2021 #AtoZChallenge Y is for ...Your ancestors in their social context

  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.

I must admit that I haven't picked up, Your ancestors in their social context : proceedings of the 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry, Adelaide 2012, for around nine years.

This 590 page paperback contains the papers from the AFFHO Congress, the first I attended, in Adelaide in 2012. It is an example of a genre that today is often delivered as a .pdf download online or on a CD or USB drive. 

This particular publication is more useful than some similar works as it has a decent index. As many of the articles are well referenced it provides a good springboard to further reading on the topics covered. While some of the articles are dated, especially those referring to technology,  there are many that are still relevant to today's researchers. 

Highlighting this resource has reminded me that the collection of Conference Proceedings I have on my shelves or hard drive could  have answers to some of the questions for which I need answers. I must remember to refer to them occasionally!

Congress Presenter Interview - Jan Worthington

My latest interview for AFFHO Congress 2015 is from Sydney based professional genealogist, Jan Worthington. Apologies to Jan for taking so long to post this interview but my trip to Salt Lake City and Rootstech got in the way.

Learn about Jan from her detailed responses to my questions.

---

Jan Worthington

I am a professional genealogist, family historian and researcher specialising in probate genealogy, tracing family histories, locating missing living people and writing historical non-fiction.


Over 30 years ago my mother and my daughter introduced me to my own family history and from that moment the quest to find out more took over my life. I obtained my Diploma in Family Historical Studies through the Society of Australian Genealogists in 1984 and started up a genealogical company which grew to 17 people, which I recently sold. I then started up another company – Jan Worthington Genealogy. For over 25 years I was a Councillor/Director of the Society of Australian Genealogists and served in various roles as Vice President, Company Secretary and Convenor of the Computer Users Group, Computer Committee, Education Committee, Library Committee, Premises Committee, Awards Committee and Diploma in Family Historical Studies and Certificate Course Committee, which I still convene.

During that time I have spoken and given lectures at many conferences in various States of Australia, USA, UK and New Zealand. As a regular researcher at the genealogical library in Salt Lake City I have partnered with Perry McIntyre and taken several family history groups there, so that we could support and share our knowledge with them. I was elected President of the Worthington Family History Society ten years ago and chair the Annual General Meeting every year as well as host the biennial three day Gatherings in either the USA or the UK.


Genealogy has improved and changed my life in many ways. It has enabled me to achieve a lifelong objective, i.e. start and build up a small to medium size successful business. It has enabled me to travel extensively, meet and help people and given me an unexpectedly passionate, exciting and rewarding career in every way. I have been lucky enough to be recognised and rewarded by my peers. In 1994 I was made a Fellow of the Society of Australian Genealogists. In 2012 I was awarded the Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Achievement Award in Birmingham, Alabama and the Independent Book Publishers Silver Award in the regional Historical Non-Fiction category for my book Inky Fingers in New York. In 2013 I was made an Honorary Member of the Society of Australian Genealogists.


The problem solving aspect of genealogy is what I love about genealogy the most. Every new job is an exciting challenge and adventure into the unknown.


I have attended and spoken at many local, interstate and international Congresses over 30 years. In 1988 I was Convenor of the First International Congress on Family History and 5th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry in the newly opened Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney. Many local, interstate and overseas speakers spoke to over 1500 attendees during this hugely successful five day event.


My topic for the Congress is The Abandoned Child – Social Changes in New South Wales 1850-1870 from the records of the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children. This was a time period of little government support for families in need of assistance and private enterprise came to the rescue. There is also a paucity of primary records for family historians researching the 1850s and what there are can be very misleading. My talk will open up further avenues of research for family historians unable to trace their families back past this point in New South Wales.


There are huge benefits in attending any conference as there is always something new to be learned, no matter how long you have been in the game. For the more seasoned attendee there are catch ups with faces not seen for a while. For newcomers to family history an exciting plethora of sessions to attend, people to meet, new friends to make and lots of things to see.


My favourite piece of advice or tip to share with anyone researching their family history is simple: When researching your family history always go forwards in time to go backwards in time; and always go backwards in time to go forwards in time. In other words if you are not making progress tracing ancestral families, or looking for living relatives, go back to your starting point, or the point where the problem arose, and review your findings again. At that point you may need to carry out further research before continuing. Good Luck!

The Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children

GeneaBlogger Beads at Congress

We can't buck tradition.  In a tradition started by Thomas MacEntee Geneabloggers at large and small Geneaconferences wear Mardi Gras style beads so that they can easily recognise each other. Our blogger beads were a boon at the recent Rootstech Conference that attracted 22,000 people on Family Day.

Aussies at Rootstech - note the red and white blogger beads some of us are wearing

It is my pleasure to sponsor the beads for the AFFHO Congress in Canberra this month. I selected the beads from an online vendor recommended by DearMYRTLE and had them delivered to my hotel in Salt Lake City (as postage costs to Australia are horrendous). I didn't realise how heavy 50 strings of Black and Gold Satin Swirls Necklaces would be in my luggage. Thankfully the beads and I made it home without incurring an overweight penalty (I love Qantas' generous luggage limits).

Black and Gold Satin Swirls

I need to draw up a list of those geneabloggers who will be attending Congress and wish to proudly wear the beads.

I know that Pauleen Cass and Shauna Hicks, my co Official Bloggers will be coming along so I'll be reserving some beads for them. Alona, Carmel, Helen, Jenny J., Judy W and Sharn have indicated that they will be going too. How about you?

Geneabloggers please let me know if you are going to Congress by emailing me at jillballau@gmail.com with Blogger Beads in the subject line and stating your name and the URL of your blog. Once I have my list I will make arrangements for your beading..

Congress Keynote Presenter Interview - Roger Kershaw

My latest interview is from one of our Keynote Presenters Roger Kershaw who has a dream job working at The National Archives in Kew.  I attended some of Roger's talks at Congress in 2012 and found them most illuminating. I look forward to catching up with Roger and hearing what he has to impart in 2015.

---

Roger Kershaw

* Are you a genealogist, researcher, historian or representing your organisation? 

I guess I'm a little bit of all, plus an archivist, having achieved an MA in Archives and Records Management. History was my favourite subject at school and since joining the National Archives in 1986 I have become more immersed in it ever since.

* I wonder if you could tell us a little about your background?

I am from a small market town in Cumbria called Brampton, close to the Scottish border. I moved to London when I was 18 to go to college and have been here ever since, though I intend to return to my roots when I retire. After graduating with a degree in Modern European Studies, I joined the National Archives (then Public Record Office) in 1986 on a temporary casual contract and nearly thirty years later I am still here, thoroughly enjoying what I do. Throughout my career I have been public facing and working with the records either through an management, editorial, research or advisory role

* How has genealogy improved or changed your life?

I didn't really start to do any research in my own family history until the late 1990s and have been hooked on it ever since, discovering lines of my family history revealing people in all walks of lives, plus a murderer, not a direct ancestor I hasten to add! I think genealogy is a healthy, vibrant business, where you can meet a lot of interesting and engaging people, many of whom volunteer their time to vastly improve access to archives across the globe by cataloguing and promoting further research.

* What do you love most about genealogy?

On a personal note, the joy of discovering something new and revealing in my own family history is really satisfying. For example, my parents moved to Brampton from Yorkshire in 1967. It wasn't until I started to research our family tree in detail that I realised that his paternal great grandfather was born there in 1842 on a street just around the corner of the Office where my father worked for 20 years. I also like how genealogy is constantly evolving and how it's becoming more about how life has changed dramatically across generations as we embrace the broader public history ethos.

* Have you previously attended Congress?

Yes, in 2003, 2006 and 2012.

* What are your key topics for Congress?

Some a records based mainly around migration from the UK to Australasia, but I am also giving a talk on medical treatment for those in the Army during the first world war, together with two practical sessions on how to make the most of using the National Archives website –www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and on how archives can engage effectively with volunteers during the current austere years.

* How do you think your topics will help the family historians at Congress 2015?

I'm hoping that the practical sessions will equip them with new skills and methods for using resources at the National Archives. The records based sessions will also demonstrate how so many collections remain difficult to access because the level of cataloguing is too basic or because too little is understood about the collection and further research is required. I'm hoping this may help raise awareness and interest in future collaborative enhancement work, possibly involving volunteers.

* What do you think are the benefits of attending a large conference like this for you personally and for others attending?

Definitely networking, sharing ideas, and seeking collaboration. For me, I'm keen to find out more about the National Archives of Australia and share ideas and knowledge about how we can effectively face challenges of the future. I'm also interested to see how commemorative plans around the centenary of the First World War are progressing to see if we can be more collaborative on this global issue.

