Worth joining an FHS a long way from home ?

[NickM]

I live near the borders of North Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, but my father's family come from NW Kent, and I have therefore purchased some of material from the NWKFHS (through the Parish Chest), and I've considered joining them in the past. However, I'm put off by the fact that I would never be able to attend any meetings or other events, so I'm not sure what I would gain (I realise that joining a FHS shouldn't really be about "What's in it for me ?", but I have limited resources), and not being local, I'm not sure what I could contribute other than the subscription.

Do any other B-G Forums members subscribe to FHS's a long way from home, and do they find it a worthwhile experience ?

[Lesley Robertson]

I live near the borders of North Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, but my father's family come from NW Kent, and I have therefore purchased some of material from the NWKFHS (through the Parish Chest), and I've considered joining them in the past. However, I'm put off by the fact that I would never be able to attend any meetings or other events, so I'm not sure what I would gain (I realise that joining a FHS shouldn't really be about "What's in it for me ?", but I have limited resources), and not being local, I'm not sure what I could contribute other than the subscription.

Do any other B-G Forums members subscribe to FHS's a long way from home, and do they find it a worthwhile experience ?


I joined the Aberdeen & NE Scotland FHS for a time, without being able to do anything more than visit their reading room once every few years. At that time, everything was still on film or fiche, so I couldn't even help with transcriptions or do anything else for them. I worked out that, international postal charges on the newsletter being what they were, I was costing them more than I was paying them, and resigned, regretfully.

I think these things are specific to the person and the individual FHS, though. I found the ANES newsletter very useful, the people very friendly and they did a lookup service for members - you'd have to see what NWK offers.

Lesley

[Ladkyis]

I belong to the society that covers the area where I live and to two societies where my ancestors lived. I also belong to the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain.
I have received so much help and information from the distant societies as well as the regular Journals and I could not have learnt as much as I have about my ancestors without the help of the members of these societies.
My way of repaying this help is to take an active part in my local society and to help people who live a long way away from here with their research.
Every society is different but each one has members who are like me and only want to put something back into this addicti.... hobby.
I say join the society, ask the questions you need to ask and also ask how you can help them.
Without the FH societies there would have been no 1881 census transcription for the LDS church. They wouldn't have been able to put it onto microfiche and later onto CD and then the internet and our hobby would still be struggling.
We owe such a lot to the pioneers of our societies...

~glances around then climbs down off her soapbox~

You get the idea that I am a great advocate of FH societies.

[JenniLl]

My family roots are in Surrey and West Wales, so I belong to the FHS covering those areas - I'm too far away to attend any meetings but I find that the journals are interesting and in the past I have made contact with fellow researchers.
What I wonder about is the gradual revelation of my family being in Middlesex, Devon, Suffolk, Hampshire, Kent - not to mention my son's Father's family in Somerset, London and Scotland. Now, my present husband's family, Scotland, Sussex, Oxfordshire and Somerset (so far!)
I cannot join all the FHSs so I rely on Genes RU and now BG for my contacts.
I belong to the Friends of Somerset Archives, so can help by transcribing the Tithe Apportionments.
Jenni:)

[NickM]

Thanks everyone for their comments. I will certainly bear them in mind, and will consider joining the NWKFHS soon :)

[LynA]

I live in Hampshire but joined Gwent FHS to find out more about the background of one branch of my family.
One very kind gentleman spotted my interests and, despite knowing I could not give him extra information in exchange, sent me lots of useful facts. He still sends me snippets of information for which I am very grateful.
A new friend: a definite plus from joining another society.

