Members of the Society of Genealogists can now login to MySoG.

The Society of Genealogists has launched an enhancement to the website called MySoG. You will find a link on the top right hand banner on all pages on the Society of Genealogists website www.sog.org.uk

 What is MySoG?

MySoG currently allows Members, who want to, to update some of their personal details, to renew their membership using secure online payment options and to access to the Society of Genealogists Family History Data Online (previously known as the Members’ Area). It will also improve the Society’s communications as members will be able to provide current email addresses. So please do take the opportunity to update your information.

 How do I start?

To use MySog for the first time you must follow the instructions in the letter sent to all Members in early February 2011 (and by Airmail to overseas Members). This explains how first to validate your membership to access MySog and obtain a password which is sent by email. To validate you will need to input the two different numbers on the front and back of your membership card.You can then login once the validation has been completed. Please note any Usernames and Password used in the past to access the old “Members’ Area” or SoG Data on Origins are not valid to access MySoG. Your MySoG access details are not valid on either of those facilities so you must follow the instructions that have been sent to you. If you have not received the letter or have any problems please email support@sog.org.uk. Please avoid using other sog.org.uk email addresses or telephoning the SoG. The support facility is managed off-site and outside opening hours.

Once you have completed the validation process and received your password you may log into MySoG.

Once logged-in access is available to existing SoG online datasets which during the next few months will provide unlimited access to those datasets previously only available for a 72 hour period each quarter. Until then Members can still access the data using British Origins using your Orgins login and password but once all the data has migrated onto MySoG the Society’s contract with Origins will come finally to an end and our data will no longer be available on that site.

What will I find on MySoG?

Firstly MySoG will enable Members to ensure we have the correct information and contact details including email addresses. MySoG can also be used renew membership subscriptions and check payments and direct debit information. There is a “contact us” page to send specific questions on a range of topics.

During the next few months MySoG will be enhanced to give access to a new online bookshop (also available to non-members) where Members can obtain discounts on Society of Genealogists’ family history publications and other benefits. Members will also be able reserve places and receive tickets for the wide range of family history courses, lectures, tutorials and other events with membership discounts automatically applied. Additional facilities are expected to be added during 2011. In the meantime Members can order books and tickets for events using the existing online shop

What SoG data is online on MySoG?

As well as the existing datasets previously available in the members’ area of the website, the Society has been uploading those datasets that were formerly available on British Origins. So far the following have been added -

Boyd’s London burials (found under Middlesex parish registers)

PCC wills 1750-1800 (found under wills)

Vicar General marriage licences (found under Marriage Licences)

Faculty Office marriage licences (found under Marriage Licences)

St Leonard’s Shoreditch burials 1805-58 (found under Middlesex parish registers)

St Andrew Holborn marriages 1754-1812 (found under Middlesex parish registers)

By May it is hoped that those remaining indexes such as Boyd’s Marriage Index will also be available along with data sets that have accompanying images. These include Apprentices of Great Britain index volumes, Teachers Registration Council registers, Boyd’s Inhabitants of London, Trinity House Petitions Calendars and the Bank of England Wills abstracts.

All SoG data available on findmypast.co.uk will be available to members on MySoG and this will include the indexes and ultimately the images of the Civil Service Evidences of Age and the GWR shareholders index.

Keep an eye on MySoG as data and enhancements are added in the next few months. Don’t forget you can use the free surname search of the SoG Data Online so you can quickly check if any new sources include the surnames you are researching before logging into MySoG

Technorati Tags: family history, Family History News, genealogy, MySoG, Society of Genealogists

The deadline for the earlybird discounts for the Society of Genealogists Centenary Conference is February 28th 2011

Breaking the Barriers – Innovative Genealogy in the 20^th and 21^st Century  -  Saturday 7^th May 2011
The Royal Overseas League, Over-Seas House, Park Place, 5 St James’s Terrace, London SW1A 1LP

The Society’s Centenary Conference  Breaking the Barriers – Innovative Genealogy in the 20^th and 21^st Century is a celebration of the past century of genealogy and the role played by Society of Genealogists.  The topics will, of course, look forward to the future of the subject. The conference will include a full day of lectures and networking luncheon and dinner, featuring nationally and internationally known genealogical speakers.

