Issue Detail
Issue 207
APRIL 2012
Climb your family tree!
This issue we're plunging into the murky world of the 19th century press, and discovering how historical news stories can clear up modern genealogical mysteries. We also look at rural ancestors in a fascinating article on cottage industries, take a closer at marriage records through a 19th century guide to marriage, and learn how to interview living family members.
A HISTORY OF HOME-WORKERS Once our rural ancestors' homes were centres of industry, and regions had their special products. Jenny Jones examines the best starting points for family historians keen to learn more about rural ancestors.
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES
All family historians have encountered the cliche of hitting a brick wall. But where can you turn after you've exhausted conventional records & searched genealogy websites? Graeme Davis, whose published a book about preventing this plighjt, advises us on where we can turn next.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Mike Simon Fowler takes us through the newspaper digitisation project undertaken by the British Library, revealing what you might hope to find about your family history by exploring its on and offline sources.
MARRIAGE AND THE VICTORIANS While researching our family tree we can neglect social history research, but this can often aid our understanding. Keith Gregson discovers 19th century attitudes to matrimony.TRACING A TERRITORIAL
Not all our ancestors were in the regular army, and many joined as a Territorial. Phil Tomaselli explains how to track them down in the archives.
PERILS OF THE SEA
With the centenary of the Titantic sinking this month, Jacqueline Wadsworth remembers other shipwrecks and maritime disasters.
Our best genealogical resource is often just a phone call away. Chris Paton outlines the best way to approach relatives and discover genealogical secrets.
TELLING CARDIFF'S STORY Emma Ruth Dawson pays a visit to the new Cardiff Story Museum, and uncovers the social history of this vibrant Welsh City
THE ROYAL LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT
Ma Jeremy Palmer continues his series on the history of British Army regiments.
Competition
Win British Newspaper Archive Subscriptions
Discover the genealogical goldmine that is the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) with an online subscription. This recently launched digitisation project has four million pages of searchable family notices, advertisements, obituaries, letters and illustrations from over 200 historic local and national newspapers.
We have a one-year subscription (worth £79.95) to give away as well as two 30-day subscriptions (worth £29.95 each) and four 2-day subscriptions (worth £6.95 each). To be in with a chance of winning one, simply answer the following question. Send answers to fhm@metropolis.co.uk or write to the usual address on page three, by the 15th March.
Q: Who invented the printing press in the Holy Roman Empire in 1440?