarra Plenty Genealogy

A Treasure trove of letters

2012-01-23T11:13:00.001+11:00

Did a cache of old letters spark your interest in family history? Letters can often provide information that may not be found elsewhere including official records. What should you do if you become the custodian of such a treasure trove?
Consider : -

Researching your family history
Writing a support explanatory document that puts the letters in context – who the author is, the receiver etc. time period, place.
Scan each page and make an electronic copy. Place pages in order and create a PDF file
Transcribe letters
The letters may also help you identify heritage photos in your collection – or add more information such as dates. When compiling a heritage photo album, a quote from a letter to accompany a photograph is terrifically valuable.
Share copies and transcriptions with family members
Blog the letters together with your family history
If appropriate, donate copies to a local history or family history group where they can be accessed into the future

Preservation is very important
Storage albums and sleeves are available from suppliers such as Archival Survival - (there are others)
For further good advice look at the
National Archives of Australia – Preserving physical records
Library of Congress – Family Treasures
Digitising family history and whakapapa (New Zealand)
Preserving Memories: Caring for Your Heritage (Central Michigan University, U.S.A.)
In the meantime if you would like to be inspired by some historical letters visit the Australia Post 200 years Letters of a Nation Archive
Yarra Plenty Regional Library has many books in its collection including correspondence compilations such as Letters Home: To Mother from Gallipoli and beyond : Diaries and Letters of Sapper Hubert Anthony

Popular Genealogy Websites

2012-01-11T11:16:00.000+11:00

The Genealogy In Time Magazine website has released a Top 100 popular websites list. This is a worldwide collection but with a USA bias.
This list can also be downloaded as a handy PDF file.
Remember also that Cyndis List is a good portof call for that next step in your research or just for a good browse to seewhat is new.

Extended Times Digital Archives

2011-12-20T10:27:00.003+11:00

The existing Times Digital Archive, 1785-1985, has offered researchers and students alike 200 years of in-depth, award-winning and objective coverage of world events since the creation of The Times in 1785. The new extended
version of the archive — the Times Digital Archive, 1785-2006 — adds an additional 20 years, some 795,000 new pages, of invaluable content covering the tumultuous period at the end of the 20th century and the beginning
of the 21st century. All in a new, intuitive user interface.

Hailed as the world’s “newspaper of record” since 1785, “The Times” (London) is regarded as the most authoritative medium for political, legal, business and social news. Browse by issue date, story headline, subject and other key search words.

Access Times Digital Archives along with other historical newspapers via the e-resources link. TDA can be accessed at home via the library website using your library card.

Use this database to answer questions such as:
• When did my British ancestors Ship leave port for Australia?
• What happened at the Old Bailey Trial of my convict ancestor?

Desert Boys

2011-12-19T13:00:00.001+11:00

Some years ago when I first started researching my own family history my mother asked me to research the author of some war letters which had been written to her mother. It turns out that before she married she was a nanny employed by a Kilmore poultry farmer Richard Camm for his son Dick. These letters were from Dick. Captain Richard Camm had served in World War One- Gallipoli, 3^rdLight Horse Regiment, the Imperial Camel Corps and Australian Flying Corps. Both Richard and his son Dick would join the 2/2^ndPioneer Battalion on the outbreak of World War 2 and would not return.

Further information can be found in this article.

Journalist and author Peter Rees describes more of Richard Camm’s war time experiences in his new book Desert Boys: Australians at war from Beersheba to Tobruk and El Alamein
About 1300 Australians died in the desert campaigns in World War One, while another 3500 died in the desert and Mediterranean campaigns in World War Two including an ancestor of mine – Rat of Tobruk – Roy Squires. Using letters, diaries, interviews, and unpublished memoris, the author narrates the experiences of these Desert boys. Mr Rees was diligent in contacting people- recounting in his acknowledgements contacting the daughter of the author of letters accessed at the Australian War Memorial. The daughter has never read the letters and had believed that they had been buried with her father many years before.

This very readable but long book is of interest to family historians, especially those who had relatives who had desert war service.

New Titles for family historians

2011-12-15T14:06:00.001+11:00

The following new titles have arrived at Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Solving riddles in 19^th century photo albums by Graham Jaunay
Discover Scottish Church records by Chris Paton
DNA for genealogists by Kerry Farmer
Your Family History Archives: a brief introduction by Shauna Hicks
Family History Research in South Australia by Graham Jaunay
An introduction to Occupations: a preliminary list by Joyce Culling
A trip to the Australian diggings & incidents in a miner’s career edited by Hugh Anderson
Discover your roots: 52 brilliant ideas for exploring your family and local history by Paul Blake and Maggie Loughran
Antique Jewellery: its manufacture, materials and design by Duncan James
Tracing your pauper ancestors: a guide for family historians by Robert Burlison
Family History on the Net by Colin Waters
Gravestones tombs & memorials by Trevor Yorke
The Scots: a genetic journey by Alistair Moffat and James F Wilson
Pitfalls and possibilities in family history research by Pauline M Litton
Life in the Victorian Country House by Pamela Horn

More digitised newspapers on Trove

2011-12-13T09:50:00.000+11:00

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that the following titles are now available in Digitised newspapers and more on Trove:

New South Wales

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 1892 - 1901)

Title funded by Western Plains Cultural Centre

Queensland

Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955)

The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1939)

The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld : 1875 - 1929)

Western Australia

Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928)

Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1948 - 1950)

Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA : 1929 - 1947)

The Inquirer & Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901)

Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855)

Victoria

Kyabram Union (Vic. : 1886 - 1894)

Sunbury News (Vic. : 1892)

Traralgon Record (Traralgon, Vic. : 1886 - 1932)

These titles have been funded by the State Library of Victoria

Book Review: Annie's Ghost

2011-12-05T12:35:00.001+11:00

Annie's Ghost: a journey into family secrets by Steve Luxenberg

The author by his own admission claims not to be a genealogist but his journalism skills have held him in good stead to unravel the stories of his own family, which he tells in this book. In particular those of his mother, who always claimed to be an only child, but whom in fact, had a sister until the age of 21 when she was admitted permanently to a local hospital due to her physical and mental frailties. This book is almost like a detective story as the author narrates his own research journey and what he finds out about his mother and father and other family members having interviewed over 150 people to add a context and find memories of life in Detroit in the Depression era and elsewhere. You can hear an interview with the author on episode 120 of the Genealogy Gems podcast

Find My Past Ireland

2011-12-01T09:45:00.001+11:00

Findmypast Ireland is now available for family history researchers at Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

Search for your Irish ancestors in one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Irish family history records. These include over 3.5 million crime and legal records, almost 2 million names in directories and almanacs, one million BMD records, exclusive land and estate records, as well as census substitutes, travel and migration records, and the names and details of the Irish who fought in wars and rebellion.

This database is in-library use only and is available via the website at :
www.yprl.vic.gov.au - Research - Genealogy - Genealogy e-resources
on every PC in every branch library.

There will be an information session on the database for the Family History Fest program at Diamond Valley Library on Wed March 28 2012 1.30pm - 2.30 pm.

There is also a new list for researchers to access "Researching your Irish Family History" available on the website which includes books and websites to also assist with your research in Ireland.

Apps for Family and Local History

2011-11-15T12:47:00.001+11:00

Smart phones and other devices such as IPads are becomingmore common place in our community. Moreand more Apps or applications are being developed for use on thesedevices. I have an android phone and areslowly becoming familiar with some interesting apps out there.

So what would be of interest to Local and Family Historyresearchers? A search on Quixey – the searchengine for apps using the termsAustralia and History came up with a couple of interesting apps including: -

Melbourne Historical

Melbourne Literary

Australian short walks (east coast)

Others of interest include:

National Trust Trees(Victoria)

Terrific – plug in a location and a list of heritage treeswith info and picture come up. Great forlocal history and travellers interested in history

The Sounds of theBuildings – Architecture of Melbourne read more on The Age website

My Story -Based around Melbourne’s laneways - anauthor reads you a unique story set in the very place that you're standing.

Resting Spot

RestingSpot connects the memories of loved ones who havepassed with their final location on earth. People can photograph a headstone froma headstone with their phone and upload to the website. A terrific resource for familyhistorians. No Australian content yet

In a similar vein

BillionGraves

aims to be thelargest repository of headstone records, images, and locations in the world.This will give family historians access to previously undocumented informationthat can further their genealogical research. The site is built with theseresearchers in mind, and its structure is inherently collaborative. The firststep in the BillionGraves process is to have iPhone users download theBillionGraves camera app and take it with them to local cemeteries. Snap quickpictures of the cemetery’s headstones, and the app uploads the photos toBillionGraves.com. The photos are tagged using the iPhone’s location servicesso the exact location of each grave is recorded.

Storytree

Allows you to easily build a family history made up ofpictures, videos, and text

Tagwhat

Tagwhat tells greatstories about the places around you. All you have to do is look through yourmobile like a window. With Tagwhat, stories pop up as “tags” right on top oftheir actual locations in real life. Turn around and watch as stories updatebased on where you’re looking! With a range of channels from movies to sports,music to history, Tagwhat is a world of originally produced and curated videos,photos, and audio to enjoy against the backdrop of your real life. Rememberyour experiences by collecting digital postcards that you can personalize andsave in Tagwhat or share with friends.

Have you used any of these apps? Do you know of other apps suitable forAustralian local and family history researchers?

This article has been crossposted on Yarra Plenty Local History and Yarra PlentyRegional Library

Digitised newspapers on Trove

2011-11-09T15:57:00.000+11:00

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that the following newspaper titles have been added to Digitised newspapers and more on Trove:

Victoria
Oakleigh Leader (North Brighton, Vic. : 1888 - 1902)
Oakleigh Leader and District Record (Brighton, Vic. : 1887 - 1888)
Sunbury News and Bulla and Melton Advertiser (Vic. : 1892 - 1900)
The Benalla Ensign and Farmer's and Squatter's Journal (Vic. : 1869 - 1872)
The Coburg Leader (Vic. : 1890 - 1913)
The Elsternwick Leader (Brighton, Vic. : 1888)
The Elsternwick Leader and Caulfield and Balaclava Guardian (Brighton, Vic. : 1887)
The Elsternwick Leader and District Record (Brighton, Vic. : 1887 - 1888)
Elsternwick Leader and East Brighton, South Brighton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, Oakleigh, Sandringham, Balaclava & Caulfield Record (Vic. : 1887)
The Kerang Times (Vic. : 1889 - 1890)
The Kyabram Union and Rodney Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894)
Healesville Guardian and Yarra Glen Advocate (Vic. : 1898)
These titles have been funded by the State Library of Victoria

Tasmania
The Observer (Hobart, Tas : 1845-1846)

New South Wales
The Leader (Liverpool, NSW : 1946-1949)
This title has been funded by the Liverpool City Library

To find out the latest titles which have been added to Trove, subscribe to one of our Web feeds.

Book Review - Keeping Chronicles

2011-11-02T14:42:00.002+11:00

Book review:

Keeping Chronicles: Preserving history through written memorabilia by Rosemary Sassoon (London A&C Black, 2010) ISBN 978 1408 129005

The author is on a mission to encourage the preservation of written memorabilia – some would call ephemera. Records found around the home can be a treasure trove to those first starting their family history research journey so be sure that you have digged deep and ask relatives what memorabilia they may have in their cupboards.
Curiously scattered with many Australian examples from this UK publication it illustrates and describes the following categories: diaries, letters, postcards and even envelopes, memoirs, travel records, business and legal records, day books, commonplace books and albums, professional or personal scrapbooks, schoolbooks, reports etc., cookery books and household lists. It concludes with professional advice regarding the importance of preservation with tips from archivists and museum professionals. It also includes an article on how to decipher handwriting and references to the following websites for further advice
Northeast Document Conservation Centre (USA) www.nedcc.org
ICON – The Institute of Conservation (GB) - www.icon.org.uk
Preservation Advisory Centre (National Preservation Office) GB www.bl.uk/npo

Copies of this title are held at Yarra Plenty Regional Library

Living & Learning Centre Nillumbik

2011-10-25T10:10:00.007+11:00

The Living and Learning Centre Nillumbik Spring program October-December 2011 is now out and programs are underway. These include a number of programs forhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif the family history researcher. Two sessions running in November at Diamond Creek inchttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giflude
*Archives and online indexes
*The Story of your ancestor’s voyage

For more information and details for bookings download the program at the Shire of Nillumbik website at www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au

Australian Family Tree Connections Oct 2011

2011-10-24T13:23:00.008+11:00

Australian Family Tree Connections for October 2011 is now available.
Special features include

Korumburra remembers
Mining ancestors Ford and Marshall
Patrick Duffy – gold digger
Charles R Frederick
Dulbydilla cemetery
Alfred Denier from Mauritius
Evie (Richardson) King
The Guest family
John and Harriet (shebert) Langford
Edith Martha Rowe
The Pines, Wollongbar NSW
Annabella Rosa (Cavell) Wilson
Maria MacDonald (nee Connolly)
The Holdens of Hellingly
Unlock the Past Victorian Expo – Geelong
Getting Started – Looking for Mining Ancestors Part 11

Australian Family Tree Connections can be found at Diamond Valley and Ivanhoe Libraries

Documents Online

2011-10-05T10:01:00.002+11:00

A new genealogy database is now available for family history researchers at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Of particular interest if you have British ancestry, but also if you love history in general.

