All About That Place

Join our special mini All About That Place (#AATP) event from 24 September to 3 October 2025.

We’re highlighting some of our most popular and recent #AATP content, supported by our valued partners: the Society for One-Place Studies, the British Association for Local History (BALH), and Projectkin.

Have your say with our poll to select your Top 10 talks from the 100s of recordings available from the last two years. Plus, we’ll be sharing links to fresh content on our YouTube channel.

We look forward to returning in 2026 with a full-scale event that promises to be even bigger and better than ever before! In the meantime, do join us and follow the excitement on our Facebook page: facebook.com/societyofgenealogists

Victorian London Week – A Review

Hello, I'm Ruth, the Education and Events Manager at the SoG. I wanted to share some reviews of our recent Victorian London Week and some thank yous to all those that took part.

Victorian London Week was a memorable blend of discovery, sociability, and sheer perseverance. Despite the disruption caused by the Transport for London strikes, our dedicated staff and volunteers made truly epic journeys across the capital to ensure that events went ahead as planned. I am immensely grateful to each of them for their commitment - it is thanks to their determination that the week unfolded so smoothly.

Victorian London Week was a memorable blend of discovery, sociability, and sheer perseverance. Despite the disruption caused by the Transport for London strikes, our dedicated staff and volunteers made truly epic journeys across the capital to ensure that events went ahead as planned. I am immensely grateful to each of them for their commitment - it is thanks to their determination that the week unfolded so smoothly.

We were delighted to welcome attendees not only from across London and the wider UK, but also from as far afield as the United States. This rich mix of perspectives added an extra layer of depth to our discussions of the Victorian era and family history research.

Highlights of the week included Jenni Phillips talk on “Scrofula, Scarlet Fever and Sudden Visitations: How Did Our Victorian Ancestors Die?” and Patricia Coveney Sears discussing “Stepney Union Casebooks” (part of Charles Booth's investigation.)

Else Churchill gave an epic seven talks in five days flagging many less obvious sources and records for researching Victorian ancestors in the capital.

Attendees made a visit to the atmospheric Brompton Cemetery while others walked through Soho, where we managed - miraculously - to dodge the worst of the torrential rain. On Friday, camaraderie and conversation flowed as we gathered for a traditional Victorian London lunch of pie and mash, which was enjoyed with great umm interest, the accompanying stewed eels perhaps with less enthusiasm.

The programme of talks proved both inspiring and practical. One attendee summed up the impact of the week perfectly:

"Based on this course I have gone back to research that I did into Victorian London ancestors back in the 1980s-90s; the availability of new online records, as well as my greater experience, means I’m finding records that I had missed back in the 80s."

Comments such as this confirm that Victorian London Week is not only about learning in the present, but also about re-engaging with past work in light of new resources and insights. The combination of shared expertise, lively field visits, and good company made this year’s event one to remember.

I look forward to welcoming even more of you to join us next time—whether you are crossing the Atlantic or simply hopping on the bus (strike permitting!).

Ruth Willmore

P.S. You might have missed our pie and mash, but we never stop ‘dishing up’ our genealogy educational opportunities! Eat your heart out in our Gold members-only video library, with talks like Emma Jolly’s “How We Used to Eat” and Rob Smith’s exploration of “London’s Food Factories”.

Society of Genealogists YouTube

Gloucestershire ancestors? Catch up on our deep dive into Gloucestershire records with Gloucestershire Heritage Hub and Gloucestershire Family History Society (GFHS). Get expert insight into the wealth of resources available for family history research in the county, including both local and online tools. Plus, enjoy the low-down from our in-house genealogist Else Churchill on all the relevant Society of Genealogists resources available for Gloucestershire research. Watch now on our YouTube: Researching in Gloucestershire.

Tips from inside the SoG

Our full day focus on Agricultural Labourers brought up a few top tips.

Stephanie Morton: “Remember to go beyond the basic records (census, BMD, etc) and look at the person's setting in terms of social structure, geography, geology, crops grown, animals raised.”