* Do you have a favourite piece of advice or a tip or trick you can share with conference attendees?

Don't believe everything you see on TV or online! Shows like Who Do You Think You Are? have been really great for promoting genealogy and increasing awareness of history and archives, be it at a local or at a national level. But they don't really reflect the realities and frustrations of family history and make it sound far too easy. Genealogy is really a skill that can take a long time to master so please use this opportunity to talk to as many people as possible, exchange contact details and engage effectively to help achieve greater accuracy, awareness and understanding of the holdings, wherever they may be.

---

Congress Keynote Presenter Interview - David Holman

My fellow Congress Official  Bloggers Pauleen Cass  and Shauna Hicks and I are conducting a series of interviews with presenters at the forthcoming AFFHO Congress in Canberra. These posts should help you get to know the presenters, entice you to attend Congress or if you are unable to join us, give you a flavour of happenings at the event.You can find links to some of the published interviews here.

---

 Interview with David Holman

JB: Are you a genealogist, researcher, historian or representing your organisation?

DH: I am a Genealogist, albeit an amateur one.

JB: I wonder if you could tell us a little about your background?

DH I have been researching my personal family tree since 1985 and during that time have met thousands of like-minded people all keen to find out about their ancestry.

I have been involved with Cornwall Family History Society for many years and I am a former Committee Member and Chairman.

For the past 8 years I have been a Committee Member of The Federation of Family History Societies, which is the national body that represents family history societies in England & Wales.

For the past 7 years I have been its Chairman and will be standing down at the end of March 2015 as my tenure will be complete.

JB: How has genealogy improved or changed your life?

DH: For the past decade the changes have been due to my involvement in family history organisations more than my own personal research.  I have thoroughly enjoyed working with so many knowledgeable and friendly people in this fascinating hobby of ours and would not have changed it for the world.

JB :What do you love most about genealogy?

DH: The mystery of what may just be around the corner and then the joy of finding out what the mystery was.

JB:  Have you previously attended Congress? 

DH: Yes, I was at the 2012 Congress as a presenter.

JB:  What are your key topics for Congress? 

DH: I am running a workshop about Breaking Down Your Brickwalls at lunchtime on Fridayn Friday.

I am also giving two talks on military subjects:

Using British medals to help fill out your family tree on Friday afternnon.

Did your ancestor serve in the British Military during World War One on Saturday morning.

I am giving a talk about UK sources, called Source for Mr GOOSE and Mrs GANDER, that will help you in researching the UK part of your tree on Sunday afternoon.

I am delivering the Keynote Talk on Monday morning called Fascinating Facts & Figures from Five Centuries.  This talk is both informative and interesting.  It will definitely raise a laugh from the audience but also provoke a few thoughts about your research.

JB: How do you think your topics will help the family historians at Congress 2015?

DH: I know that many family historians have had the chance to visit the UK and I hope that I will be able to help them and others who have yet to visit know what they can find when they visit.  Additionally a lot of information is now to be found on-line and my topics mention how to find what you are looking for on the internet.

JB: What do you think are the benefits of attending a large conference like this for you personally and for others attending?

DH: Every conference I have attended around the world is an opportunity to exchange ideas, perhaps meet your extended family and for me be able to pass on some of the knowledge that I have gained over the years to other family historians..

Personally I have family who migrated to Australia in the 19^th Century and I hope to be able to make some time to visit their graves and perhaps meet up with some distant cousins.

JB: Do you have a favourite piece of advice or a tip or trick you can share with conference attendees?

DH: Always check the original record – this is much easier now that images are being made available on-line.

JB: Would you please supply an image to enhance your interview.

DH: Two of my talks are about military subjects and I am still serving in the British Army Reserve, I try to enhance my knowledge by visiting battlefields and have led a number of groups on Battlefield Tours.

The attached picture is one of me taken at the Roman Bridge in Salamanca, Spain when I led a group to commemorate the 200^th Anniversary of the battle there, which took place on the 22^nd July 1812.

I am off to take a group to the 200^th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in June 2015 and taking another group to The Somme and Flanders in October 2015.

Officialdom

Last week I booked some accommodation and earlier this week I registered for Australia's biggest family history event, The 14th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry or Congress2015 Camberra, that is held every three years.