Documents Online comes from the official public archives of the UK government – The National Archives. It contains over 1000 years of history with over 2.3 million downloaded records in 2010-11. It includes digital images of wills (probate records), Army, Navy and Air Force records, Cabinet Records, pictures, photographs and historical documents from the Public Record Office and more.

Documents Online can be accessed via the tab "Research - Genealogy - E-resources" along with other genealogy databases. Currently it can only be accessed in the library only.

Researchers are encouraged to save their search results on their portable USB drives. These will usually be in the form of a PDF or JPG image - for easy transfer to home computers.

Past adoption survey

2011-10-04T14:11:00.000+11:00

Mothers who gave up their babies and Australians who were adopted are needed for a national survey examining the lifelong impact of past adoption practices.
One in 15 Australians have been affected by adoption, estimates Dr Daryl Higgins from the Australian Institute of Family Studies. “This survey will provide a comprehensive picture of adoption experiences so we can understand the current support and service needs of people affected by these past practices”. Dr Higgins said. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, about 150,000 Australian unwed mothers had their babies taken against their will by some churches and adoption agencies.

To participate in the survey, go to Past Adoption Experiences
Or call 1 800 352 275

Source The Age October 1, 2011

Book Review: The family tree problem solver

2011-10-03T12:20:00.001+11:00

The family tree problem solver: tried and true tactics for tracing elusive ancestors by Marsha Hoffman Rising (2011)

Very USA centric but some tricks for finding an elusive ancestor including the first step – analysing the problem and planning a strategy for success. Not a good book for the beginner Australian researcher as the American examples (eg. References to census and courthouse and land records) will be frustrating without having an understanding of the equivalent or similar Australian resources.
Some useful information at the back of the book include DNA testing, glossary of terms and blank charts and forms which can be copied.

Family Memorabilia

2011-09-22T13:57:00.000+10:00

Do you a special item in your family memorabilia which you would like to showcase in your home? Perhaps you have some family war medals?

Come along to Diamond Valley Library on Wed 28 September at 1.30 pm where Neville Crawford from Recherche Specialty Framing will demonstrate ways of presenting your military and heritage memorabilia in a safe environment.

Recherche Speciality Framing was established in 1970 and over the past thirty years they have developed an unequalled reputation for all types of design including object framing and the presentation of militia and medals. All items are treated in a conservation manner – this includes badges, photographs, documents and regimental colour patches.

You can find out more about the company by visiting www.rechercheframing.com.au

Genealogy link on YPRL

2011-09-09T10:35:00.002+10:00

The Genealogy page on Yarra Plenty Regional Library is currently down. Genealogy databases can still be accessed via the E-Reources link

Scottish 1841-1911 census street indexes go online

2011-09-09T10:25:00.001+10:00

The street indexes for the Scottish Censuses from 1841 to 1911 can now be viewed for free on www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk. Look under the 'Research' tab and then select the heading 'Census Records up to 1911'. You select the Census year and then the street indexes are arranged in urban areas. These books are useful because they show whether a street existed at that time and which registration district and enumeration book covered that area.

Scotlands People is the official resource for Scotlands records. It includes over 80 million records of census records, wills, birth, death and marriage records and is pay for view.

Source: From the ScotlandsPeople Centre via Scottish GENES

New Resource Helps Family History Researchers Find Their Past

2011-08-17T10:49:00.000+10:00

Keen family history researchers can now map their family tree, discover relatives they didn’t know about and uncover a vivid picture of their past thanks to a Yarra Plenty Regional Library subscription to the popular Find My Past websites.

New and experienced family tree researchers will benefit from access to the sites findmypast.com.au and findmypast.co.uk), which boast millions of historical records, including birth, marriage, death, baptism and burial records, a census collection, migration records and extensive military records. The Australasia collection, which covers Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, also includes: probate, land and court records, criminal reports, and electoral rolls.

YPRL Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon says the sites will be of great benefit to researchers. “Researching your family history is a rewarding and challenging process. I am really excited as these sites will help local researchers get the most out of their research.”

“This is an important resource that complements the Ancestry and Times Digital Archives database that YPRL already subscribes to,” she said.

August is Family History Month at Yarra Plenty Regional Library where people with an interest in researching their family history can attend a whole host of genealogy related events at library branches across the region. The month also incorporates National Family History Week.

“I invite people to start researching their family tree. They will learn about their past and themselves,” Ms Pidgeon said. “Learning about your ancestors and their lives can give you insight into how you came to be the person you are today”.

To get full access to Find My Past, researchers must access it from within a YPRL branch.

For details of all the local and family history resources available, pick up a new brochure from any library branch or click here for more information.

John Milte - Found

2011-08-12T18:48:00.004+10:00

Readers of this blog will remember my previous posting about a photograph I recently found at a local Savers store. Are you related to John Milte?

Within hours of that posting I received an email from a family history researcher who had saw the blog posting after doing a Google search for this family name she is researching. She wrote:

".. Strange to relate, I have been working on the Milte Family History and happened to come across your query while searching for Miltes on the internet. The photograph you have rescued is of my husband's first cousin.

After forwarding the actual photograph to her she later wrote that she in turn has sent it on to John himself in another state and is pleased to have reconnected with this family.

Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program

2011-08-08T12:59:00.000+10:00

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce the newspapers that are scheduled to be digitised through the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program over the coming year:

Through Trove, the national resource discovery service, there is free online access to over 5 million pages from over 130 Australian newspapers. All of the digitised newspapers are fully text-searchable and users can enrich and enhance the data through subject tagging, text correction and annotations.

Titles have been selected by the National Library in consultation with the state and territory libraries. A number of the titles are being digitised with the generous support and funding from a range of organisations. For those libraries and organisations wishing to digitise a specific newspaper title, Contributor Guidelines and a Factsheet provide additional information. If you would like any additional information please email us at austnewsdigiproj@nla.gov.au.

David Ong,
Manager, Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program

Hilary Berthon
Coordinator, Australian Newspaper Plan

Census Forms Preservation

2011-08-03T12:15:00.002+10:00

Census night is Tuesday, 9th August 2011. Respondents have the option of ticking the box to preserve your Census Form in the National Archives of Australia. The forms will be retained and released to public access after 99 years. Preservation of the forms will allow historians in a century's time to obtain a greater understanding of our Australian population, its economy, education, social, sporting and family life etc. In contrast to many overseas countries including Britain, Australia has never preserved census forms until the option was introduced in 2001 by the then Commonwealth government.

Source: National Archives of Australia

Workhouses

2011-08-02T13:34:00.003+10:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library kicked off National Family History Week hosting UK genealogist Lady Teviot at Thomastown Library where she spoke about Workhouses.
The following are basic notes taken at the session.

Lady Teviot presented a chronology of the history of the workhouse throughout the UK including the associated Acts of Parliament that have governed them.

Workhouses were places for people to go to who were unable to work. They provided meagre shelter and food. Residents would include children, including babies and orphans and the Aged.

Workhouses were often more full in winter due to seasonal labouring work being unavailable for many people.

Diet and hygiene differed from workhouse to workhouse but was usually meagre. Diet may have been supplemented by vegetables from the back garden.

Toilet facilities were basic. One toilet per 100 people was not uncommon.
Later soil toilets were introduced which greatly reduced the stench which pervaded sleeping areas.

Tramps and vagrants were also sometime residents of workhouses – if part time and some level of labour was usually required of them for a roof for the night and meagre food rations.

A stigma is attached to workhouses – many children were registered as being born in them, later a street address would be noted instead. Workhouses were also known under other terminologies such as Union Houses.

It was not until the years following World War 2 that the era of workhouses was totally abolished.

Some records survive for family historians, usually held locally. Some records are held at The National Archives.

Lady Teviot recommends the “Really useful Information Leaflet” from the FFHS

Workhouses in Britain (RossBret site) unable to access 2 August 2011)

Workhouses in Britain (Peter Higginbotham)

Rattle his bones
Over the stones
It’s only a pauper
Who Nobody owns
– Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Lady Teviot is a guest speaker at Yarra Plenty Regional Library throughout National Family History Week.

Are you related to John Milte?

2011-07-28T13:56:00.010+10:00

A different post today as we head into Family History Month here at Yarra Plenty Regional Library - I recently purchased an orphan photograph from Savers, Greensborough, Victoria - resting alone among the picture frames - how could I leave him there, especally when I noticed a name actually pencilled on the back - John Milte. The style of the hand coloured photograph and the clothes he wore suspected that this might be World War 2 era.

We found John listed in the National Archives of Australia with his servicerecord digitised. A small thumbnail image in the file looks very much like our man.

The service file revealed that John Milte, born 26 Jan 1926 at Karoonda, South Australia. He was a postal assistant from Murray Bridge. He enlisted into the RAAF in Aug 1944 as a Trainee Telegraphist and was stationed at Point Cook then Darwin as a Leading Air Craftsman in the Telegraphs department. He never went further than Darwin and was discharged in May 1946. His father was Victor Yestin Milte and mother was Bridget Honora Rowland.

I have searched unsuccessfully in the Ryerson Index for a death notice. I found a possible reference in TROVE for a John Milne living in Katherine, Northern Territory in 1949.

I have searched the Victorian death index 1921-1985 with no result.

Where to from here:
Search South Australian death historical indexes and other states.
Search for a Milte family history researcher
Post the photo elsewhere online such as Flickr and Dead Fred or send to Australian Family Tree Connections

An interesting postscript to this is that I have the name ROWLAND in my own family history. I do not have Bridget Honora Rowland in my records but will also follow up the Rowland side.

I look forward to hearing from anyone related to John Milte.

YPRL Celebrates Family History Month with the Old and the New

2011-07-26T10:46:00.003+10:00

Old favourites and new attractions will help family history researchers find their past in August when Yarra Plenty Regional Library celebrates its annual Family History Month, incorporating National Family History Week, with a series of informative and interesting events.

YPRL caters for the burgeoning popularity of genealogy research in recent years with a month dedicated to family history research events.

UK genealogy expert Lady Teviot is returning by popular demand for a series of talks at library branches. Past President of the the UK President of the Federation of Family History Societies, Lady Teviot will help family history researchers track down their ancestors with insider tips, move beyond ‘genealogist block’ and gain insight into life in past centuries.

YPRL is also making the popular Find My Past database available free to library members, which means people investigating their family tree can find access to a collection of over 50 million historical records covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Other new attractions include a special family history event just for kids, and there will be special events for people investigating their Italian family history.
YPRL Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon says there are events suitable for both beginners and experienced researchers.

“Our resources and events help people get started or continue research to connect with their past and find out where they’ve come from.”
She says working out where you’ve come from can be an enlightening and amazing discovery. “It makes you feel part of a big connected world with a long and interesting history. It makes you appreciate our ancestors and where we’ve all come from,” she said.

The introduction of Find My Past is a boon for library members, according to Ms Pidgeon. “These are mainly family history records, but you'll also find thousands of social, government and general history records, which are of great interest not only to anyone researching their family tree, but also if you're interested in social and local history.”

• Lady Teviot will provide a history of workhouses and the records available for family history research at Thomastown Library on Monday 1 August from 10.30am – 11.30am.

• Kids can discover where they’ve come from and the history of their families in this special fun event at Diamond Valley Library on Monday 1 August from 4.00pm – 5.00pm.

• Lady Teviot will share her knowledge of valuable underused family history research and resources at Ivanhoe Library on Tuesday 2 August from 2.00pm to 3.30pm.

• Lady Teviot will provide tips on how to get past the common brick walls that face many family history researchers at Watsonia Library on Tuesday 2 August from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

• Lady Teviot will provide an introduction to parish chest records at Diamond Valley Library on Wednesday 3 August from 10.30am – 11.30am.

• Paolo Baracchi from the Italian Historical Society and Museo Italiano, CoAsIt will provide tips on researching an Italian family history at Diamond Valley Library on Wednesday 3 August from 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

• Lady Teviot will discuss the 19th Century medical conditions faced by our ancestors at Mill Park Library on Wednesday 3 August from 7.00pm – 8.00pm.

• Lady Teviot will discuss lunatic asylums in the 19th Century at Eltham Library on Thursday 4 August from 10.30am to 11.30am.

• Lady Teviot will provide an introduction to researching family history in Scotland at Lalor Library on Sunday 7 August from 2.00pm to 3.00pm.

• Dawn Davis of Eaglemont Antiques will provide appraisals and advice on preserving precious heirlooms at Mill Park Library on Saturday 13 August from 2.00pm to 3.30pm

• Join us for an introduction to researching family history at Thomastown Library on Monday 15 August from 10.00am to 11.00am.

