I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page.
During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.
When I wanted to learn about heraldry, a subject that is closely allied with genealogy, I didn't consult one of the fat tomes from the reference section of the library I grabbed a Ladybird book, Learnabout Heraldry, from our family's bookshelf.
As I didn't want to embark on the study of heraldry this book gave me all the information I needed on the subject.
Once upon a time I was the Children's Librarian in a public library, there I learnt the value of the children's non-fiction section for adults to embark on learning about unfamiliar subjects. I learnt that valuable lesson fifty years ago!
9 comments:
What a great idea Jill. I never would have thought to look up 'how to' things in the childrens section, even though I love kids books.
Heraldy was my favourite subject in my genealogy course. I wanted to find even one ancestor who might have had arms, but no such luck so far, all farmers, labourers and tradesmen, have to make do with the landlords' family.
That’s a good idea for getting a simple overview. Heraldry interests me not one jot, given my ordinary ancestors.
I have 7 ethnicities and myriad surnames in my family tree -- so I shudder to think what my coat of arms might look like. But I love your idea of consulting the children's section of the library (once they reopen) for an easy how-to if I decide to take the heraldry plunge. https://mollyscanopy.com/
I think this is a great tip for people who just want an introduction to a subject! Good luck with your A to Z!
Thanks all for your comments. And, yes Pauleen, I share your enthusiasm for heraldry.
I loved books on heraldry when I was a child - I suppose it was the colours that appealed. to me, plus a a romantic view of history, and knights etc. Nowadays there are so many wonderful children’s books on the market and I have enjoyed looking for that match my granddaughter’s interests.
Yes, Sue. Today's kids books are more attractive than the old Ladybirds from years ago but my kids loved the learning all sorts of things from the Ladybirds.
Hi Jill - yes I agree with you regarding kids books for an introduction to a subject. It's a delicate conversation to have with a teenager/adult but sometimes the suggestion is greeted with a sigh of relief because that is in fact just what they need. A simple overview and then they can dig deeper. I agree with Sue that there are some fabulous kids books on the market now. I adore the DK or Dorling Kindersley range.
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