I am so excited to be going again to our Nation's Capital, Canberra, where as well as attending the conference, meeting up with my genimates and hearing from a range of topline presenters I will have access to our National Library, National Archives and War Memorial where I can do a spot or two of research.

This morning I received an email from AFFHO President Kerrie Gray that made my day. Kerrie invited me "to take on the role of "Official Congress2015 Blogger". I was delighted to accept her invitation.  At the last Congress in Adelaide in 2012  I was the sole Official Blogger this time I will be one of a small team that will be sharing news via various social media channels leading up to and during this event. 

I am especially pleased that AFFHO and the Conference Organisers have recognised the role that social media plays in today's world and have made a commitment to incorporate social media into the conference activities.

To hear the latest Congress news via social media you can follow the Official Congress Facebook Page, the Congress Twitter Account (@affho2015) and the Official Bloggers' posts. When you write about Congress please remember to use the hashtag #AFFHO so that search engines can pick up on the posts and we can easily retrieve them.

I hope to see many of you in Canberra but if you are unable to join us in person I will endeavour to be your ears and eyes at Congress.

Compilation of Congress Posts

There was a team of Australian Geneabloggers at Congress in Adelaide last week who have and will blog about their experiences of the event.

I will attempt to post a full list of links to those posts here so that others can easily access in one place a variety of reflections and opinions about the goings on at Congress. I have been mulling over the best way to organise this list - by blogger's name, by post name or by time posted. I am opting for a  loose chronological arrangement.  Should you notice any omissions from the list or find some new posts please let me know.

March 27 2012
At 13th Australasian Genealogy and Heraldry Congress - Shauna Hicks
Blogger Bling - Geneabloggers -  Are you Ready? - Jill Ball
Congress Welcome - The People that you Meet - Jill Ball
Registered - Jill Ball
Tuesday Pre-Congress Activities - Helen V Smith
Pre-Congress visit to Adelaide Migration Museum - Helen V Smith

March 28 2012
AFFHO 2012 Congress Day 1 - Helen V Smith
AFFHO Congress 2012 - Day 1 - Jenny Joyce
Congress - Exhibition Hall - Jill Ball
Congress - Genealogists for Families Dinner - Jill Ball
Congress - The People that you Meet - Day 1 - Jill Ball
Find a Treasure Trove in Australia - James Tanner
Genealogists for Families Dinner - Kylie Willison
Genealogy notes 28 March 2012 - Day 1 of AFFHO Congress - Shauna Hicks
True Love - Jill Ball

March 29 2012
AFFHO Congress 2012 - Day 2 - Jenny Joyce
Family Archives - Jill Ball
Lord Mayoral Reception 1 - Jill Ball
Lord Mayoral Reception 2 - Jill Ball

March 30 2012
AFFHO Congress - Days 3&4 - Jenny Joyce
AFFHO Congress Dinner - Helen V Smith
Congress 2012 Day 2 - Helen V Smith
Congress - More People that you Meet - Jill Ball
Genealogy notes 29 March 2012 - Day 2 of AFFHO Congress - Shauna Hicks
Genealogy notes 30 March 2012 - Day 3 of AFFHO Congress - Shauna Hicks
My Pal - Flip-Pal - Jill Ball

March 31 2012
Congress Dinner - Jill Ball
Genealogy notes 31 March 2012 - Day 4 of AFFHO Congress - Shauna Hicks
Social Media Mob - Jill Ball

April 1 2012

My Geneablogger Friends and me at Congress 2012 - Alona Tester

April 2 2012
Back from the Adelaide Genealogy Congress - Allen Evans
Thirteenth Australasian Congress on Genealogy & Heraldry Adelaide 2012 - Kylie Willison
Visit to Adelaide and Congress 2012 - Kerry Farmer

April 3 2012
Congress Days 3 and 4 - Helen V Smith

April 4 2012
Day Three - Thirteenth Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry - Kylie Willison

April 5 2012
My Roundup of the Australasian Congress 2012 - Alona Tester
Day Four - Thirteenth Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry - Kylie Willison

April 6 2012
Keynotes - Jill Ball
Overview of 2012 heraldry and Genealogy Congress - Shauna Hicks

April 7 2012
Adelaide Congress 2012 Photos on Google+ - Carole Riley
Congress PMI - Jill Ball

April 10 2012
Adelaide and ancestry, 28 to 31 March 2012 - Anne -Family Matters