• Author Maureen Jones will discuss approaches to publishing a family history, including collecting, researching and collating information, at Lalor Library on Wednesday 17 August from 6.30pm to 8.00pm.

• People who have already begun researching their family history can take part in a hands-on workshop at Diamond Valley Library on Thursday 18 August from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

• Confident online family history researchers can connect with other genealogy researchers and use the library resources to further their investigations at Rosanna Library on Tuesday 23 August from 10.00am – 1.00pm.

• Daniela Zannoni will talk about her mother’s moving story of migration from Italy to Australia with five children after being widowed at Lalor Library on Thursday 25 August from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

Yarra Plenty Regional Library has many resources for genealogy, including historical archives and a subscription to the popular genealogy website Ancestry. Both Ancestry and Find My Past can be accessed from within the libraries. Find My Past is not curently available but will be shortly.
Bookings are required for events. Attendees can book online - or phone or visit any branch - and while you are there pick up the new "Local History and Genealogy flyer".

Solomon Family Reunion

2011-07-25T12:38:00.002+10:00

A Solomon and associated families reunion will be held on Sunday 11 to Monday 12 March 2012 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm both days) at the Alma Sports Club, Wilkes Street, North Caulfield, Melbourne Australia.

The Solomon and associated families are extremely diverse and well-established in Australia’s history. In fact the first Solomon’s (Emanuel and Vaiben) to arrive in Australia were convicts, they arrived in 1818.

Emanuel Solomon ended up in South Australia (which was supposed to exclude ex-convicts), he ran an extremely lucrative enterprise gaining his wealth through shipping merchandise from Sydney (through his brother Vaiben) to Adelaide, he purchased large sways of land in South Australia, Western Australia and in and around Darwin (then known as Palmerston). Emanuel became a great, philanthropist and benefactor to the arts, the theatre he built in Adelaide still stands. He assisted the beatified Mary Mckillop by providing free accommodation for her nuns. Having educated his many children Emanuel then encouraged them to live the life that would benefit all Australians – many including Emanuel were Members of Parliaments, his children held positions such as Premier of South Australia (albeit for 7 days and hence receiving the nick-name of Sudden Solomon). “Blackie Solomon”, who was one of the founders of Darwin, earned his nickname by betting the gents of Adelaide that he could walk down the main street of Darwin (Palmerston) naked and that no one would notice. He won his bet by blacking his body with boot polish and walking down the street with the local indigenous people. A nephew saw action in the Boer War, another helped write the Constitution of Australia and in fact the Solomon family are one of only two families to have two representatives in the first Australian Parliament. The Federal Electorate of Solomon is of course named after another family member, V L Solomon. Emanuel’s son, Joseph Samuel Solomon, enlisted in the South Australian Militia and is reputed to have joined the famous explorer, Stuart on his inland journey of South Australia The Solomon’s have their far share of war heroes too. We know of at least four young men, who were at Gallipoli, one paid the ultimate price. We also lay claim to the first Jewish Lieutenant Colonel (Benjamin Solomon) and the only person to have served in the Boer War and both World Wars (Brigadier Walter Samuel Solomon – Salvation Army). Then there is the relative who together with his wife sailed on the Titanic unfortunately he did not survive. We have artists and spies and even streets, towns and mountains names after family members!

The familiy names associated include: Alexander, Barnett, Benjamin, Boas, Keesing, Cashmore, Cohen, Daniels, Fewster, Issacs, Joshua, Jacobs, Jacobsohn, Marks, Lipman, Marks, Morell, Moss, Montefiore, Myers, Phillips, Salom, Victorsen and Voules Brown.

Speakers on the day will include:
Todd Knowles - staff member of the British Reference Section of the Family History Librry in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Rabbi John S. Levi, a member of the Order of Australia. His publication "These are the Names Jewish Lives in Australia 1788-1850" holds a wealth of information about early Jewsih life in Australia.

Madeleine Say - Pictures Librarian at the State Library of Victoria.

Further details from: Katrina and Jenny Cowen katrina.jenny@bigpond.com

New Genealogy Books

2011-07-12T13:39:00.001+10:00

New Books of interest to the family history researcher in the collection include:

Free Passage: the reunion of Irish convicts and their families in Australia 1788-1852by Perry McIntyre

In search of a better life: British and Irish migration edited by Graham Davis

The Parish Chest by W.E. Tate

Family History on the net by Colin Waters

Tracing your rural ancestors: a guide for family historians by Jonathan Brown

My Ancestor was an agricultural labourer by Ian H Waller

My Ancestor was a merchant seaman by Christopher T & Michael J Watts

English place-names explained by Charles Whynne-Hammond

The Oral History Workshop: collect and celebrate the life stories of your family and friends by Cynthia Hart and Lisa Samson

Raids on Australia: 1942 and Japan’s plans for Australia by Pam Oliver

Double Gold: 1870s mining and farming dairies with a history of Mt Franklin and District by Janet MacDonald and Garry Powell

The fine homes of Essendon and Flemington 1846-1880 Edited by Lenore Frost

Deaths at Eureka by Dorothy Wickham

The Examiner Index: obituaries and funerals 1941-1950 (Genealogical Society of Tasmania Inc. (Launceston Branch).

Getting the most out of Find my past.com.au by Rosemary Kopittke & Alan Phillips

It’s not all online: a guide to genealogy sources offline by Shauna Hicks

Locating your German ancestor’s place of origin by Eric Kopittke

Death certificates and archaic medical terms by Helen V. Smith

AIF Unit Histories of the Great War 1914-1918 by Ron Austin

Looking for photos to illustrate your family history?

2011-07-04T12:21:00.003+10:00

Consider the following:

*Family Members

*TROVE

*Local History group where the family lived - see Royal Historical Society of Victoria

*Local History collection at Local Library where your family lived - see Australians Libraries Gateway
(Remember there may also have been photographs published in books)

Melbourne's biggest family album – Museum Victoria

*Google images

*Other Image search engines

*Flickr

*Dead Fred

*Photo Rescue

*Advertise online and in magazines such as "Australian Family Tree Connections" and Local family history groups.

With an absence of photographs of your ancestor you should try and get a photo of their final resting place, the place they lived, or perhaps a street sign, original images of records such as birth certificates and census records can also be useful to illustrate your ancestor’s story.

There are volunteers online who may also be able to assist you.
Genealogy Photo Services (UK)

Random Acts of Kindness Genealogy

Writing your Life Story

2011-06-22T11:13:00.000+10:00

Genealogist Grahame Thom will present ideas and tips for writing your life story as part of the monthly “Family History Fest” at Diamond Valley Library on Wednesday 29 June at 1.30 – 3.00 pm. Please bring along notebook and pen for this hands on workshop and book via our online calandar

Smart blog for a Smart phone

2011-06-14T12:41:00.000+10:00

If you have a smart phone, this blog can now be read in a mobile-optimized version on your phone.

Australian Generations Oral History Project

2011-06-14T10:24:00.001+10:00

AUSTRALIAN GENERATIONS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT is currently seeking participants across Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

In a new national project, historians at Monash (Professor Al Thomson, Associate Professor Christina Twomey and Dr Seamus O'Hanlon) and La Trobe Universities, in partnership with ABC Radio National and the National Library of Australia, are collecting life story interviews with generations of Australians born from the 1920s to the 1980s.

The project is interested in the life stories of all Australians – rural and urban, male and female, the recently arrived and people whose families have lived in Australia for generations.

People can register their interest in participating by going to www.arts.monash.edu.au/australian-generations and clicking on the orange headphones.

To take part in the Australian Generations Oral History Project go here: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/australian-generations/get-involved/

New books for Family History Researchers

2011-05-19T11:30:00.003+10:00

New books for family history researchers have been added to the collection. Place a hold via the catalogue on our website:

Questions to bring you closer to Grandma and Grandpa
Conserving, preserving and restoring your heritage
Writing interesting family histories
Tracing your family history on the internet
Search your middle Eastern & European Genealogy
Family Reunions: everything you need to know to plan unforgettable get-togethers
Monumental Inscriptions Australian Capital Territory including Jervis Bay
Family History for Kids
The Kids Family Tree Book
The Art of the Family Tree
Scrapbooking Family Heritage
Scrapbooking your family history: the ultimate workbook
Family History scrapbooking

Family History Feast at SLV

2011-05-16T10:18:00.000+10:00

The anual 2011 Family History Feast will be held at the State Library of Victoria on Monday 1 August 2011 commencing at 10am. Bookings will open via Public Record Office Victoria website on Monday 23 May (online bookings preferred) or email ask.prov@prov.vic.gov.au or telephone (03) 9348 560

Speakers inlcude:

Indigenous Family History Research - Public Record Office Victoria
VicHeritage at Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages - overview of current projects. Peter Gloury VicHeritage Manager, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Viewing of WDYTYA dvd (Shane Bourne episode) available at 12.30pm in the Theatrette.
Conscription records - Mark Brennan, National Archives of Australia
Australian published collections - Katie Flack, Librarian, State Library of Victoria
Introduction to VAFHO and the Don Grant Lecture by Jenny Harkness, VAFHO President. 2011 Don Grant Lecture: Storming the barricades: the family history revolution presented by Dr Andrew Lemon.

Fawkner Memorial Park Indexing Project

2011-05-09T11:28:00.001+10:00

The Genealogical Society of Victoria is undertaking a project to index all names appearing on the memorials at the Fawkner Memorial Park. Fawkner Park, established in 1906 and now part of the Greater MetropolitanCemeteries Trust, is one of the larger cemetery/crematorium complexes in Melbourne with approximately 7000 ceremonies per annum.

The Project will build on the work commenced by the late Tony Miller who transcribed the memorials in numerous sections of the cemetery. The project aims to photograph all memorials and use those images as the basis for the index. The resultant database will link each indexed name to the relevant image.

The Project has encountered, to date, about 100 memorials that contain names and other information in the Cyrillic script, predominately in the Roman Catholic compartments. No attempt asyet has been made to photograph the Ukrainian Catholic or the Greek or other compartments where presumably extensive numbers of memorials containing Cyrillic script reside.

Volunteers are needed in helping to translate the few Cyrillic script memorials encountered so far. The images would be supplied on a USB stick with a spreadsheet that required entry of basic details such as names and dates. The object of the Project is to create an index of names and not a transcription of the whole memorial.

Anyone interested in volunteering or obtaining further information should contact David Down on 9725 7131 or by email to dpd1949@gmail.com.

Australian Family Tree Connections

2011-04-28T11:56:00.002+10:00

AFTC May has arrived. Articles of interest

Beatrice Ada Court by Yvonne Graham
Amy Gay (nee Smith/Dutton or Bunt) by Sharon Lowry
Mother’s Bank girls by Janet Peters
Identifying my Cohen family in a photo by Kaye Moss
Who did Edward Imlay Aiken marry? By John Maddison
Catherine (Beaton) Buchanan by John Beaton
Mary Ann Cunningham by Helen Cleak
Bitten by the bug by Kaye Bowden
Mary Burns or Byrnes by Rowena Summers
Ancestors down under(ground) by Jenny Little
The East Perth Cemeteries Project by Lorraine Clarke and Cherie Strickland
Looking for Mining Ancestors Part 6 by Shauna Hicks (Copper mining and influx of Cornish miners to South Australia)
Remembrance Cards by Leonie Pinch
Surname Register

New Zealand Military research

2011-04-19T11:02:00.002+10:00

As Anzac Day approaches, Ancestry has released new databases for your New Zealand military research. These databases include:
New Zealand Army WWI Nominal Rolls, 1914-1918
New Zealand Army WWI Reserve Rolls, 1916-1917
New Zealand Army WWII Nominal Rolls, 1939-1948
New Zealand Army WWI Casualty Lists, 1914-1919
New Zealand Army WWI Roll of Honour, 1914-1919
New Zealand Army Medal Rolls, 1860-1919
New Zealand WWI Military Defaulters, 1919-1921
Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F., 1916-1919
The Defenders of New Zealand
As with all Ancestry databases be sure to read the “About” section and what records are contained.
Ancestry Library Edition provides unprecedented access to family history records through more than 7,000 collections that help individuals from North America, U.K., Europe, Australia, and beyond trace their lineage.
Ancestry Library Edition has just launched its new search interface, with a clean and crisp design that improves the overall user experience. Features of the new interface include:

. Improved look and feel for a more intuitive user experience
. Map and location filters on the home page
. Name filters with Soundex
. Type ahead features
. Improved country and state pages
Ancestry Library Edition can be accessed on any PC in any branch Library during library opening hours via the library website.

