For family historians living in Berkshire and those with Berkshire ancestors
updated Friday, 7th September 2018
September Events
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS FREE
Drop into The Centre on Saturday 8th, Thursday 13th and Saturday 15th between 10.30 and 4 pm for help with your family history research + children's family history activities + books to browse and tea and cake too! What could be nicer? (The Centre is open as usual during September on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well.)
More about Heritage Open Days at The Centre
Workshop on Parish Registers 29th September Your chance to learn how to get more from these core research resources. Places limited — book now to avoid disappointment
See ALL SOCIETY ACTIVITIES this month
Autumn programme at The Centre
Book now for events in the Autumn quarter
Five talks on the general theme of 'The Armistice', a Beginners' course (starts 12th October) + workshops on Writing up your family history, Military records and Interpreting DNA test results.
Discover your family history at The Centre
The Centre for Heritage and Family History is in the heart of Reading — easy to reach and fully equipped for talks, events, meetings, courses, workshops.
Wherever your ancestors came from, research your family history in the Research Zone — now with extra computers for your research and volunteers on hand to help. The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3BQ. About The Centre
FREE access to these online resources:
FINDMYPAST — Search Berkshire Burials now
THE 1939 REGISTER — Vital for 20th century research
THE GENEALOGIST — data you may not find elsewhere
BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE — search 27.5 million newspaper pages from 1700 onwards
ANCESTRY — Search the WORLDWIDE edition
The society can help you in your research in many other ways. And there's lots of helpful information on this website. First, ideas to help you to start your Family History research
More information about this society
Members' matters
You should have your September Berkshire Family Historian by now. Look out for your NEW membership card or cards ... or a renewal form and a last chance to renew for a few. NEW discount codes for members in the magazine too. Read it online in the Members' Area.
PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS Local activities start up again in September — now is the perfect time to JOIN
YOUR IRISH FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
Find the new list of Irish websites in the Members' Area.
Register for the Members' Area NOW
Follow @BerkshireFHS on TWITTER and link up with Berkshire Genealogy on FACEBOOK
Other News and Resources
New York passenger arrivals 1820-1957 Ellis Island website
New Archive Card from April 2019. with 41 participating archives and record offices — registration begins in the New Year.
Explore Your Archive 2018 campaign. 17th November launch
DNA developments Findmypast has announced a new partnership with Living DNA, providers of Living DNA, the world's most advanced DNA test. Get the full story
Reading Abbey explore the Abbey Ruins
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
General Register Office: pilot service continues and provides portable document format (PDF) copies of digitised historical birth (1837-1916) and death (1837-1957) records. 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 when buying society publications (and booking events).
Berkshire Baptisms CD ◊ Content and coverage
Berkshire Marriages CD ◊ Places and dates
Berkshire Burials CD ◊ Content and coverage
See and buy society publications, 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 established at 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.
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 Friday, 7th September 2018
Keep your browsers updated — Firefox (latest - 62.0), Opera (55.0.2994.44), Google Chrome (69.0.3497.81 - dependent on device) or Vivaldi (1.15.1147.55) with Qwant search engine. Pages may display imperfectly with outdated versions. Please, tell us if something isn't working. Website problem? Check here
