Societies
and Periodicals
History
413
Alan E. Mann, AG
1. What is a British Family History Society?
A. Family History Socieities (FHS) encourage tracing information about ancestors. They receive funds largely from subscriptions and are manned by volunteers.
B. Most FHSs publish journals (newsletters) containing information for people tracing family history in a specific geographic area. FHSs may be focused on a whole county, a region, or a city. For example:
i. County -
ii. Region - North Cheshire FHS
Felixstowe FHS (
2. What do the journals contain?
A. Articles (on families, on records, on procedures, sources, indexes, projects, ...)
B. Indexes
C. Transcripts/Abstracts
D. Book reviews
E. Advertisements
F. Upcoming events
G. Genealogies & pedigrees
H. Members= interests (queries/help wanted)
I. Tips on research procedures and techniques
J. Research exchange
K. Library contents, acquisition lists
L. Strays
M. Community/belonging
3. Finding journals and specific articles
A. Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) headings
i. Peridicals
ii. Societies - Periodicals
iii. Genealogy - Periodicals
iv. History - Periodicals
B. FHLC locality levels (replace
i.
ii.
iii.
C. Bibliography of FHS journals
i. Indexed show Family History Library call numbers
ii Not current, but fast way to locate a journal
D. Use Genuki (www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/)
E. On register table, miscellaneous section British Humanities Index and PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
F. Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory
i. Info on 50,000 serials worldwide 016.05 U17p
ii. 970 subject headings
iii. Use four volume index
4. Family History News and Digest B see web site www.ffhs.org.uk 942 B2ff
A. Quarterly, published by the Federation of Family History Societies
B. Reports on activities of member societies
C. Information in member society journals provided; partial index to published articles
A. Use county call number with D25 or D27
B. Use 942 B2 for national
6. Becoming a member
A. Where to write (see journal issue for that society or News and Digest)
B. Payment in pounds
i. Use a credit card (many societies accept credit cards through www.genfair.co.uk)
ii. Check to see if PayPal is accepted
iii. International money order vs. Bank check (cost issue)
iv. Ruesch International (1-800-424-2923)
v. IRC (International Reply Coupon) – old way--not recommended
C. Benefits of membership
i. Discounts on index searches membership
ii. Registration of members’ interests membership
iii Free queries membership
iv. Subscription/Journal
7. National publications
A. Family History 942 B2f
i. Published by the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
ii. Contains heraldry, genealogy, family history, and notices of courses and books
B. Family History News and Digest (see 4 above)
C. The Genealogists’ Magazine 942 B2gm
i. Published by the Society of Genealogists
ii. Articles on records, book reviews, info on genealogical community.
iii. Indexed
iv. Note: Society has extensive library to which members get reduced price access
D. Family Tree Magazine 942 D25f
i. Published by Michael Armstrong
ii. Anthony Camp’s diary is place to find out about things (news, new books, etc.) NO LONGER THERE
iii. How to articles and much more
8. How have British Family Histories Societies helped you?
A. Discuss (articles, queries, exch., research coordination) Note News and Digest
B. Examples
i. Article in Family Tree Magazine describing index of all persons named in wills held at the Essex Record Office.
ii. Query in Derbyshire Family History Society periodical.
9. What are the rules?
A. Reply to enquiries
B. If you must use snail mail, send a self-addressed envelope (IRC or cash, if appropriate)
C. Utilize, but don’t take undue advantage.