Researching Family History - An Introduction - Newark 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! Over six sessions, you will be introduced to the main types of records available for your research. You will discover where to locate family history documents and online information, as well as developing your research skills to help you make sense of what you find.  

At the beginning of the course, we will discuss important first steps to take before starting to explore family history records, indexes and information available 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, the 1939 Register, and parish registers. The course will also give a brief introduction to other sources including newspapers, trade directories, electoral registers, and wills/probate records. 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.

Suggestions will also 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 key places to find family history information including libraries, archives and the Internet (main websites)

- Recall key facts about civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales, read and interpret information on certificates, and use online birth, marriage and death indexes

- Recall key facts about historical censuses and the 1939 England and Wales Register, read and interpret information on historical censuses, and locate/search censuses online

- Discuss different options for presenting family history research and use a family history template (paper-based or online) to record research

- Experiment with using a range of family history records, including parish registers, trade directories, electoral registers and newspapers, to find family history information.

- Recall key facts about wills and probate records and read and interpret information on historical wills

What you will need to bring to the course:

Please bring paper and a pen to each session.

Recommended books for independent reading:

- Annal, David, 2012. Easy Family History: The Beginner's Guide to Researching Your Family History. London: Bloomsbury

- Golds, Pauline, 2023 (Revised edition). Grow Your Own Family Tree: A Comprehensive Guide to Tracing Your Ancestry. Derby: Straightforward Publishing