Jude Rhodes: “Use Name Books, where available, as a resource for researching a place.”

“If you search the Women's Land Army indexes using a keyword, you can find information stored in the home address field as well as the place of employment. This is very useful for One Place Studies.”

From Decoding Historical Documents

Barbara Young: “Great preparation when going to archives - Build in time to think more about historical documents you will see, which ones are key, what format will they be in and what to expect from them before diving in and possibly missing key parts.”

Louise Maidens: “Remember the people on the ground – they are part of the manor and of the church and of the Quarter Sessions in the nearest town. They might be called up before any of them. Forget separate categories and think about the way life worked.”

David Harper: “Records from Courts Leet and Courts Baron can often include names of ancestors who worked the land.”

Julia Martin: “With wills, consider why the will was drawn up at that point in a person's life.”

Decoding Historical Documents was delivered by Caroline Adams, who also provides SoG Members with expert advice on reading and understanding historical documents in our Members-Only Palaeography Club. Members can catch up on the recordings in the Bonus Talks section, accessed through the Membership Area. Not a member yet? Join today to attend the next club session.

In October our focus shifts to maps and boundaries. Delve into a new 4-week course on Maps for Genealogists, grapple with Changing Administration Boundaries in a one-hour talk, and learn about FamilySearch’s new interactive England Jurisdiction map in an in-person workshop.

We cross international boundaries with talks such as Subsidised British Emigration to Canada, Getting the Most From ShipIndex.org and The Story of Britain’s Seafront Buildings.

Unlock mind mapping techniques to organise and guide your research, take a trip to Devon, or a virtual stroll around Fleet Street in our members-only lunchtime chat.

Thursday Social

Join our late night opening on Thursday 2nd October when Debbie Kennett will be talking about mitochondrial DNA testing, followed by a convivial drinks reception in the common room.

Workshops

We have two opportunities in October to get hands on in the library. On Friday 3 October Else Churchill is demonstrating how to search the SoG collections and finding aids while on Friday 31 October Lucy Reynoldson of FamilySearch leads a workshop titled “FamilySearch Wiki WOW Factors”. Come to one, or both, to discover new ways to search for your ancestors.

Courses

Four brand-new courses start in October offering something for everyone:

• Using Family Tree Maker: 5 Week online course with Kate Keter Starts Wed, 01 Oct, 6:30 PM
• Smart Slides: Practical PowerPoint for Polished Presentations: 3 Week online course with Andrew Redfern Starts Thu, 9 Oct, 7:00 PM
• The Art of the Pedigree: 3 Week online course with Else Churchill Starts Fri, 10 Oct, 10:30 AM
• Maps for Genealogists: 4 week online course with experts Starts Mon, 20 Oct, 7:30 PM

Are you our new Library Counter Volunteer?

Do you have experience researching family history? Are you keen to support others to do the same? Then why not become our new in-person Counter Volunteer. We’re looking for committed people to volunteer twice a month (one Friday and one Saturday) to support our members and visitors with their research enquiries. We provide training on our collections and systems and as a volunteer you’ll have access to some of our events for free. If you’re interested or have any questions why not get in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator: volunteering@sog.org.uk.

My Ancestor settled in the British West Indies by John Titford FSG (2011)

John Titford’s guide is for family historians who have ancestors who migrated from Britain to the area once known as the British West Indies. It helps you to find and use the records held in Britain and those held in the territories themselves.

Included are Guyana (formerly British Guiana) and Belize (formerly British Honduras), because the author regarded them as being part of the Caribbean region in the broadest sense. Bermuda is also included, despite being in the Atlantic rather than the Caribbean. The author notes that the Colonial Office in London considered it to be part of the West Indies for administrative purposes.

RootsTech2026

Registration for RootsTech 2026 is now open. Genealogy enthusiasts and family historians can sign up for the free online event scheduled for March 5-7, 2026 to ensure they don’t miss out on the latest updates, including information on new classes, groundbreaking innovations, keynote speakers, and much more.