Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default Using The National Archives web-site

    The National Archives web-site is a useful resource for locating records; but many seem to find it difficult to navigate.

    This thread is not comprehensive - it is just to give a few ideas.

    Research guides

    From the home page above, look at the horizontal bar near the top of the screen. From left to right it reads:

    About us - Education - Records - Information Management - Shop online

    Research Guides:

    Click on 'Records' you get taken to this new screen. look to the right of the screen in the quick links - select 'In-depth research guides'

    The guides are listed alphabetically and many similar subjects are grouped together, e.g. 'British Army', Royal Navy', etc.

    Simple 'signposts' also exist where you just click on links to be taken to new information pages.

    So, having clicked on 'Records' and been taken to this new screen.

    In the centre of the page there are lots of boxes with bold type headings, try clicking on 'Looking for a person' and you will see simple research signposts which you can select to find clear advice.

    Try the other headed topics and see what you can find.

    If you are stuck with Old handwriting - click on Palaeography
    also Latin Palaeography and also on the Latin language which may help you to understand old parish registers and other documents.

  2. #2
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default Documents online

    Documentsonline is part of The national Archives web-site where you can view original documents, either for a small fee, or free of charge.

    From the home page , look at the horizontal bar near the top of the screen. From left to right it reads:

    About us - Education - Records - Information Management - Shop online

    Click on 'records' and then look to the right of the screen and select 'Documentsonline'

    There are quick links to the most used parts of documentsonline.

    if you wish to see all the subjects presently available, click on 'browse'

  3. #3
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default The Catalogue

    The Catalogue is a resource which is continually being improved. It is an excellent means of finding out what there is available at TNA

    From the home page , look at the horizontal bar near the top of the screen. From left to right it reads:

    About us - Education - Records - Information Management - Shop online

    Click on 'records' and then in the quick links on the right of the screen 'The Catalogue'
    Note that there are links on this page which provide more information and are well worth exploring.

    You may be able to order copies of documents listed in The Catalogue using TNA's 'Digital Express' facility - or by requesting estimates for hard copies. Note though that the service from TNA for providing estimates is more limited than it used to be, and is subject to further changes.

    The Catalogue seems to cause the most confusion for everyone.

    Note it is just a catalogue - you cannot view original documents online through this - it lists documents available and their references.

    Searches depend on how items have been catalogued (indexed). Some can be searched by name, some by company, some by military unit.

    There are some sticky threads on these forums on how to look for:

    British Army records

    Royal Navy records

    Royal Marine records

    They don't cover every eventuality but may point you in the right direction.

    The best advice is to KEEP SEARCHES SIMPLE - The phrase 'Less is more' is relevant here.

    When searching for someone called smith who committed a murder in a certain date, in the word or phrase field enter 'smith AND murder'. Remember to keep AND in capitals.

    There may be other specific strategies which can be used to help locate records - if you get stuck ASK and a member of these forums who is used to playing about with the site may be able to help.

  4. #4
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default Search engines

    Apart from the catalogue there are other very powerful search tools.

    From the home page , look at the horizontal bar near the top of the screen. From left to right it reads:

    About us - Education - Records - Information Management - Shop online

    Clcik on 'records' and then in the centre of the screen 'Catalogues and online records'

    There are links here to many different databases, including The catalgoue and documentsonline, about which I have commented above.

    Some of the very useful search facilities are across on the right of the screen and include

    Access to Archives
    ARCHON
    Manorial Documents Register
    Hospital Records Database.
    National Register of Archives

    TNA has a global search - there is a simple search and an advanced search
    where you can search an enormous number of different sources; this includes the ability to search Access to Archives

    Using these, you can search the catalogues of many different repositories throughout the country.

    The same rule applies 'Less is more'

  5. #5
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default

    News items on TNA's site provide important information on opening hours, chacnges to service, accessions to TNA, etc, etc.

    I'll keep this thread open. If you have a query about using TNA's site, ask here and hopefully someone who has tried the same thing will reply. That way we'll keep all the advice in one place. If a topic on here is sufficiently detailed we can split it off into its own thread.

    This thread has so far only covered a few basics concerned with TNA's web-site. The best thing you can do is explore it; use that curiosity that you have to find your own family to have a good nose around its nooks and crannies and see what you can find.

    Don't forget that not everything can be found online, sometimes you have to look for yourselves - sometimes it is more enjoyable to do so and facsimile copies of many useful documents can be purchased very cheaply from suppliers such as The Parish Chest
    Last edited by Sue Mackay; 28-01-2010 at 5:17 PM. Reason: amended detail on this thread to account for changes to TNA - 26th Dec

  6. #6
    MythicalMarian
    Guest

    Default

    What a wonderful aid for us all, Geoffers. Is this stickied, mods?

  7. #7
    Loves to help with queries Pandad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    204

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MythicalMarian View Post
    What a wonderful aid for us all, Geoffers.
    Seconded

  8. #8
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default

    Thanks. This thread is stuck on the Useful online resources forum.

    Don't forget that podcasts are also available from TNA as outlined on Peter's thread - Podcasts

  9. #9
    Reputation beyond repute
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    16,792

    Default

    Edit by Geoffers - Peter kindly posted an image which shows what needs to be completed when ordering documents via TNA - the original message appeared as post no.12 in this thread

    I believe this is what the order should look like



    The "copy all pages in this document" checkbox should not be ticked.

  10. #10
    Geoffers
    Guest

    Default

    TNA send out regular newsletters, one just received includes details of how to search the catalogue for criminals and additional information on the catalogue:

    "Find the villain in your family tree by exploring criminal records online. You can now search judges' reports on criminals between 1784 and 1830 by name, place and crime committed. We have enhanced our catalogue entries to provide more information than ever before, including details of the sentence.

    You may uncover an ancestor charged with a bizarre offence. For example, Francis Smith was famously convicted in 1804 for the murder of the 'Hammersmith ghost'. This 'ghost' turned out to be a plasterer, dressed in white and on his way home through a graveyard! You could unearth lots of interesting details about your criminal ancestor.

    To speed up your search, simply enter their family name on the catalogue search page and put 'HO 47' in the department code field."

    In case you aren't aware, further information may be found about cases heard in the Central Criminal Court by using the Old Bailey Online site.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Select a file: