Researching Family History - An Introduction - Newark Library - Adult Learning

About this course

Are you interested in tracing your family tree but don’t know where to start? Suitable for beginners in family history, this course will introduce you to the main types of records available for your research. You will discover where to locate family history documents and online information, as well as developing your research skills to help you make sense of what you find. 

At the beginning of the course, we will discuss important first steps to take before starting to explore family history records, indexes and information available online, as well as in libraries and archives. Focusing mainly on records of England and Wales, we will look at births, marriages and death records, census returns, the 1939 Register, and parish registers. The course will also give a brief introduction to other sources including newspapers, trade directories, electoral registers, and wills/probate records. Using sample documents and case studies, you will develop your research skills and learn search strategies to help you when growing your own family tree. Suggestions will also be given on how to organise and present your research. 

By the end of the course, you will:

• Be able to identify, locate, and use key resources available for family history research

• Be able to describe some main points about these family history resources, for example, their strengths and limitations

• Be able to read and interpret information on a range of family history documents (for example, birth, marriage and death certificates, census returns, parish registers)

• Be able to identify the most important websites for family history and other sources of information such as libraries and archives offices

• Be familiar with different ways of recording family history information, and consider options for your own family tree

In addition, you will hopefully feel enthusiastic and motivated to discover your own family history!  

Resources required by attendees: 

Please bring pen and paper to each session of the course. A folder may also be useful for collating hand-outs.

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course, please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/

To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

• Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING.
• Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

• Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Liverpool City Region
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
• Tees Valley
• West of England
• West Midlands
• West Yorkshire

Any questions?

Check the FAQs page, or get in touch:

• By phone: 01623 677 200
• By email: learning@inspireculture.org.uk

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