The conference lectures streams examine how the SoG has influenced genealogy over the century. It will look at the period that saw the foundation of the Society. It will focus on issues facing family historians today and the technical advances that may help. We will discuss where we see the subject going in the future. It will show how family historians can take their genealogy further and break the barriers of their research.

The full programme and list of speakers can be found on the Society of Genealogists Centenary Blog

Places are limited. Click here to book a place via the Society of Genealogists online shop

Registration from 9.30am

Conference 10.15-6.30pm, Conference Reception & Banquet 7-ca 9.45pm

Conference prices

Conference including lunch (early bird rate up to 28 February 2011)        £99
(full rate from 1 March 2011  – £120)

Conference Banquet (early bird rate up to 28 February 2011)                      £30
(full rate from 1 March  2011  – £35)

Conference & Banquet (discount early bird rate up to 28 February 2011)     £116
(full rate from 1 March  2011   £140)

Technorati Tags: conference, family history, genealogy, Society of Genealogists

The Society’s successful family history skills course begins again with the first sixteen-week series of classes for those who are new to family history or who have had a little experience and want to build upon their initial progress. The team of lecturers, Paul Blake, Else Churchill, Geoff Swinfield, Ian Waller, Michael Isherwood and Simon Fowler will introduce the records and illustrate how they should best be used for the study of family history.

This course provides plenty of opportunity to use genealogical sources in practical sessions in the classroom and as exercises at home. The lectures cover sources in all the major repositories but emphasis is also placed on the extensive collections held in the Library of the Society of Genealogists that can be of help to the beginner. CD publications, electronic finding aids and the internet will, of course, be included along with all the basic sources needed to start research.

Programme:

17 March Getting Started: Research Standards The World of Genealogy – the major repositories and online providers of genealogical information. The Research Process and Standards. What’s Been Done Before Research Directories. The Role of the Internet. (EC)

24 March Family Sources, Basic Records and Pedigrees Identifying & Assessing Family Sources. Basic Pedigree Layout. Oral Evidence. Using databases. (EC)

31 March Civil Registration, Records of Birth, Marriage & Death The Civil Registration System in England & Wales. Key Dates. Using the Indexes. Locating and Obtaining Certificates. Free BMD; UK BMD; Findmypast Family Relatives, BMD Index, Ancestry, Genes Reunited etc and other Internet sources. The content of BM&D certificates. (IW)

7 April Civil Registration (continued) Shortfalls and problems in the Civil Registration System. How to overcome them. Tricks of the Trade. (IW)

14 April Victorian & Edwardian Census Returns & Finding Aids The content of census returns 1841 – 1911 and how to access them. Indexes and Finding Aids. ‘Missing’ people and how to find them. (GS)

21 April No Class

28 April Using Record Offices, the Internet and Online Databases successfully Finding and using resources online and in local record offices. (PB)

5 May First Steps at Kew and Beyond An introduction to what can and cannot be found at The National Archives. 20th Century Records at the National Archives. The Valuation Office Records and The National Farm Survey. (PB)

12 May The Armed Forces and Merchant Navy in the 20th Century Sources for WW I & II. (SF)

19 May Newspapers, Directories, Electoral registers & Poll Books The value of using Newspapers, Directories, Electoral Registers & Poll Books. Where to find them and How to use them. (EC)

26 May The Library of the SoG & its Catalogue Tour of the Library and Explanation of the Catalogue System. Practical exercises in using the Library to establish what research has been done before. (EC)

2 June Parish Registers Anglican Parish Registers and Bishops’ Transcripts. Marriage Licences, Bonds & Allegations. PR Indexes and Transcripts – where to find them and how to use them. (GS)

9 June Parish Registers Continuation of above. (GS)

16 June Non- Anglican Family History Records of Protestant Nonconformist Denominations, Roman Catholics, Jews and Quakers. (MI)

23 June Wills, other Probate Documents & Reading Old Handwriting The genealogical Value of a Will. Standard formats. Nuncupative Wills. Administrations and Inventories. Probate administration and records pre and post 1858 – the role of Church. Where & How to find a Will. Practical examples. Writing an abstract. General principles of reading old handwriting. Examination and key points of various alphabets and script styles. (GS)

