A gathering of family history researchers, social historians, genealogists, and other discoverers of closeted skeletons in Western Australia’s history will be hosted by the State Library of Western Australia between the 1 and 6 August 2009.

The seminars will assist family and social historians to identify and utilise historical documents that will shed light on the lives of individuals and the communities and conditions in which they lived.

Highlights of the National Family History Week include:

Memories of the Blitz - London 1940: Vivid memories of life in London during the Blitz and World War II including memorabilia.  Moderators: Mike Murray and Lesley Silvester, Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. (WAGS) Panellists: Jane Innes, Maurice Burns, Terry Dean, Malcolm Ginn (WAGS).

Ancestral Times: How to use the subscription databases Ancestry library edition, the Times Digital Archive and 19th Century British Library Newspapers.  Find out what you are likely to discover using these databases and the best ways to search them.  Presenters: Tricia Fairweather and Leonie Hayes, Subject Specialists: Family History, State Library.

Discovering Family History: How to start, where to find records, how to organise your research.  Can you do it all on the internet? What sources are available in Western Australia for tracing families?  Presenters: Loreley Morling, Professional Family Historian and WAGS member and Beverley Russell, Research Officer, WAGS.

Marriage or the Mangle? Widowhood and Remarriage in Colonial Western Australia.
Presenter: Sue Hart, Professional Historian.

Sharing Our Secrets: Hidden treasures in the State Library stacks.  Discover British and other military, government and social history sources.  Presenter: Leonie Hayes, Subject Specialist: Family History, State Library.

Veterans of the Crimea War: What happened to them?  British Regiments at the Crimea, hospitals at Malta, Chelsea and Kilmainham, Enrolled Pensioner Guards (Force), database of Crimean veterans in Western Australia, selected profiles and sources.  Presenter: Diane Oldman, Genealogist.

The Legacy of the Workhouse:  The history of the workhouse; its workings, conditions, inmates, information about its administration and the types of documents that can be accessed.
Presenter: Wendy Brown, Historian and Genealogist.

Accessing Archives Online at the National Archives of Australia:  Immigration, military, naturalisation, government, security and photographic archives are just some of the collections of the National Archives.  Presenter: Marjorie Bly, National Archives of Australia.

British Army Records:  Uses actual army records to illustrate the personal histories that can be found, lists records that are available in the archives and the information needed to access them.
Presenter: Wendy Brown, Historian and Genealogist.

A Basic Introduction to Genealogy Software:  An overview of what to look for and expect from genealogy software programs.  Presenter: Chris Loudon (WAGS).

Skeletons in the Ancestral Closet: Prison, police and court records in the State Records Office of Western Australia.  Presenter: Gerard Foley, State Records Office.

Tracing Police Ancestors in Western Australia:  This will be an interactive session. Graeme and Filson are happy to answer your questions.  Presenters: Filson Beckett and Graeme Sisson, Western Australian Police Historical Society and WAGS.

Researching Toodyay Connections: Find out what local historical societies have to offer.
A look at some of the unique sources of information relating to Toodyay family and social history in the Toodyay Historical Society archives.  Presenters: Beth Frayne and Jenny Edgecombe, Toodyay Historical Society.

Where There’s a Will: Wills, admons & probate.  This session will cover the United Kingdom and Australia.  Presenter: Diane Oldman, Genealogist.

Australian Joint Copying Project: What it is and where to start.  Presenter: Tricia Fairweather, Subject Specialist: Family History, State Library.

So you are researching your Scottish Family:  Presents a range of research options for those with interests in Scottish family history.  Presenter: Ian Scott, (WAGS).

Looking back, moving forward: Aboriginal records in Western Australia  Presenter: Gemma Lyon, Subject Specialist: Indigenous, State Library.

Irish Records: A Beginners Guide. Where to find records, what they contain and why are some records not available on the internet.  Presenter: Betty Vanderlande, Convenor, Irish Special Interest Group, Family History Society of Rockingham.

In addition to those listed above there will be tours of the Battye Library and Genealogy Centre and presentations on websites for Family History, finding people in Western Australian newspapers and creating and keeping your digital treasures.

Clients will be offered expert advice from staff and guest speakers.  Volunteers from the Western Australian Genealogical Society (Inc.) will be available to assist you with your enquiries in the Genealogy Centre on the first floor of the State Library from 9.30am to 3.30pm on event days.

The full program can be viewed via the State Library’s website: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/whats_on/national_family_history_week
 
Weekend and evening sessions are scheduled.  Entry to all seminars is free.

ENDS

For further information, pictures/photos and interviews please contact: 

Tricia Fairweather     Tel: (08) 9427 3395
Subject Specialist: Family History   Email: tricia.fairweather@slwa.wa.gov.au
State Library of Western Australia 

Leonie Hayes      Tel: (08) 9427 3247
Subject Specialist: Family History   Email: leonie.hayes@slwa.wa.gov.au
State Library of Western Australia