More New Books

2011-04-13T10:10:00.001+10:00

More new titles for family history researchers. Place a reservation on our website

Social media for family historians by Carole Riley
Sewerage records an untapped magnificent resource by Susie Zada
Irish Ancestors: a pocket guide to your family history by John Grenham
A History of Ireland by Richard Killeen
A timeline of Irish History by Richard Killeen
Oxford Companion to Irish History edited by S J Connolly
In their own words: the famine in North Connacht 1845-1849 by Liam Swords
The Victorian Cemetery by Sarah Rutherford
Graveyard London: lost and forever burial grounds by Robert Bard
A History of Britain 1776-2000 The fate of empire by Simon Schama
The Great War Handbook: a guide for family historians & students of the conflict by Geoff Bridger
Remembering Fromelle: a new cemetery for a new century compiled by Julie Summers
How to get the best from the 1911 census by John Hanson
Tracing your Scottish ancestors: a guide for family historians by Ian Maxwell
Pioneer Medicine in Australia edited by John Pearn
Gold tailings: forgotten histories of family and community on the central Victorian goldfields by Charles Fahey & Alan Mayne
Kilmore 1837-1937: the tale of a century by J A Maher
Exiled: the Port Arthur convict photographs by Edwin Barnard
Picture Postcards by C W Hill
How to get the most from family pictures by Jayne Shrimpton
Write your life story: how to organise and record your memories for family and friends to enjoy by Michael Oke

Australian Railway Monument

2011-04-07T10:45:00.002+10:00

The Department of Transport is seeking details of Victorian railway employees who lost their lives while on duty on the Victorian railway network, from 1853 to present, to be listed on an Australian Railway Monument in New South Wales commemorating their contribution to the railways.

Details can be provided of any such employee by 13 May 2011. Further information and to send details, please visit Public Transport

For information about the monument, please visit the Australian Railway Monument

New Books

2011-04-04T12:43:00.002+10:00

Family History researchers may be interested in the following new titles recently added to the collection at Yarra Plenty Regional Library:

Which Genealogy program? By Kerry Farmer and Rosemary Kopittke
Family and Local History Resource Directory for Victoria by Shauna Hicks
My Ancestors were… Londoners by Cliff Webb
Writing a non-boring family history by Hazel Edwards
Tracing your Northern Irish Ancestors: a guide for family historians by Ian Maxwell
Second stages in researching Welsh ancestry edited by John & Sheila Rowlands
Children of the Dead End by Patrick MacGil
Heritage of Ireland by Peter Zoller
The Concise History of Ireland by Sean Duff
Keeping Family Treasures by Elizabeth Masters and Ian Batterham
The Champion of the Seas by Rod Fraser
Genealogy online by Elizabeth Powell Crowe
Faces of America DVD

2011-03-16T13:13:00.000+11:00

2011-03-16T13:11:00.000+11:00

Ancestor now available

2011-03-16T12:40:00.001+11:00

“Ancestor” the quarterly journal for March/April/May of the Genealogical Society of Victoria is now available at Diamond Valley, Eltham, Ivanhoe and Mill Park Libraries. Older issues are available for loan.

Articles in this issue include:
A Will to succeed by Leonie Loveday – tells of the infinite questions raised by the revelation of a family will.

Sex, Crime, Mutiny, Murder and the Australian Imperial Force by Military historian Peter Stanley discusses the impact of military regulation on citizen volunteer soldiers.

Family History and Contemporary Issues by Susan Patterson looks at the connections between events of the past and the present day.

A One Name Study by Joe Flood introduces an alternative way to conduct research – using just one surname.

Finding my Uncle by Michael Weber takes us through steps he took to research his German family history.

What Grandma Did’nt know by John Fitzpatrick

and more including regular features, jottings from the journals, surname interests and more.

More Victorian newspapers available

2011-02-23T11:23:00.002+11:00

More regional country newspapers have been added to the Australian digitied newspapers and more database via TROVE.

Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922-1939)

Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron

Express (Vic. : 1908-1949)

Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express

(Vic. : 1877-1908)

Alexandra and Yea Standard, Thornton, Gobur and Acheron Express

(Vic. : 1877)

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser (Vic. : 1940-1942)

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley

Advocate (Vic. : 1917-1922)

Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, VIC : 1870-1954)

Kilmore Free Press and Bourke and Dalhousie Advertiser (Kilmore,

VIC : 1865)

Not all years are complete yet but to keep informed you can visit this link on
TROVE

AFTC - March

2011-02-22T10:08:00.002+11:00

Australian Family Tree Connections for March has been received.
Feature articles include:
The Edwards family in Australia by Cheryl Frost
A Family with a bushranging past by Shane Wright
Lovett or not by Adrian Roberts
Will I ever retire by Pat Larsen
Wilton Public School NSW by Joan Scott
The perils of relying on certificate data by Marie Donaldson
Placing my Irish convict back on the family tree by Susanne Nolan
Death in a well sparks genealogy passion by Christine Monie
The Dorahy family – Co Tyrone to Greendale NSW by Helen Patterson
Cork, Richardson and Cahill by Alan Donougher
Austin O’Loughlin: Blacksmith or miner by Sandra Parker
Looking for Mining Ancestors Part 4 by Shauna Hicks
Manning Wallamba Family History Society Inc.
Looking for Mary Byrne by Frances Berg

AFTC is on shelves at Ivanhoe and Diamond Valley Libraries, or you can place a hold for issues via the catalogue

New Zealand records on Ancestry

2011-02-07T11:53:00.003+11:00

Ancestry now has New Zealand records added to its database. Seven databases have been added in celebration of Waitangi Day February 6.

The records cover 140 years of New Zealand's history from 1842-1981 from the six major historical collections - the New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, Canterbury Provincial Rolls 1868-1874, Jury Lists 1842-1862, Maori Voter and Electoral Rolls 1908 and 1919, Maori Land Claims 1858-1980 and New Zealand Naturalisations 1843-1981.

Ancestry can be accessed via the library website on any PC in any Library during opening hours.

Upcoming events

2011-02-07T11:01:00.002+11:00

Lots of events happening for the local and family history community in coming weeks.

Today – February 7 marks the second anniversary of Black Saturday which severely impacted two municipalities in our Region.

Congratulations to the Plenty Historical Society who celebrate their 10th anniversary on February 8.

“Remembering 20th Century Melbourne” Bruce McBrien is guest speaker for Heidelberg Historical Society on Tuesday Feb 8.

“We celebrate Peter Bassett-Smith” at Eltham District Historical Society Wed 16 Feb

*"Farming in the Plenty Valley Exhibition". This exhibition prepared by the Whittlesea Historical Society is currently on display at Watsonia Library till Feb 18

"Starting your family History" talks

Rosanna Library Wed Feb 9 10.30 am

Diamond Valley Library Wed 23 Feb 1.30 pm.

* Prehistory of Nillumbik Country course being offered by Nillumbik U3A and run by Mr Mick Woiwod. Commences Fri 10 Feb.

Details: nillumbiku3a@live.com

*AIGS Booksale

Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies Booksale Blackburn Sunday Feb 13

* Know Your History, Preserve Your Culture - free two-day workshops at Public Records Office Victoria. 17 and 18 Feb

* Free Veterans Heritage Workshop Victorian Archives Centre Wed 23 Feb Visit www.veterans.vic.gov.au

*National Archives of Australia Shake your Family Tree Program

Free - Friday 25 Feb

Care, compassion, community
70th anniversary of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

Exhibition at Shrine of Remembrance 4 March-31 July

City of Whittlesea Grant writing workshop- Free

Wed 6 April 10.30 am - 1.30 pm and repeated Thursday 7 April 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Contact: Daniela Calanchini 9217 2170

Australian Heritage Week

14 April - 20 April

Researching your family history in New Zealand

2011-02-02T13:48:00.002+11:00

Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

Before I personally started researching my family history I did not know of any NZ connections, but I soon found that I did. My two sources initially were Photos in my Grandmother’s photo album and their inscriptions and conversations with elderly relatives (since passed).

Many people actually migrated from Australia to NZ

In December 1863, the following advertisement appeared in the Sydney newspapers;

"Fifty Acres of Land Free - Military Settlers in New Zealand. A number of Married Men with their families are required to proceed to Auckland (passages free); also, a limited number of Single Men to complete a settlement. None need apply who cannot produce testimonials of industry and sobriety. Lieutenant Steele will, on and after Monday, 18 January, be in attendance to make the engagements and give any information that may be required. For the present apply to Soper and Steele, Market Wharf."

YPRL have very limited resources on NZ. However we are a very good starting place for your research but you will find that you will need to also visit other resource centres such as the The State Library of Victoria Genealogy Centre which have a very good collection of NZ material.

You might also like to get yourself a detailed map or touring guide of New Zealand and familiarise yourself with the local geography of the region you are interested in.

In New Zealand, official interest in births, deaths and marriages, dates back to 1847when compulsory civil registration was introduced. Prior to this, the registers kept by the churches are the primary record. Indexes can now be searched online.

I have compiled a list : “Researching your Family History in New Zealand” which provides some resources to explore.

.

Ancestor Approved Award

2011-01-19T11:01:00.004+11:00

I was surprised this week to receive a comment on a recent blog posting from blogger Geniaus for an “Ancestor Approved” Award.
The Award was created by Leslie Ann Ballou at Ancestors Live Here and asks two things of those who receive it:
Recipients should:
•Write 10 surprising, humbling, or enlightening aspects of their research;
•Pass the Award on to 10 other researchers whose family history blogs are doing their ancestors proud.

As this is not a personal family history blog I thought I would go “outside the box” and first highlight what has been happening with family history services here at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. This is particularly relevant to look back on 2010 as we embark on a fresh new Year and I hope that this fits with Leslie’s criteria. I will pass the award on in another blog posting.

1. We have launched our brand new website with dedicated space for genealogy resources. Members can create their own lists, add comments to items borrowed and more. I have been creating lists relevant to specific topics relating to family history – these will be terrific as a resource to accompany a guest speaker. These will be progressively added as guides on this link and will include both items in the collection and websites.

2. Continued success of the Family History Fest program at Diamond Valley Library. A monthly speaker (sometimes yours truly) presents an introduction of a topic of interest for family history researchers. It is gratifying to see researchers return and connect with each other afterwards – I actually really enjoy the informal networking and assistance that goes on before and after our official speakers.
The 2010 program included the following topics:
Starting your family history
Valuing your veterans
Using the Ancestry Database
Using Letters and Diaries
How to use genealogy blogs
Irish newspapers
UK Civil Registration
Bound for South Australia

3. The generosity of speakers to freely share their knowledge in front of a room of people.

4. We had the opportunity to host UK genealogist Lady Mary Teviot in October. She was well received in five of our libraries. She enjoyed the experience so much, she has invited herself back for National Family History Week in 2011.

5. Research queries come my way from time to time and it is always a pleasure to be able to point a researcher to a resource that might help them, especially phone queries that put me on the spot.

6. In 2010 I trained over 50 staff introducing them to Digger indexes, Ancestry database, Times Digital Archives, Wikinorthia, TROVE and more.

7. I am a big fan of TROVE and find it an excellent resource for both local and family history researchers. I really enjoy it when family history and local history queries intersect. I had an example of a researcher interested in the GRIMSHAW name in Greensborough. There is a street named after this family.

8. We have held a number of successful Family History research days with excellent feedback from attendees, including personal comments regarding myself which is always gratifying.

9. On a personal side I will add that I have taken out a personal subscription to Ancestry because I simply do not get time at work to do family history. I recently decided to have a play in the photographs section and found a photograph of a distant cousin “Thomas COMANS” and am now in touch with the researcher.

10. I have enjoyed the recent 7th season of BBC’s “You Do You Think You Are” as well as the recent Australian version. Lessons can be learnt and I was recently reminded not to always rely on information on certificates. One celebrity Rupert Everitt had information on a certificate that his ancestor had died in 1919, in reality it was about 1935. This has reminded me to re-think my search for the death in particular of my ancestor James ROBERTS. From certificate information I am presuming he died prior to 1888 but as I suspect he deserted his wife anyway, perhaps this information is wrong and I should be searching for his death at a later time.
[[This blog posting also appears at http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/research/genealogy/genealogy-blog/2011-january/ancestor-approved-award]]

Shake your family tree

2011-01-11T11:13:00.001+11:00

The Annual "Shake your Family Tree" Open Day organised by the National Archives of Australia is set for Friday 25 February. The Melbourne Office is located at the Victorian Archives Centre - also home to Public Records Office Victoria, North Melbourne. It is an all day program from 9.30 - 4 pm and includes a range of seminars, tours and more.

The NAA have published a number of titles of interest to the family history researcher - Search National Archives of Australia in the catalogue for details

Websites

2011-01-04T10:52:00.002+11:00

Some websites to explore:

50 Years of State Records NSW

Last Chance to Read

Free Registers (UK)

My Place in History

NSW Registry of Births Deaths Marraiges have increased their search years by one year

YPRL's new website

2010-12-16T13:59:00.002+11:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library are very pleased to announce the launch of their brand new website – still at www.yprl.vic.gov.au

Discover a whole new way of interacting with the library online.

Yarra Plenty now has one of the most cutting-edge library websites anywhere and is the first in the world to deploy this kind of online library with integrated website and discovery layer.

