Introduction to Researching Family History - Mansfield Central Library - Adult Learning

Are you interested in tracing your family tree but don’t know where to start? This could be the perfect course for you! We will discuss important first steps to take before starting to explore family history records and information online, as well as in libraries and archives. Focusing mainly on records of England and Wales, we will look at birth, marriage and death records, census returns, and the 1939 Register. We will also explore other key family history sources including parish registers, electoral registers, newspapers, and trade directories. Using sample documents and case studies, you will develop your research skills and learn search strategies to help you when growing your own family tree. The course now includes a practical session, giving you the opportunity to put new skills into practice as you search online for your own ancestors (using library laptops and Inspire’s free access to Ancestry.co.uk). Finally, suggestions will be given on how to organise and present your research. 

The course is suitable for complete beginners in family history but may also be useful for those with some family history experience who would like to update their knowledge, particularly in terms of online records. 

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify recommended first steps in family history research, and name physical or online places to find family history information (e.g. websites) 

• Recall key facts about the registration of births, marriages and deaths in the UK, describe benefits and challenges with using certificates for family history research, and interpret information from certificates and online BMD indexes

• Recall key facts about historical census records and the 1939 England and Wales Register, describe benefits and challenges with using the census for family history research, and interpret information on different census returns

• Using Ancestry.co.uk, apply search strategies and techniques to locate ancestors on at least one online census record and/or the 1939 England and Wales Register. 

• Use a range of sources - including parish registers, electoral registers, newspapers and trade directories - to find family history information  

• Discuss different options for organising and presenting family history research e.g. using a family tree template (paper-based or online) to record research

Funding and Fees

If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to take the course for free.
If money is stopping you from enrolling, please visit our funding page to see what help is available.

Living in England

To book and join one of our courses, you must live in England permanently and either:

• Live inside the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area (Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire)

or

• Live outside the devolved areas listed below

You cannot enrol if you live in these devolved areas:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

• North East Combined Authority

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

• Tees Valley Combined Authority

• West Midlands Combined Authority

• West of England Combined Authority

• West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Hull and East Yorkshire

• Greater Lincolnshire

• Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

• Cornwall Council

• Lancashire Combined County Authority

• Buckinghamshire Council

Residency Requirements (Additional Information)

If you live in the UK on a visa, we’ll need evidence of your visa to confirm funding. You can upload this when applying, and you’ll need to complete a short questionnaire.

Some exceptions include:

• Your visa must last until after your course ends.

• Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for at least 6 months while their claim is being processed.

• You are supported by your local authority under Section 23C or 23CA of the Children Act 1989, or under the Care Act 2014.

Anyone who does not meet the funding criteria would need to pay full course fees.