Lynda:)

[v.wells]

I joined Devon FHS and I can't attend meetings but they have a good web bb where you can post q&a specific to Devon. They also have quarterly magazine that is extremely interesting. I also have roots in Kent but have managed so far not to join the NWKFHS, although I will when my Devon stuff dries up I suppose. I also have to take in the exchange rate so now may be a good time to do it - I will have to figure out the conversion:)

[*bunty*]

I joined the Clwyd FHS in North Wales and I am in Queensland, Australia. A few months back I received a phone call from a member of that FHS offering to help with a brickwall I had posted in their newsletter, Hel Achau. Now I am one of several trying to break this wall, but in two months it took this one kind woman to visit local records offices and present me with new information that noone else has discovered. She has helped partially break the brickwall. I am so grateful for her help and glad to have joined that particular FHS :).

[Jane Gee]

I joined the Kent fhs as my ancestors came from Gillingham there was an article about some photographic plates that had been found in a pigsty in Wye Kent. the surname of the photographer was one I was intersted in
After about a year I was able to meet and stay with the daughter of this person (having been told she had died some years before!!!!!!) We are firms friends and she has again put flesh to bones of her branch of the family another cousin found. Always worth joining, this one is particularly good as they have good links with Medway archives. City ark

[Keith Daniells]

I have joined several FHS in England as I find that it is invaluble to have contacts in those areas that you can draw info from. Likewise being in Australia I may be able to return the favour. Its all part and partial of your research. The more you spread your wings the greater area you will cover.

[v.wells]

I have joined several FHS in England as I find that it is invaluble to have contacts in those areas that you can draw info from. Likewise being in Australia I may be able to return the favour. Its all part and partial of your research. The more you spread your wings the greater area you will cover.

Exactly Keith. I was able to give some contact information to another friend researching a particular name which was listed in the quarterly mag. Another random act of kindness passed along:D

[benny1982]

Hi

I find that the Sussex FHG is also invaluable and I have bought several of their publication sales. I recieve their quarterly newsletter.

Ben

[Gill.g]

I can certainly guess the value of joining a FHS in the area needing research. There are several areas I'm looking at, and just know that linking with others looking at the same thing will be helpful. I won't be able to make meetings but I would hazard a guess and say that in our internet age, that won't be unusual.

Gill

[Pam101]

Very interesting comments. I will now join the FHS in the area of my brick wall. I've just bought a couple of CDs from them and found my elusive forebear in a trade directory. I'm already a member of another FHS to which I think I've contributed more than I've taken, so I guess it's swings and roundabouts. One day I hope my pursuit energy will calm enough for me to find time to do some transcribing. Do others find that this happens?

[geoffpowers]

Hi!

I had a bad experience with the FHS of one of the Midland counties a few years ago - I won't say which one for fear of embarassing them.

Full of enthusiasm I assiduously paid my subs and visited their web site - which was pretty thin at the time - every few days. I then sent off a specific research query to the committee officer responsible - waited for weeks - NOTHING! Emailed (no response!), then wrote by snailmail to the society secretary - still nothing. Then suddenly, out of the blue in mid-August I got a very brief note explaining that they couldn't deal with correspondence during the university term as they were too busy lecturing. The rest of their time was apparently given over to talks at the County Record Office and village halls, etc.! Not a good example to the FHS movement

The message has to be that one really does need to make the effort to find out something about the principal officers running the society and what the local setup is, and despite any inconvenience, endeavour to identify and make personal contact with at least one individual from among the bodies running the FHS.

Communication is everything!

GP

[v.wells]

The message has to be that one really does need to make the effort to find out something about the principal officers running the society and what the local setup is, and despite any inconvenience, endeavour to identify and make personal contact with at least one individual from among the bodies running the FHS.

Communication is everything!

GP

A very wise suggestion GP!:) I plan on attending my local genealogical society meeting to see what they are all about and how friendly/helpful the people may be. I have no research in Canada but some may have tips for UK searches.

[robsnicta]

What an excellent Idea to join an FHS in area where a lot of your forebares come from. I live in Teesside but a large number of my ancestors on my mothers side come from Denbighshire which is presenting me with quite a few brick walls. I have bought some parish records from the Clwyd FHS which has been very useful to me.

As I live so far away I wouldn't be able to attend any meetings but would be happy to help in anyway I can. I think I will find out some details about it asap.