What makes it so innovative is that it incorporates a discovery layer that sits over the library management system and interacts seamlessly with the website.

It has transformed our library catalogue into a social place where you can add your own ratings, reviews and build your own lists to share with others. It also has much better search capabilities, more “google like”.

You might like to refer to the welcome message

One of the advantages of the new website is that our blogs will now be integrated into this website.

The Genealogy Blog, along with the genealogy and other library blogs can be found here

Or go to the tab – About – News – Follow Us
And/or tab - Research - Genealogy

Until we can get the RSS feed organised I will maintain this Blogger blog as well

If you are a library member I encourage you to sign on, have a play and make it your own! We welcome your feedback and tell us what you think of it.

Recently arrived Genealogy mags

2010-11-24T10:55:00.001+11:00

The Following magazines have arrived for your genealogy reading pleasure:

Australian Family Tree Connections : December 2010

Articles include:

The Mysterious heirloom

Ernst Carl Julius Friedrich Rosenthal

Antiques, heirlooms and keepsakes

Mary (Randall) Brown

Avoca, Victora

Bernard McCann

Elizabeth (Marshall) Spalding

40 things to ask your Mum

Robert Findlay

Christmas at the Front 1917

PEP Batteries Ball 1945

Cummings Family of Middlesex

Albert Flynn's 1940s dinner

Getting Started - Looking for Mining Ancestors Part 1

Who Do You Think You Are? - December 2010

Feature articles include:

WW1's unsung heroes

The High Street

A Life without work

War Cemeteries

Georgian Spinsters

Research advice articles include:

Shopkeepers

DNA Testing

Create a Slideshow

Maps, plans and surveys

Settlement records

In Edwardian Times

Check out the Magazine website including the Forum

Aus Who Do You Think You Are Series 3

2010-11-24T10:54:00.000+11:00

The eagerly awaited third series of Australia's "Who Do You Think You Are" premieres on Sunday night 28 November on SBS. The first episode features actress Magda Szubanski.

Check out a preview now on SBS: Who Do You Think You Are

New Australian resource on Ancestry

2010-11-01T10:31:00.001+11:00

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1796-1942This database contains registers of coroners’ inquests for New South Wales, Australia, for the years 1796–1942. Coroners were responsible for inquiring into any unnatural or sudden deaths in their jurisdiction. They also investigated deaths when a body was unidentified, a cause of death was uncertain, or the deceased was in the care of the state. Coroners could investigate fires that caused destruction of property, as well. Magistrates could take depositions about circumstances of death in more remote areas where no coroner was available.

Coroners' registers can contain information similar to that found on a death certificate. Depending on the date and the form used for the inquest, records in this database may include the following:

name of deceased
age
birthplace
estimated date and place of death
date and location of Inquest
verdict of inquest (probably cause of death)
name of the coroner or magistrate
name of doctor
occupation of deceased
personal property belonging to deceased

Library members can access Ancestry on any PC in any branch Library via the library website at www.yprl.vic.gov.au with thier library card.

UK Genealogist Lady Teviot

2010-10-19T11:57:00.004+11:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library is looking forward to hosting UK Genealogist Lady Mary Teviot in various branches later this month.

Lady Teviot’s experience in Family History Research extends over thirty five years and she has lectured internationally for over a decade.

She has been the President of the UK Federation of Family History Societies since 2001 and has held other roles in various family history groups.

Lady Teviot specialises in Probate Research and can be seen on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel’s “Heir Hunters”.

Lady Teviot is looking forward to a return trip to Australia and Melbourne’s north and inspiring people to explore their family history. Her talks will be of particular interest to family history researchers with UK heritage.

Tuesday October 26 Thomastown 10.30 am – 12 noon
How to research your Scottish Family History

Wednesday 27 October – Diamond Valley 1.30 – 3.00 pm
UK Civil Registration

Thursday October 28 Ivanhoe 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
UK Census Returns

Friday October 29 Eltham 10.00 am – 12 noon
Kill or cure: medicine in the 19th Century

What were you most likely to die from or did you in spite of some of the remedies get better and live to tell the tale? What was it like to be in hospital, how long were you there for, how well did you get treated and what were some of the other patients like? What were the pros and cons of vaccination? How did you qualify as a doctor, nurse or midwife? What was it like having an operation? What was dentistry like? What were some of the strange cures, strange sounding ailments and odd causes of death cited in the 19th century.

Saturday November 6 Lalor Library 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Site unseen
This presentation will discuss useful and underused internet resources for your UK family history research

For further informatin and booking, please click on the links provided.

Sands Sydney Directory - sample years

2010-10-18T13:56:00.002+11:00

The City of Sydney Archives has completed digitisation of three annual volumes of Sands Sydney Directory (1858/59-1932) and these are now available online.

The complete annual volumes for 1868, 1888, and 1918. have been scanned

The web address is www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au then follow the path ->
About Sydney -> History and Archives -> Archives -> Catalogues and
search tools -> Sands Sydney Directory.

As far as can be determined this is the first time complete annual volumes have
been made available this way. Existing online services cover only the
'alphabetical' section of Sands.

The City of Sydney Archives is inviting family historians and others who use Sands, to take a look and if possible make comments back to them about the experience. From these comments, improvements can be made when the rest
of the digitisation project takes place in 2011/2012.

Comments relating particularly about the file size and download
times are welcome, but comments and suggestions about
all aspects of how you find the website will be of great use.

Australian Family History Connections - October

2010-10-14T11:16:00.002+11:00

Australian Family Tree Connections - October edition has been received. Copies are held at Diamond Valley and Ivanhoe Libraries

Articles include:

Mackay Family History Society – recipient of National Trust Award
Dutton Pioneers by Mia Carlsson
Mary (McCallum) Pinkerton’s shroud by Betty Pinkerton
Upper Yarraman revisited Frohloffs recall their family history by Jim Bond
My Reed-Cooke ancestors by Betty J Havercroft
Rosina Fouracre by Barbara Johnson
Dicker convicts and free settlers by Peter Dicker
Martin Condon – Ireland, Queensland and New Zealand by Hanley and Doreen Hoffman
John and Caroline (Chesterfield) Torrance by Gayle Jeavons
The Sigrist Family Bible by Lilian Magill
Harry George Bates and Eliza Streeton: a new life in a foreign land by Eileen Cameron
The Short Sisters by Beverly A Payne
Doris Marian Smith by Deboarah Walker
Narre Warren & District Family History Group Inc.
Finding your ancestors in Church publications Part 11 by Shauna Hicks
Computers and Genealogy
Surname Register
Family Album

Charting your family history

2010-10-12T11:50:00.004+11:00

Family history researchers soon learn the need to be organised when researching and documenting their family history. Compiling a family tree of direct ancestors is often the first goal for people and is something which can be eagerly shared with family members young and older alike.

A simple way to get started is to note names on index cards or on a white board or piece of paper and link people with lines or string.

Ancestry Library Edition
provides a link to a variety of blank charts in pdf format which can be easily downloaded, printed, filled out and shared with others. These include the Ancestral Chart and the Family group sheet.

A list of links to a range of options for free charts can be found at Genealogy.About

Blank charts can also usually be found in some beginners books about how to undertake family history research.

The Family Tree Factory website uses the names in your database to produce a family tree.

A fun way to present your chart is via a powerpoint presentation. Have a look at
"How to create a Powerpoint Family Tree"

Cyndislist has a comprehensive set of links in the Supplies, Charts, Forms etc category.

Melbourne welcomes Scottish genealogist Chris Paton

2010-10-11T12:13:00.007+11:00

Unlock the Past is bringing Scottish genelaogist Chris Paton to Australia.

Chris Paton is a professional genealogist and regular contributor to
several family history publications, including Your Family History,
Practical Family History, Family History Monthly and Discover my Past
Scotland. Formerly a BBC television producer, he holds a Postgraduate
Diploma in Genealogical Studies. His website is at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
He also teaches online Scottish courses through Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd.

In Melbourne Chris be at the Veneto Club, 191 Bulleen Rd, Bulleen, Wed 20 October and will present two talks:
- Introduction to Scottish research. Introducing the major resources for
Scottish research, including the recently updated ScotlandsPeople
- More records for Scottish research - including land and church records.

PROGRAM
* 6.00pm - displays, book sales and pay on the day registrations
open (those pre-booked collect tickets)
* 7.00pm - Chris Paton - Introduction to Scottish research.
Introducing the major resources for Scottish research, including the
recently updated ScotlandsPeople
* 8.00pm - break for refreshments, book sales and displays
* 8.30pm - Chris Paton - More records for Scottish research
* 9.30pm - Displays open for another 15 minutes

* Meals are available at venue for those who wish to come early
* cost: $20 pre-booked; $30 pay on arrival.
* displays by Unlock the Past and major local family history societies. There will be opportunity to browse before and after the seminars, as well as during the break.

For more details and booking form visit:
http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/chris-paton-australia-scottish-roadshow

PS. Discounted pre-bookings close 14 October.

Lecture The making of Modern Australia

2010-10-06T10:20:00.002+11:00

History Council of Victoria presents its Annual Lecture

The Making of Modern Australia: a people’s history

prsented by William McInnes Acclaimed actor and author

The Making of Modern Australia is a landmark social history series that tells the big stories of post-war Australia through the eyes and the personal archives of those that lived it - the people of Australia themselves.

William McInnes is one of Australia’s most popular stage and screen actors and the
author of A Man's Got to Have a Hobby (2005), Cricket Kings (2006) and That'd Be Right (2008). His fourth book, The Making of Modern Australia, combines McInnes's laconic skills with anecdotes and a bird's-eye view of the country since World War Two. Filled with stories from regular Australians, it accompanies the television documentary series of the same name, narrated by McInnes and screened earlier this year on the ABC.

Thursday 28 October 2010, 6pm

Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria
Entry via La Trobe Street Entry: $5 All welcome
Enquiries:03 9372 6637
www.historyweek.org.au

Free seminar - Digitising records

2010-09-30T13:16:00.003+10:00

Victorian Association of Family History Organisations

Presents
DIGITISING RECORDS
A free seminar for individuals and family & local history societies
On
Saturday 9th October 2010
1.30pm to 4.30pm
At
Seminar Rooms 3 & 4
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanson Street, Melbourne
(Entry 3 LaTrobe Street)

Speakers include:

Tim Hogan (SLV) – Delivering Newspapers On-Line
Clive Luckman (GSV) – Digitising Documents with an Ordinary Digital Camera
Daniel Wilksch (PROV) – “Feeling the Quality’ in digitising projects

For Bookings: Email – fauna6@gmail.com
Phone – 9703 2985

Victorian Seniors Festival

2010-09-27T11:34:00.002+10:00

The 2010 Victorian Seniors Festival is on again 3 - 10 October with the theme Be Inspired! There are many events of interest happening for family and local history researchers through out Melbourne Metropolitan and Regional Victoria.

Highlights of the program include:

Family History talks and Research
Genealogical Society of Victoria
Monday 4 Ocotber 11 am - 12 pm
Researching Scottish ancestors

Wednesday 6 Ocotber 2 pm - 3pm
Researching Irish Ancestors

Saturday 9 October 10 am - 4 pm
Family History Library Open Day including Beginners talk at 10 am.
Bookings essentail 9662 4455

Introduction to Family History
Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (for non-members)
Sunday 3 & 10 Ocotber 10.00 am - 12 noon and 1 pm - 3 pm
Bookings essential 9877 3789

Family History in Bendigo
Various events throughout the week
Details and bookings 5449 2700

Cornish Heritage and Family History
Oakleigh Baptist Church Hall, Oakleigh
Tuesday 5 October 10.15 - 1 pm
Bookings 9555 3645

Researching Defence Service Records Workshop
Shrine of Remembrance
Tuesday 7 October 1.00 - 2.30 pm
Bookings 9661 8100

Internet for beginners workshops
Museum Victoria
Monday 4 October to Sunday 10 October
10.30 am - 12.30 pm
Bookings essentail 8341 7111
Family History Internet Workshops
Presented in association with the Public Record Office and State Library Victoria
Immigration Museum (400 Flinders Street, Melbourne)
FREE – includes entry to Museum and afternoon tea.
Wednesday 6 October and Thursday 7 October 2pm to 4pm
Expert advice about using new online tools in genealogical research. Learn about forums, chat sites, blogging and virtual communities from staff working with government archives, libraries and museum collections.
Bookings essential – 9927 2726

Making a start on your memories
Mornignton Libary
Thursday 7 October 10 am - 12 noon
Bookings essentail 5950 1820

For information about the more than 1,000 other events held over the week of 3 to 10 October visit www.seniors.vic.gov.au/seniorsfestival or phone 1800 136 762.

