For all family history researchers living in Berkshire and for those researching Berkshire ancestors
page reviewed and revised Sunday 20th April 2014
The early twentieth century Conflict and change
Saturday, 18th October—a key conference for family and local historians, and a visit programme leading up to it
Daily reminders of events from the remarkable early decades of the last century 20th Century Calendar-see more
20th April 1902 Marie and Pierre Curie successfully isolate radioactive radium salts from the mineral pitchblende in their laboratory in Paris
21st April 1918 Vauz sur Somme, France: 25 year old Manfred von Richtofen, the notorious German pilot known as the 'Red Baron' and credited with 80 victories, is shot down and killed
22nd April 1915 In the Second Battle of Ypres, the German army uses poison gas (in this case, chlorine) against Allied troops for the first time
23rd April 1924 King George V makes his first radio broadcast on St George’s Day, at the opening of the British Empire Exhibition and Stadium at Wembley
24th April 1916 In Dublin on Easter Monday, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret nationalist organisation led by Patrick Pearse, launches an armed uprising against British rule, the Easter Rebellion
25th April 1915 Allied troops land on the Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey, beginning the disastrous Dardanelles campaign
26th April 1915 In signing the secret Treaty of London, Italy agrees to abandon its allies, Germany and Austro-Hungary
27th April 1908 King Edward VII opens the fourth modern Olympic Games at the White City stadium in West London, beginning a series of events that will last for 187 days—the longest-ever Olympic Games
Conference Programme outline Booking NOW
About Visits Booking NOW
NEXT VISIT Thursday 15th May: Nuffield Place, home of William Morris
19th June: St George's Chapel & Archives— now only THREE places left
3rd August: Halton House & Trenchard Museum—THREE places left
supported by Berkshire Record Office and findmypast
Notice of Annual General Meeting: 20th June 2014
Members' Area - New data added
Berkshire family history publications
NEW Fawley St Mary Parish Registers CD 1540-1987
Data samples in the Members' Area. Product reviews in the Shop)
Berkshire Maps CD OS 1881-1887 ◊ 51 maps, gazetteer and index
Berkshire Baptisms CD ◊ Details of content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Burials CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Probate Index CD 1480-1857 ◊ What wills can tell you
An Historical Atlas of Berkshire ◊ read a review
All CDs and publications sold at the Research Centre
Informed advice wherever your ancestors came from
Join the society Extended membership offer
Explore the Royal County of Berkshire
Friday 25th April—and most Fridays advice at Thatcham library
Tuesday 29th April—drop in advice at Wokingham library
Tuesday 13th May—drop in advice at Bracknell library
Branches meet at Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley—see Main Menu and calendar
Next meetings Reading (24th) Windsor (29th) Newbury (14th May)
WHEREVER your ancestors came from...find them at Berkshire's foremost facility for family history research—the society's Research Centre in Reading. Open to all.
FOUR family history online options
Origins - National Wills Index + NEW over 440,000 Devon probate records now available
British Newspaper Archive - search 7.7 million pages across the country; First World War editions of Birmingham's Evening Despatch now online
findmypast - JUST ADDED—Details of the Pals Battalions and their regiments + 100 more record sets in the next 100 days
Ancestry search WORLDWIDE (includes lots for London, but not for Berkshire)
Browse library catalogue Search the catalogue
The Family History Research Centre is in Reading, next to Berkshire Record Office—home of original records of the Royal County—including those of Vale of the White Horse and North Berkshire. Parking is free
You will find society Marriage and Burial transcriptions (but not all of them) online at findmypast See ALL of the society's Berkshire data at the Research Centre.
Quality is key. Who wants unreliable information? Or details that can't be searched intelligently?
Berkshire Family History Society does not publish unchecked material. Almost all Berkshire FHS CDs are fully browsable and searchable, unlike those from some other societies. The society needs more people willing to check transcriptions against original records held at Berkshire Record Office in Reading. And talk to us if you have good experience in assembling and building data CDs.
Why not join in and help?
Projects make more records from the pre-1974 Royal County of Berkshire more readily accessible for more people.
page reviewed and revised Sunday 20th April 2014
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