For family historians living in Berkshire and those with Berkshire ancestors
updated Sunday, 17th June 2018
Forthcoming society events and meetings
Check out all that's happening in June and in July
The new series of talks starts in July and features Life on the River Thames. Talks will be on Thursday afternoons in The Centre, and you can book your place(s) now. Early booking avoids disappointment. Any queries Contact Events
By popular demand (the first one sold out) there is a second English Civil War Walk around the Katesgrove area of Reading on Wednesday, 8th August at 7.30 pm. Places limited — book now to avoid disappointment
Research your family history at The Centre
Berkshire Family History Society's Centre for Heritage and Family History is in the heart of Reading — easy to reach and fully equipped for talks, events, meetings, courses, workshops.
The Research Zone now has extra computers for your research too. The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3BQ
OUTREACH Society members offer regular family history help and advice in libraries at Abingdon, Bracknell, Cippenham, Newbury, Slough (The Curve), Thatcham, Tilehurst and Wokingham — See Calendar
Members' matters
NEW MEMBERS All the benefits of membership to 30th June 2019 JOIN NOW
DISCUSSION LIST — by members, for members
JUNE's BERKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORIAN now out. Read a copy in the Members' Area.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Your renewal form is with your magazine (unless you renewed before the end of May, or joined recently by taking up the extended membership offer). The new membership year starts on Sunday, 1st July. The Trustees ask all members to renew promptly and invite them to complete a Gift Aid declaration if they have not already done so.
WEBSITES TO HELP YOUR IRISH RESEARCH
Brand new list published in the Members' Area.
GDPR — CONTACT PREFERENCES CONFIRMED? Over 91 per cent of members have responded. Use your Renewal Form to advise your contact preferences and any changes to them.
MEMBERS' DISCOUNTS on society publications, on enhanced research services and tickets for events (where a charge is made). Discount codes in June's Berkshire Family Historian.
Register for the Members' Area NOW
Follow @BerkshireFHS on TWITTER and link up with Berkshire Genealogy on FACEBOOK
Resources at The Centre
Wherever your ancestors came from, you can research your family history in the Research Zone at The Centre for Heritage and Family History (second floor, Reading Central Library) — with volunteers on hand to help.
Open for research Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. About The Centre
FREE access to online resources including:
FINDMYPAST — NEW Suffragette collection updated. Recently added browsable Norfolk records and sources. And it's where to find Berkshire parish records online. Most (not all) of the society's published parish register transcriptions are here Search Berkshire Burials now
THE 1939 REGISTER 41 million + records from 1939 with 60,000+ previously closed records now open. Search by address too. Vital for 20th century research
THE GENEALOGIST — NEW 1.27 million individuals added to Warwickshire parish records plus images More details
THE BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE — over 25.9 million digitised pages Search the papers from 1700s onwards
ANCESTRY — WORLDWIDE edition — extracted records for Cheshire newly added Go to website
How to start your Family History research
Are your SURNAME interests here?
OTHER NEWS and RESOURCES
Reading Abbey Visitors can now explore the Abbey Ruins
Who Do You Think You Are? 15th series resumes later this summer
Irish Genealogy News Claire Santry's blog
The Great Irish Famine online access interactive maps with detailed information on the famine's impacts on 3,000 civil parishes and 1,600 towns across the island. More details
Late night opening at the National Archives Thursdays in June
Car parking at TNA has changed — see The National Archives
Seeds of Maritime Empire Dr Craig Lambert's University of Southampton project The Merchant Fleet of Late Medieval and Tudor England, 1400-1580 with remarkable details of England's maritime capacity in those years
General Register Office: has a pilot service to provide portable document format (PDF) copies of digitised historical birth (1837-1916) and death (1837-1957) records. Service runs to June 2018, maybe longer. Learn more
DNA testing For a useful review of tests available for family history research and more about DNA in family history, visit the ISOGG wiki
Publications for Berkshire and elsewhere
Members enjoy discounts on buying society publications (and on bookings for events).
12th EditionBerkshire Burials CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Baptisms Second Edition CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages Third Edition CD ◊ Places and dates
See and buy society publications, and material for other counties too, at The Centre for Heritage and Family History or visit the online Bookshop
Volunteers are vital to society success
With the society now established in The Centre for Heritage and Family History in Reading's Abbey Quarter, it is easier than ever for you to play a part in those activities and tasks with greatest appeal.
You are always welcome as a new volunteer —and you can help the charity to achieve even more. Whether it is occasional help, or a regular commitment, every offer of help is welcomed and appreciated.
Being a volunteer is fun, rewarding, and fulfilling, especially when helping someone to make a real breakthrough in their family history research.
Put your skills and experience to work. Get in touch
updated Sunday, 17th June 2018
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