Chalmers' General Biographical Dictionary added to Ancestry

2010-09-23T09:54:00.001+10:00

This database includes all 32 volumes of Alexander Chalmers’s General Biographical Dictionary, which, according to its subtitle, contains “an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the Most Eminent Persons in Every Nation; Particularly the British and the Irish. From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time.” Entries are alphabetical by name. Ancestry World Archives Project volunteers have indexed all 32 volumes by name, birth dates, and death dates to improve database usability.

New on Ancestry

2010-09-08T10:40:00.002+10:00

Some more great Australian content on the Ancestry Database: -
South Australia Government Gazettes 1867-1884
This is a collection of South Australia Government Gazettes, which were printed between 1867 and 1884. The gazettes contain a large amount of government business notices ranging from notices of appointment to government positions, to land dealings, renewal of business licenses and insolvency. Tens of thousands of names are contained in the gazettes each year. People and their localities, small and large, are brought up in the workings of the province. The gazettes offer much more than simply a name and a date. The collection covers events and circumstances in the life of the people who lived in South Australia.

Gazettes from the years 1867, 1869, 1874, 1876, 1883, 1884 are included in this collection. The books are complete, but all gazettes from 1867-1884 aren’t in this collection. The gazettes include:

Appointees to government positions
Appointments of magistrates and Justices of the Peace
Appointments of returning officers
Crown land leasees
Deceased estates
Dissolution of business partnerships
Insolvents
Licenses
Notices or rewards for lost or stolen property and stock
Property owners subject to compulsory land acquisition by government
Unclaimed letters
Unclaimed property

Sydney and New South Wales, Sands Street Index, 1861-1930
Contained in this database is a collection of the Sand’s directories for Sydney and New South Wales, Australia from 1861–1933. Available directories are for the years 1861, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. There are usually several sections in each directory including an index of alphabetical names, street addresses, and commercial addresses. Although the alphabetical name section is the most useful part of the directory to the genealogist, other information can be gleaned from these directories such the names of each head of household, their districts of residence, and often their occupation.

Why use directories? Directories are extremely useful for locating people in a particular place and time. They are excellent census substitute records. If you have traced an ancestor through several years of directories and they then disappear, it likely means that the individual either moved or died. The advertisements and professional or commercial sections of the directory can also help you learn more about your ancestor’s occupation and may lead you to other occupational records. You do want to exercise some caution in your research, however, as some street names and numbers may have changed and a property may not have been listed for several years if it was previously vacant.

Published by John Sands, the Sands’ Directories cover the Sydney metropolitan area and the rural country of New South Wales. Information was collected by Sands’ agents calling door to door so it may not be as accurate as legal documentation. Other things to be aware of are that street numbering was often absent during the earlier years of the directory, listings only include the head of the household rather than owners or boarders, house names could change regularly, and unoccupied premises were not recorded.

Information in this database:

Alphabetical name directory
Advertisements
Commercial directory
Street directory
Index

Access to Ancestry is via the Genealogy link on our website on every PC in every Branch Library.

Australian Family Tree Connections - September

2010-09-07T09:57:00.002+10:00

The September edition of Australian Family Tree Connections is now available at Diamond Valley, Ivanhoe and Mill Park Libraries.

Features:

Butler family of Woodlands, Berrima NSW
Auckland Research Centre
Family Matters – Ellen Fitzgibbins origins by Nancy Higgins
Alec William Douglas Hill by Clyde Ashton
John Andrew Peers born as John William Mahoney by Tom Proudlock
Grace Elworthy’s whalebone stool by Patricia Coleman
The Schmutter family of Armidale NSW an unusual family heirloom
By Elizabeth Pardy
Frederick Martin {‘papa”) king by Coral Haeuseir
The diary of Henry Francis of Sheffield (1840) by Margaret Guter
A number of people are mentioned – passengers from the “Champion” arrived Sydney October 1840.
Charlotte Boulton and the Carver Legacy by Judith Faux
Find your ancestors in Church publications Part 10 by Shauna Hicks
A real Treasure TROVE by Philip Marston
Surname Register

Was your relative involved with cricket in NSW?

2010-09-01T09:35:00.003+10:00

I am posting the following on behalf of the NSW Cricket umpires and Scorers Association:

The NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association will turn 100 in 2013.

As part of the research for our centenary history, we are seeking descendants or family members of our 46 Life Members.

We have a lot of information on some of these men - and absolutely nothing
on some of the others. Also seeking photos (sporting or otherwise), memories, anecdotes, access to memorabilia, anything at all really. Nothing too big or too small :-)

The names are:

Bernie ARMOUR (approx 1920 - 2005)
HJ (Harry) ARMSTRONG (died 1945)
W BARNES
PR (Pat) BATES (died after 1964)
Paul BERRIDGE (abt 1931 - 1988)
George BORWICK MBE (1896 - 1981)
WJR BOWES
TF (Tom) BROOKS OAM (1919 - 2007)
RF (Dick) BURGESS still living
A (Mick) BURT
R (Dick) CALLAWAY (1860 - 1935)
Mick CARNEY
Graham CHUDLEIGH still living
Vince CRANNEY
A (Bert) DALE
Jim DALY (in some references it is spelt DALEY)
CC (Cec) DAVIES
Arch EASTON (1880s - 1979)
HAR (Herb) ELPHINSTON (1905 - 1966)
AA (Allen) FALLINS (1909 - 1971)
AH FARROW
RA (Dick) FRENCH OAM still living
WG (Wal) FRENCH
RD (Darren) GOODGER still living
KL (Keith) GRIFFITHS still living
DB (Darrell) HAIR still living
RG (Ronald) HARRIS (known as Rocky) still living
PF (Peter) HUGHES still living
LJ (Len) JARMAN abt 1929 - 2007)
AC (Alf) JONES 1859 - 1949
A LUCAS
FWJ (Fred) LYONS (died 1963)
AG (Alan) MARSHALL (abt 1941 - 2001)
KG (Kim) NORRIS still living
GE (Graham) REED still living
EJ SHAW
Sid SMITH
AB (Alf) SOLOMON (also known as Sol) (died 1956)
SJA (Simon) TAUFEL still living
IS (Ian) THOMAS still living
AG (Arthur) WATSON still living
GRG (George) WEARNE (died 2007)
AJ (Allan) WHEELER (abt 1919 - 2000)
CE (Cyril) WIGZELL BEM (1901 - 1985)
AP (Alf) WILLIAMS (died 1933)
EF (Ted) WYKES OAM (1921 - 2008)

In addition we have four men who umpired Test cricket who did not become Life Members (yet). Any information on them would also be appreciated (and appropriately acknowledged):

James LAING (died 1913)
WG (Billy) CURRAN (died 1921)
RR (Reg) LEDWIDGE (died 1977)
RJ (Rod) TUCKER still living

Contact: Michael Drew
NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association
mdrew@tig.com.au
02 9349 5088
0416 431 054

Australian Newspapers

2010-09-01T09:23:00.002+10:00

The Australian Newspapers database is contantly growing. The following titles for New Southe Wales now becoming available:

Sydney Chronicle (NSW : 1846-1848)
Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839-1873)
Morning Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1843-1846)
The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835-1840)

Check out Australian Newspapers via the Trove gateway.

AFTC - August

2010-08-31T13:20:00.003+10:00

Australian Family Tree Connections is available for loan at a number of our libraries.

The August issue features the following articles:

* Call from Dunedin Family History group for goldmining stories on the Otago, Southland and West Coast of the Sth Island from 1861 to the present day.

*The Bush Brotheres of Jerrawa Creek (NSW)
by Diana MacQuillan
Jeremiah, a convict and his brother Arthur. Names: Blackling, Flood, McLeay, Pumfrey, Howard, Wyndham, Faithful
Ships: Aurora, Canton
A Bush family reunion is set for October 2010

*Edoardo Verri and Clara Pasquareli - Italian ancestors of author Julie Watt. Edoardo arrived in Sydney 1913. Clara came with her family in 1909. They married in Ingham, Qld.
Ship: Orsona

*Bridget McCue & Bridget Mena Crawford
by Rose Smith
Ship: Alhambra, Albert
Names: Kofoed/Crawford, Morrison, Waterson, Martin, Rushworth, Homan

*Mr Smith's recipe book by Garry Preston
A new book of cookeries by John Murrell probably belonged to Phoebe (Diggins) Smith of Ballarat who married Samuel Smith in 1859.

*Four generations of motheres by Cecilia Dyball
Names: Byrne, Jocob, Jago

*Muller Family of Baden, Germany by Celene Muller
Names: Muller, Morano, Strange, Williams, Schnedider
Ships: Somertsetshire, Great Britain

*Carl Meyer by Patricia Woodcock

*Michael & Bridget (Lahiff) Neyland by Martin Byrne

*M Lewer's recipe book by Faye Kenwick

*Joseph Charles and Isabella (Townsend) Hall by Mike Duggan

*George Geoffrey Frith by Margaret Wright

* Donald Cameroan c1777-1867

*Find your ancestors in Church Publications Part 9 by Shauna Hicks

*Computers and genealogy - put Picassa to the test by Philip Marston

Family History Month at YPRL

2010-08-23T13:41:00.002+10:00

August is Family History Month at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Hot on the heels of National Family History Week we have had family history researchers at the following events:

Heirloom Discovery Day
(In partnership with the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program)
Mill Park Library

Family History Research Day
(In partnership with the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program)
Mill Park Library

Families on the web
Ivanhoe Library

Writing and publishing your family history
Watsonia Library

Writing a Life Story
Rosanna Library

Using the Ancestry database
Lalor Library

Restoring Your family Photographs
Ivanhoe Library

Starting Your Family History
Thomastown Library

We are looking forward to more excellent speakers in coming days:

Irish Newspapers
at Diamond Valley Library
Civic Drive Greensborough
Wednesday August 25
1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Join Beryl O'Gorman from the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Irish Ancestry Group who will introduce researchers to Irish Newspapers on the Internet and how they can assist with your research.
Book Online

Researching your Italian Family History
at Mill Park Library
394 Plenty Road, Mill Park
Monday August 30
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
In partnership with the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program
Italians have been migrating to Australia since the time of the arrival of the First Fleet, however after the second World War, the numbers of Italians arriving in Victoria increased dramatically. Come along to this session to learn some tips and strategies for researching your Italian Family.
Book Online

Hard Labour: working women in the State Library's Collections Free talk

2010-08-23T10:12:00.002+10:00

Discover women at work, both past and present, in the State Library's collections at this free seminar presented by the State Library and the Australian Women's Archive Project.

Anne Burrows, Genealogy Librarian at the State Library, will tell the story of women's work through the collections of the State Library

Christine Eid, artist and State Library Creative Fellow, will describe her research on Victoria's female taxi drivers.

Dr Dorothy Wickham, historian, will talk about women on the Victorian goldfields.

Dr Nikki Henningham, Executive Officer of the Australian Women's Archives Project (AWAP), will discuss AWAP's latest projects.

Wednesday 8 September 2 - 3.30 pm
Conference Centre, State Library of Victoria
Entry 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Bookings Online
Email: bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 8664 7099

Phone: 03 8664 7099

Ancestors in mental asylums

2010-08-16T11:45:00.001+10:00

Have you discovered an ancestor who is now deceased, who spent a considerable time in one of the mental asylums or hospitals for the insane in Victoria? Was this discovery a surprise to you or did you already know about this?

Would you be prepared to share your family story with a researcher from Monash
University who is looking at the impact of institutionalisation on families and future generations? This would involve a discussion about your family history research. Your anonymity and the name of your ancestor and other family members would be suppressed making them unidentifiable.

If you are willing to be part of this historical doctoral research project please leave your contact details for Kath Ensor at:
• kmensl ©student.monash.edu
or
• PO Box 24158
Melbourne 3001

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar on Ancestry

2010-08-12T09:54:00.003+10:00

Ancestry has posted "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1861-1941", a major resource for genealogists. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1904

Information varies across different entries, but each typically includes:

* Probate date
* Full name of the deceased
* Death date
* Death place
* Registry where issued

You will usually find the amount left in the estate as well.

Ancestry warns that their collection currently does not include the years 1858-1860 and there are some gaps for the years 1863, 1868, 1873, 1876, 1877, 1883, 1888, 1899-1903 and 1910-1911.

Ancestry is available on all PCs in every branch library.

RAAF School of Radio Ballarat Go Cart Club

2010-08-10T14:58:00.001+10:00

This interesting certificate has been forwarded to me by a researcher with a query where to look for further information. Comments welcome.

Ryerson Index

2010-08-10T12:12:00.001+10:00

Check out the Ryerson Index

There were 410,000 additional entries included in the index during the past year, for a total now well in excess of 2.5 million entries. 137 volunteers index, or back index 177 Australian newspapers. The committee are keen to add additional newspapers to either current indexing, back indexing or both.

If you would like to contribute contact via the "Contract Ryerson Index Inc" icon on the main page.

