Well, it has been quite a while since I wrote anything on this blog!
I have been a little busy, decided to up my genealogy skills a enrolled to University of Strathclyde’s Post Gradate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies.
https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/genealogicalpalaeographicheraldicstudies/
It is a two year course (if you take it in modules) and designed for anyone with an existing interest and some experience in genealogy and related subjects. It was developed by academics and genealogy professionals to provide a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of genealogical research, family history, records, archives and heraldry.
You have to take 6 modules for the certificate and topics include :
• genealogical professional practice
• search strategies & using repositories
• social history, demography & geographic sources
• church & civil records (England/Wales & Scotland)
• census records & their substitutes (England/Wales & Scotland)
• genetic genealogy
• migration & records
• Irish records
• military & occupational records (England/Wales & Scotland)
• land & inheritance records (England/Wales & Scotland)
• palaeography and Latin for genealogists
• heraldry
There were two assignments and one assessment for each module, building our skills as professional genealogists.
Overall the course was much harder than I expected it to be. I had forgotten how tough the referencing bit of academic writing can get, especially as most genealogical data is non-standard! I am not a big fan of palaeography. I never really got to grips with reading old writing, but did enough to pass assessment! But I can now transcribe an old will well enough to establish who the beneficiaries were and places of burial etc.
One of the highlights of the past two years, was the trip to Scotland last November. Organised by the lead tutor, 2 days of archive visits in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I travelled up by train from Euston to Glasgow (watched all of 1st series of Killing Eve on train), on the Sunday and stayed in the Premier Inn on George Street. A classmate had organised for a group of us to go out for pizza that night.
Monday morning, we headed for Edinburgh by train, and fortunately I sat with a brilliant group who had set up a WhatsApp group “Pastoral Care” to which I was added. This was probably the turning point for me, the support we give each other has been invaluable and I do not think I would have got through the last few modules without their support.
I selected the following archives the tutor had organised.
In Edinburgh:
University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections
National Library of Scotland, Map Library
National Records of Scotland
In Glasgow:
University of Strathclyde Archives and Special Collections
City of Glasgow’s Archives & Family History Centre at The Mitchell Library
All the places we visited were brilliant, very informative and welcoming. Two places stand out for me, the map library was my idea of heaven, I am a big map fan. Their website is amazing and not only covers Scotland. https://www.nls.uk/collections/maps this website should come with a health warning: “Can be Addictive – once in you may never escape”.
The other highlight was the University of Strathclyde Archives and Special Collections, where they gave us an introductory talk, then we had a task sheet to complete using some archive material they had set out for us. From my research into our family, I had already discovered that my Great Uncle William Strath had received an honorary doctorate from the University, so I thought it was worth asking the archivist if there might be a record of the citation. She said she would take a look and if I gave her my email address, she would let me know what she had found. Before I left, she took me aside and said “I have found the original typed citation, would you like to see it ?”, bit of a silly question for a genealogist, “YES”. She also allowed me to photograph the pages!
I have now finished my course, have passed my PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies. Not only have I gained a professional qualification but a wonderful group of new friends, who share my passion for family history.
Next steps
Need to work on our family’s genealogy, I now know so much more, the need for genealogical proof and the wealth of resources available around the world.
Have just started a One Name Study for PINCHBECK, my father’s mother was May Pinchbeck – more to follow on this.
Also need to write more, so will tidy up blog and post much more about our ancestors’ lives….
Have already started a house study into our house, interesting to focus on a location rather than a family, and a chance to use a local Archive.
Would also love to get some work in genealogy; perhaps giving talks, teaching, writing for journals, and researching other families…….
not just any family 