30 June Wills, other Probate Documents & Reading Old Handwriting continuation of above. (GS)

7 July Family History in Practice Case Study & Practical Exercise to demonstrate the skills and knowledge covered in the course modules. The rules and conventions of pedigree layout. Computer aided Family Trees. Exercise in drawing together information into a pedigree. (PB)

£200/£160 for SoG members All places must be pre-booked

http://www.sog.org.uk/orderline/software.shtml

by telephone: Tel: 020 7553 3290 or send a cheque to:

Society of Genealogists Library & Education Centre 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road LONDON EC1M 7BA

 For queries, contact Lori Weinstein at: events@sog.org.uk

Technorati Tags: ancestor, census, class, course, family history, genealogy, lecture, Parish Registers

The Society of Genealogists has received the following notice -

REEL HISTORY OF BRITAIN  on BBC TWO  with MELVYN BRAGG

NEEDS YOUR FAMILY STORIES FOR A BRAND NEW BBC2 HISTORY SERIES SHOWING HOW ORDINARY BRITISH PEOPLE LIVED FOR OVER 100 YEARS…

Do you remember or have any everyday family stories or photos about…

If you have a story to tell on these topics and many more, then we want to hear it. Your story, photo, diary or home movie could play a major role in the telling the history of Britain. You could even feature on the programme.

For more information

Phone: 0161 244 3289 Email: reelhistory@bbc.co.uk

Write: The Reel History of Britain, BBC Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M60 1SJ

(standard geographic charges apply and calls may be included in your telecoms provider’s call package. Calls from mobiles may be higher)

Technorati Tags: family history, genealogy

 Roehampton University is offering a special discount and early booking  offer to Society of Genealogists Members wishing to attend the Early Modern Ancestors Day on 18 June.

Anyone who didn’t get the opportunity to hear John Price’s excellent exposition of using the  17th Century Hearth Tax and the work of the Centre for Hearth Tax Research at at the recent SoG study day on pre 1841 research, can get another chance to hear John and other experts talk on early modern records of interest family historians.

This one-day workshop will provide information and training on how to access and employ documents, including the hearth tax and loyalty oaths and other early modern records, for genealogical research.

The morning session is composed of a series of introductory presentation outlining the context, structure and contents of early modern documents.In the afternoon there will be a programme of practical workshops across a range of skill levels where delegates will learn the palaeographical and IT skills essential to accessing the sources.

The event will conclude with a keynote lecture from Professor David Hay, examining the wider context and implications of “Surnames and the Hearth Tax Returns” followed by a drinks reception.

Lectures:

Prof. David Hey (University of Sheffield), Surnames and the Hearth Tax Returns

Dr Edward Vallance (Roehampton University London), ‘Sources to Swear by’: Researching your 17th & 18th Century Ancestors

Peter Seaman (formerly of The National Archives), The Hearth Tax: a Census for the 17th Century?

Dr John Price (Centre for Hearth Tax Research), Sourcing the Sources: Locating and Accessing Hearth Tax Records

Workshops:

Practical Palaeography: Approaching 17th Century handwriting
Advanced Palaeography: Reading and interpreting texts
IT and Internet Resources: Finding and accessing resources
IT and Databases: Understanding and analysing data
These workshops, with an onus on practical advice and assistance with specific tasks or queries, will be led by a team of experts, including:

Dr Simon Dixon (Research Fellow, Queen Mary, University of London)

Dr Elizabeth Parkinson (Senior Research Fellow, RU)

Dr Edward Vallance (Reader

Date: 18th June 2011
Time: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Venue: Digby Stuart College, Roehampton University London

Tickets:

** 30% discount on bookings before 1st April 2011**

Ticket prices include: all presentations and workshops; lunch and all refreshments; and entry to the keynote lecture and drinks reception.

Advanced booking: £70.00 (book before 1st April 2011)
Standard booking: £85.00 (after 1st April 2011)
Late booking: £100.00 (after 1 June 2011)

Special Offer for Society of Genealogists Members

Quote SOG220111 when booking online before 1st April 2011 to receive a free copy of Putney and Roehampton in 1665: A Street Directory and Guide by Dorian Gerhold (worth£9.50)

Bookings can be made for this event via the Roehampton University Online Store

Information about the Roehampton University Centre for Hearth Tax Research  and the early Modern Study Day can be found online at http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/

Technorati Tags: family history, genealogy, Hearth Tax