Oral History Workshop

2010-08-05T11:12:00.000+10:00

Oral History Workshop

Presented by Lesley Alves
Historian and member of the Oral History Association

Wednesday 8 September 2010
9.30am – 4.30pm

Shire of Nillumbik Council Offices
Civic Drive, Greensborough

This workshop will cover the practicalities of oral history, including research, ethics, and equipment, interviewing techniques, transcribing,tape conservation and use of oral history.

Participants will have the opportunity to practise the skill of interviewing.

Oral History Handbook available for purchase.

Please bring a battery operated recorder if you have one.

Cost: $27.50 per person
Payment due by no later than 13 August]
Cheques payable to: Yarra Plenty Regional Library

Liz Pidgeon
Local History Librarian
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Bag 65
Bundoora, VIC. 3083
Email: lpidgeon@yprl.vic.gov.au

Genealogy News

2010-07-26T13:56:00.003+10:00

August is Family History Month at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Some dates for your calendar include:

Writing and publishing your family history
Tuesday 3 August
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Watsonia Library
Local writer and publisher Fee Sievers from Rebus Publishing will give tips about memoir writing, reveal how to write your family history and explore different story presentation options.

Writing a Life Story
ROSANNA Library
Thursday August 5
1.30 – 3.00 pm
Remember the people in your family history. How do you capture the special memories, people and events from their life? Robynne from “Your Life Story” will provide tips to get you started.

Using the Ancestry database
Lalor Library
Tuesday August Tuesday 17
11.00 am – 12 noon
An introduction to the Ancestry database for confident family history researchers.

Restoring Your family Photographs - Ivanhoe Library
Thursday August 19
10. 30 – 11.30 pm
Our family documents and photographs are an important link with our ancestors, providing us with historical record and priceless memories of family and special events. Carol from Pixel to Pixel will talk about and demonstrate the process for restoring old photographs and methods for organising storage of your precious family documents and other memorabilia.

Irish Newspapers - DIAMOND VALLEY Library
Wednesday August 25
1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Join Beryl O'Gorman from the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Irish Ancestry Group who will introduce researchers to Irish Newspapers on the Internet and how they can assist with your research.

Starting your family history - Thomastown Library
Monday August 23
11.30 am – 12. 30 pm
An introduction to researching your family history. Tip sheets provided

Researching your Italian Family History - Mill Park Library
Monday August 30
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
In partnership with the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program
Italians have been migrating to Australia since the time of the arrival of the First Fleet, however after the second World War, the numbers of Italians arriving in Victoria increased dramatically. Come along to this session to learn some tips and strategies for researching your Italian Family history.

Please note that the following events are booked out:

Heirloom Discovery Day July 31 at Mill Park Library

Family History Research Day August 3 at Mill Park Library

Families on the web August 3 at Ivanhoe Library.

You can book for these events and more online

The State Library's Family History Fest day on August 2 is also booked out.

Other events of interest

Family History Fair and Open day at Heidelberg Stake Family History Centre (LDS) - 285 Heidelberg Rd, Northcote Phone: 94822244

Saturday 7 August 10.00 - 4.00 pm

DIGITAL STORYTELLING
From family trees to stories of how a family has grown and changed, it's important not to lose that information. Come to State Library of Victoria's digital storytelling workshop where you can learn how to use technology to tell your amazing story
COURSE: SAT 14, 21, 28 AUG, 10AM–4PM
Digital Storytelling is the telling of a personal story using multimedia tools. Participants combine audio-visual resources from their personal archives (photographs, video, text, music and sound) to produce a three- to four-minute personal story which they then narrate. In this three-day program, participants will learn storytelling skills; draft, edit and create their own digital story; and take their completed project home on DVD to share with friends and family. Basic computer skills are an advantage.
MEET IN FRONT FOYER
COST: $299 -Includes a special 25% discount offer (bookings required)
Phone: 8664 7099 or email bookings@slv.vic.gov.au

Travelling Treasures Exhibition and talk at Mill Park Library Thursday August 5th

Queenstown Cemetery - Unveiling of plaque and cairn and book launch - Sunday 22nd August

Oral History Workshop - Wed. September 8 This is now open to members of the community, please RSVP and pay as soon as possible to secure your place. Email localhistorygene@yprl.vic.gov.au

Election Ephemera. Both the National Library of Australia and State library of Victoria are looking for donations of election ephemera.

State Library of Victoria
Katie Flack
Librarian, Australian History & Literature Team

State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Email: kflack@slv.vic.gov.au

National Library of Australia See http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/elections.html

How to use genealogy blogs

2010-07-26T11:16:00.005+10:00

How to use Genealogy Blogs is the July session for Family History Fest, a monthly program at Diamond Valley Library for family history researchers.

A blog is a website for letting people know what you’re doing and what you’ve found, and can be an effective way to locate other family researchers. In this session you will learn about blogs – what they are, what they are for, how to find them, how to create your own, and why you would want to.

Prominent genealogy blogger Thomas MacEntee has written a fine a short artcile on blogging your family history

He has also produced an excellent primer on genealogy blogging

He suggests that there are a number of different types of blogs. These include
Individual. Example Ancestors Within

Genealogy industry Example Unlock the Past

Genealogy Vendors Example Gould Genealogy and History News

Genealogical and Historical Societies example Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Archives and Libraries Example Australian War Memorial

Technology Example Bootcamp for Geneabloggers

Ethnicity Example Scottish Genealogy Blog

Geography Example Queensland Genealogy

One Place Study Example Wing Buckinghamshire - One Place Study

Surnames Example A Worthington Web Blog

Family Reunions Example 2008 Purdy Family Reunion

Diaries Example Words of Grandma

Cemeteries Example Cemetery curiosities

Photos and Charts Example Footnotemaven

Humour Example Two Bubbles off Center

Research Example Family Bibles

More new books

2010-07-22T13:49:00.002+10:00

The following titles have been added to the collection. You may place a hold for any title via the catalogue

Introducing family history by Stuart A Raymond
The Hidden thread: Huguenot families in Australia published by the Huguenot Society of Australia edited by Robert Nash
Hw 2*t u Fmly Hstry by Jane Starkie (Great for kids)
The Family Tree Detective: a manual for tracing your ancestors in England and Wales by Colin D Rogers
Old Pubs: inns, taversn & grog house on the Victorian Gold diggings
Journeys in family history: The National Archives to exploring your past – finding your ancestors
Times of our Lives: the essential companion to writing your own life story
The everything guide to online genealogy: a complete resource for using the web to trace your family history by Kimberly Powell
Tracing your German Ancestors by Peter Towey
A dictionary of medical & related terms for the family historian by Joan E Grundy
Organising a family reunion by Lesle Berry
What was the voyage really like? : a brief guide to researching convict and immigrant voyages to Australia and NZ by Shauna Hicks
Discovering surnames: their origins and meanings by J W Freeman
Your Irish ancestors: a guide for family historians by Ian Maxwell
First steps in family history: guided by Eve McLaughlin
Tracing births, deaths and marriages at sea by Christopher T and Michael J Watts
Starting your family history by Margaret Ward
Victorian Cartes-de-Visite by Robin and Carol Wichard
Tracing your Jewish ancestors: a guide for family historians by Rosemary Wenzerul
The British Soldier of the First World War by Peter Doyle
Are we related? How to find your famous ancestors by Eve McLaughlin
Parsih registers: A history and guide by Stuart A Raymond
Bulla Bulla: an illustrated history of the Shire of Bulla (Sunbury) by I.W. Sy

How should we commemorate the Anzac centenary?

2010-07-15T13:55:00.000+10:00

Australians across the country are encouraged to share their ideas and suggestions on how the Anzac Centenary should be commemorated at home and around the world.

From 2014 to 2018 marks 100 years since the First World War and Australians are invited to have their say on ways to commemorate the anniversary.

Submissions close on 17 September 2010. To make a submission visit www.anzaccentenary.gov.au.

More new Australian databases on Ancestry

2010-07-15T09:50:00.002+10:00

Always search the "About" section of any database searched on Ancestry. The following indexes are not complete. They do not cover every state for every year indicated.

Birth Index, 1788-1922
Death Index, 1787-1985
Marriage Index, 1788-1949

They can be used in conjunction with State historical indexes.

Ancestry is available on every PC in every library branch via our website

New Australian database on Ancestry

2010-07-12T11:38:00.004+10:00

Researching a military ancestor in N.S.W? A new database on Ancestry is the

New South Wales, Australia, Cowra Military Camps Personnel Photo Index, 1905-1970
This data collection contains index of photographs taken of Armed Forces Personnel stationed at Cowra Military Camps and POW Camps during World War II. The indexes were made from Images of over 4,000 of the soldiers who trained at Cowra Military Camp prior to embarking for overseas during World War II.

Information collected from these photographs includes:

Names of soldiers
Ranks of soldiers
Date the photo was taken
Negative number
Other notes
The original photographs from this database were provided by: Cowra Family History Group Inc. PO Box 495 Cowra NSW 2794.

Ancestry Library Edition can be accessed for free via the Genealogy link on the Yarra Plenty Regional Library website at any PC in every Branch Library.

New Genealogy Books part 1

2010-07-08T13:08:00.002+10:00

The following titles have been added to the collection recently:
The surnames of Scotland
The clans, septs & regiments of the Scottish highlands
Nick Barrett’s Guide to your ancestors lives
How to trace your family tree in England, Ireland, Soctland and Wales by Kathy Chater
Family photographs 1860-1945 by Robert Pols
Fair Game: Australia’s first immigrant women Elizabeth Rushen & Perry McIntyre
Social networking for genealogists by Drew Smith
Family history on the cheap by Shauna Hicks
Dictionary of old trades, titles and occupations by Colin Waters
How did they get here? Arrivals after 1924 by Cora Num
The census 1801-1911: a guide for the internet era by Stuart A Raymond
New cousins: how to trace living descendants of your ancestors by Karen Bali
1,001 life story questions by Bob Mitchell
How to publish your own book: secrets for the inside by Stewart Ferris
The Merhcant’s women by Elizabeth Rushen and Perry McIntyre
The family history project: great stories fro the nation’s family tree
The family and Local history handbook 12 (UK)
The silent city: a history of the Ballarat General Cemeteries
Easy Family history by David Annal
Family history on the move by Roger Kershaw and Mark Pearsall
The Greatest Genealogy tips in the world by Maureen Vincent-Northam
The Oxford Guide to Heraldry by Thomas Woodcock and John Martin Robinson
Tasmanian Rogues & Absconders 1803-1875 Volume 2 The Middle Years 1821-1836
Modern Memory Keeper: a new approach to scrapbooking your family legacy by Ronee Parsons
Tracing your family history: how to get started
Creating cards with scrapbook embellishments by Maryjo McGraw
Starting out in family History (The National Archives)
Oral History Handbook by Beth M Robertson
Family History for beginners and beyond (The Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra)
The Floating brothel by Sian Rees
Reuniting relatives, finding friends: a practical guide to finding people when you’ve lost touch
A Dictionary of old trades, titles and occupations by Colin Waters

Hyde Park Barracks - Request for Reunion Photo

2010-06-30T09:30:00.000+10:00

The Society of Australian Genealogists report in their most recent e-newsletter -

Hyde Park Barracks - Request for Reunion Photo

The Hyde Park Barracks is putting together a new semi-permanent exhibition about convicts in Sydney. A component of the exhibition discusses the legacy of convicts and the many descendants of convicts alive today who are very proud of their ancestry.

We are looking for a photograph of a large family reunion of people descended from a convict. It would be preferable to have descendants of a convict who resided in the Hyde Park Barracks, but any Sydney-based convict would be welcome.

If you recently had a family reunion of convict descendants, had a group photograph taken and are happy to have this on display in the Hyde Park Barracks, please contact Kate Bruxner at the Museum of Sydney on 02 9251 5988 or email kateb@hht.net.au.

Who's Hiding a convict will be presented at Eltham Library on Thursday 19 August

Writing a Life Story

2010-06-24T11:51:00.009+10:00

Diamond Valley Library's monthly Family History fest program continued this month with tips to write a life story. With the original advertised speaker ill,Local and family history Librarian Liz Pidgeon stepped in and offered some pointers. Some points in her presentation included:

Decide on the final form of your project

Options include

Book
Article
Chart
Digital story
DVD/CD
Independent website or submit to a website like Mapping Our Anzacs or Wikinorthia
Online publishing
Blogs
Talk – Powerpoint
Photo album
e-book
Audio story
Emails
Timeline
Poem
Song
Living Tribute Eulogy

Pick an individual you know and has an interesting story to tell.

Ideas to include in a life story

Meaning and history of the surname
Family Crest
Meaning and history of the Christian name
Was the person named for another family member? Who?
Background – parents
Immigration story – country of origin - Ship
When born
Order of birth
Siblings
Place – Geographic area
House
School
Occupation
Club memberships
Celebrate friends
Sports
Military service
Religion
Property holdings
Family stories
Descendants
Travels
More recent commemorations
Family Heirlooms you/family member may still have from this person eg. Family bible, medals, furniture, letters
Photographs
Add Historic context

There are many more ideas to include and this will be inspired by your research.

The next session for Family History Fest at Diamond Valley Library is
How to use Genealogy blogs - Wednesday July 28

Heavenaddress.com

2010-06-16T11:29:00.003+10:00

A new website has come to my attention of interest to Australian and New Zealand researchers - Heavenaddress.com

Users can subscribe and build a memorial page to their lost loved ones. Being a Curator, you can: Upload photos, music, video clips, to create a memory book, build a personal social network to whatever extent you wish within your preferred level of privacy control,post a funeral notice, post your special tributes and develop a memory book in response to funeral notices posted by fellow Curators.

I was surprised at the amount of content of funeral notices available on the site when I test searched with my more uncommon surnames. I think that this would be a good website to take a look at in conjunction with the historical death indexes and the Ryerson Index and cemetery records.

Did your Victorian gold miner go to NZ?

2010-06-16T11:13:00.000+10:00

In May 2011 Otago will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold at Gabriels Gully. To celebrate the occasion the Dunedin (NZ) Family History Group is publishing a book on the lives of gold miners and their families as told by their descendants. The book is titled "Pick and Shovel, Cradle and Pan - 150 years of gold discovery in Otago, Southland and on the West Coast".

The book covers the period 1861 to the present day and will involve any gold miner prospecting in Otago, Southland and on the West Coast of the South Island. We are not just interested in the gold miners themselves but also the wives and children who either travelled and endured hardships with their husbands or who stayed behind and coped while their husbands were away prospecting.

Many of the early gold miners to Otago came directly from the Victorian gold fields so there may be many Australian readers who have ancestors associated with the Otago gold fields.

All essays must be received no later than 31 December 2010. For further details on how you can submit an essay to this publication contact dfhg@xtra.co.nz or write to The Dunedin Family History Group, 28 Milburn Street, Corstorphine, Dunedin 9012, New Zealand.

New Look for State Library of Victoria website

2010-06-08T13:01:00.005+10:00

The State Library of Victoria website has been renovated. Check it out, also the new Family Matters blog is one worth subscribing to. Details have now been announced regarding the Library's annual Family History Feast day in early August. This year it is Monday August 2 as part of National Family History Week. Bookings open June 15

1901 Ireland Census

2010-06-08T09:40:00.000+10:00

The 1901 census of Ireland (index and images) from the National Archives Ireland has been made available for free.

Find My Past free 24 hour access

2010-05-31T11:10:00.005+10:00

In an exciting development for Australian genealogy, the leading
British online genealogy company, FindMyPast has announced that it has taken over the Australian operations of World Vital Records

They have launched the new Australian FindMyPast.com.au website with 35 million records,including many Australian directories, government gazettes, post office directories and other publications.

Recent Examples include:
Brief history of Canberra 1927
Australian Handbook 1900
Albany Creek Columbarium
Emigrants from Hamburg to Australasia 1850-1879
Moreton Bay Misc. records 1855-1859
Melbourne Sands Directories

When you find an item of interest you can view the full text of the original entry in PDF. They're offering a free 24 hour trial (no credit card required) with this new site. Go to FindMyPast.com.au to find out more. This site will be worth keeping an eye on.

Finding living people

2010-05-25T09:40:00.005+10:00

I recently received an email from a lady looking for an old school friend she wants to invite to an upcoming school reunion. The surname – KENNEDY matched one of the family lines I am researching. I did not have the individual in my database but suggested she might like to follow up on one of the following lines of enquiry. She had already tried the White Pages.

1. Google search her (and other search engines)Use different variations on her name including/excluding middle name etc.
2. Facebook search her –
3. Advertise reunion through local school /public library and press and local websites
4. Search electoral rolls available at State Library
5. Employ a professional “people finder” eg. People Search Australia
6. Register/Search on Schoolfriends websites Australian Lost Schoolfriends and Aussie Schoolmates Schoolmates Australia (register the reunion here too)
7. If you knew her parents names you could search genealogy websites. People with living relatives in their family tree generally as a rule do not post their details.
8. Is she still living? Search for her death in death notices at Ryerson index this is Australia wide and covers more recent years.

Are there any other ways to find living relatives and lost friends?

Camperdown Chronicle on Australian Newspapers

2010-05-18T10:16:00.003+10:00

The Camperdown Chronicle 1877-1954 for selected years is no longer in the red. After weeks of testing mode this Victorian country regional newspaper is now searchable and assessible via Australian Newspapers and TROVE.
Learn more about Camperdown

New Australian content on Ancestry

2010-05-13T14:10:00.003+10:00

Queensland, Australia, Passenger Lists, 1848-1912
This database contains an index to registers of passengers on immigrant ships arriving in Queensland, Australia, between 1848 and 1912. The ships were coming from ports in the UK and Europe. The registers typically do not include passengers from New Zealand, the Americas or other non-European ports.

Details vary, but these registers may include:
Name
Age
Date and place of arrival in Queensland
Ship name
Date and port of departure

Western Australia Post Office Directory 1910
Western Australia Post Office Directory 1926

This data collection contains the Western Australia Post Office Directory for 1910 and 1926. Directories provides information by locality, individual surname, government service, and by trade or profession. The different sections enable the inquirer to see at a glance the householders or businesses in any one town; the address of any householder or business in the State; and the businesses or individuals throughout Western Australia engaged in any trade or profession.

Information extracted from this collection includes:
Business Names
Individual Given Names
State
Year

New South Wales, Australia, Applications and Admissions to Orphan Schools, 1817-1833
The Female Orphan School in Sydney was established in 1801 to house destitute girls aged 7 to 14. The Male Orphan School was later established in 1819. Boys aged 7 to 10 could be admitted and would remain a responsibility of the school until age 15. Boys received basic education in reading, writing, and math. At age 15 they were sent out to apprentice with a tradesman or to work as a farm labourer.

From 1826 to 1833 the administration and management of the Orphan Schools was under the direction of the Trustees of the Clergy and School Lands Corporation.

To access the particular database go to Search - Card Catalogue - database name and then search within that database

About this Collection:
This collection consists of Applications for Admission into the Male and Female Orphan Schools in Sydney. The years covered roughly follows those in which the Schools were run by the Clergy and School Lands Corporation (1825-1833). Applications were used to determine admission of children, thus requiring certain criteria be met in order to be admitted.

The applications consisted of letters or petitions written by the parent(s) or guardian(s) (often a widow or widower) asking for the child to be admitted into the school. Some petitions were written on pre-printed forms, others are entirely handwritten. The petition usually listed:
Name of petitioner
Name of child wanting admission
Names of parents
Reasons why the child should be admitted
Date of application or admission
This collection also contains School Admission Books, covering the years 1817-1832 for females and 1819-1833 for males. The Admission Books generally list the following information:

Name of child
Age
Date admitted
Date of quitting the school
Parents’ names
Occupation
Residence
Remarks

To access an individual database go to the Search tab - Card Catalog and then search the name of the database and happy hunting within that database.

Family History in Scotland

2010-05-12T10:52:00.004+10:00

Ancestral Scotland are is a website devoted to Genealogy and travel in Scotland. They are currently offering 10 free credits for use on Scotlands People when you sign up for their online newsletter.

Scotsland People is a pay for view website and the official government source for official records, including birth, marriage, death records, Old Parish registers, Census records and more.

Help on Ancestry

2010-05-05T14:12:00.001+10:00

Ancestry Library Edition is available on every PC in every branch library. All you need is your library card to access it via our website.

If you ever feel stuck or frustrated have a look at the “Help” link which appears at the top right hand side of most pages. Under the “Answers” tab search your query in the topic lists provided or browse the summary list. The “Learning Center” tab is also an interesting list of articles worth a browse.

The Ancestry.com Wiki is a new section on Ancestry.com available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike available in the library under the “Help” link. It offers detailed and useful information about family history records, research, and places pulled from The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy and Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Currently in Beta stage it hopefully will build its international content.

Papers added to Papers Past

2010-05-03T14:50:00.003+10:00

Additional newspapers have been added to New Zealand's Papers Past website.
Papers Past is a collection of digitised historic New Zealand newspapers which offers browsing and full text searching.

The titles and issues now available are:
Ashburton Guardian (1890-1895, 1897, 1899-1909, 1911-1920)

Manawatu Standard (1883-1886)

Manawatu Times (1877-1881, 1883-1884)

Ohinemuri Gazette (1891-1892, 1896-1921)

Thames Star (1874-1900)

Waiapu Church Times (1907-1908)

Waiapu Church Gazette (1910-1920)

More are to be added in late June, including the addition of the first 10 years of the Lyttelton Times, the first ~40 years of the Otago Daily Times, and the extension of the Evening Post through 1945, the first paper in Papers Past to cover World War II!

Here's a complete list of what will be added in June:

Poverty Bay Herald (gap: 1902)

Lyttelton Times (1851-1862)

Evening Post (July-Dec 1871, 1916-1945)

Thames Star (1901-1920)

Albertland Gazette (1862-1864)

The Colonist (1857-1889)

Otago Daily Times (1861-1900)

Waiapu Church Gazette (1921-1945)

Australian Newspapers

2010-04-19T14:25:00.002+10:00

An update on Australian Newspapers out of the National Library of Australia.
Completed digitisation of the Sydney Morning Herald from available microfilm and issues from 1831 to 1954 are now available in the service. There are 3500 missing issues which have been sourced and digitised from hard copies in storage. The digitised missing issues will be made available in July 2010.

The first issue of the Queenslander was made available last month and issues from 1866 to 1939 are now being made available in the service as they pass quality control procedures.

The first regional title to be made available in the service is the Camperdown Chronicle. This title has been digitised and contributed by the State Library of Victoria. Issues from 1877 to 1954 are being made available.

All the features of the Australian Newspapers service (blue standalone version http://newspapers.nla.gov.au) including the advanced search have now been replicated in Trove (green version http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

The blue version will be taken down in the next few weeks and a redirect on the url will be placed on the green version. You are encouraged to begin using the Trove green version of newspapers if you haven’t already. This will be a single instance of Australian Newspapers where you can search across just newspapers, or choose to search across other resources as well (http://trove.nla.gov.au). The ‘cite this’ url’s are persistent identifiers so if you have used them they will resolve to the Trove version and still work.

The only difference between Trove Australian Newspapers and current Australian Newspapers is that:

Blue version searches original and corrected text, but not tags and comments.

Trove searches original and corrected text AND comments AND tags together. This means search results and search ranking is different to AN.

View Text correction ranking

In Trove in the user profile the user can see where they are in the overall text correction ranking profile. This is a new feature. The existing monthly hall of fame and top correctors still also appear on the home page as in blue version.

Enhancement work

From May to July 2010 enhancements will be undertaken to Australian Newspapers which will include many of the suggestions made by the public when feedback was called for in 2008 and 2009.

The number of people regularly undertaking text correction activity is steadily growing. More than 12,000 lines have now been corrected. The top 5 correctors were invited to an Australia Day Awards Ceremony at the National Library in January where they received a medal, certificate and special behind the scenes tour. They have together corrected 1 million lines of text. Read more about it here: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/news_and_events/media_releases/

Who do you think you are TV show

2010-04-06T12:03:00.003+10:00

The US Version of "Who do you think you are" is currently showing on American Television screens. People profiled include:
Brooke Shields
Susan Sarandon
Lisa Kudrow
Matthew Broderick
Emmitt Smith
Sarah Jessica Parker
Episodes can be watched online via Hulu TV

A second series has been announced. The Nine Network has purchased the series for Australian audiences.

Australian Genealogy on Facebook

2010-03-30T09:54:00.004+11:00

Family History researchers with Facebook accounts may be interested in joining the Australian Genealogy group. With two links posted a day there are already over 1800 websites listed to explore.

Ireland, Famine Relief Commission Papers new on Ancestry

2010-03-24T09:48:00.003+11:00

A fantastically rich collection of Irish records entitled the Ireland, Famine Relief Commission Papers, 1845 – 1847 is now available on Ancestry. These 7,000 original letters were written by Irish citizens who were requesting help during the Great Famine in the mid 19th century. Some are quite harrowing accounts of life during the Famine, which were a stark reminder of just how brutal conditions were at that time.

Between 1845 and 1852, people in Ireland were literally starving to death as result of a disease that killed their potato crops – the staple food for Ireland’s poorest who constituted a third of the population! Overall it’s estimated that a staggering million Irish citizens died as a result of the Famine.

Many of the letters were written by members of local relief committees, the clergy and concerned citizens who didn’t know where else to turn. They were, in fact, pleas of help sent to a Relief Commission that was set up by the English Prime Minister Robert Peel in an attempt to help those worst affected. The majority of the letters refer to the counties of Cork, Galway, Clare, Mayo and Limerick, although these regions weren’t necessarily the worst affected.

This is the first time the Ireland, Famine Relief Commission Papers have gone online so please take a look and uncover the unique stories found in this record collection.

Ancestry is accessible free on any PC via our website at all branch libraries.
Source: Ancestry Blog