The Society for One-Place Studies is celebrating its 10th birthday. We have joined with a number of erudite family and local history organisations and those interested in how you can share research too.
The result is an AMAZING TEN DAY EVENT with over a hundred TEN MINUTE TALKS from around the world (just right for listening over breakfast, at your coffee break, and bed time, even if your diary is full).
It starts on 23rd September, and is FREE. ‘Subscribe’ to the event YouTube Channel to see the brief trailer and hear readings about places in well-known literature, to inspire you.
Do sign up to receive notification of how to join the talks too. (They will all be available for 2 weeks or more after their release).
We do not expect everyone to start a One-Place study, but you may find out how to explore ‘That Place’ you are interested in, perhaps so you can broaden your family history and develop a real depth of understanding of your ancestor’s life. Of course, not everyone has ancestors in their place of interest. You may be interested in your local area and its inhabitants, or a place that is special to you.
“Every place has a story…
… it’s up to us to discover them”.
You may find you are already doing a One-Place Study without realising it! If so, you now know there is a community of like-minded researchers! Do join us. (I am a committee member).
The Society for One-Place Studies welcomes not only those with oodles of research but also those just considering whether this is for them and wanting to know more.
If you don’t know what a One-Place Study (OPS) is, do have a look at some of these:
Dr Janet Few’s book is highly recommended for anyone starting a study. It is available through her website or contact. Available on Amazon from outside the UK.
(Few, Janet Ten Steps to a One-Place Study Blue Poppy Publishing (2020) 210mm x 148mm paperback 52 pages £5.00 ISBN: 978 1 911438 18 2)
Do let the group know. Join the event Facebook group to become part of the discussions. Excitement is mounting. Your study can explore whatever aspects you like. One of the key messages is
“Your Study – Your Rules”.
Some people come from a family history background, others from local history. It is also a good place to start history research! Maps and the built history, transport, migration into and out of that place, trades, occupations, religion and social structure are just a few of the themes. Some want to include the weather and natural events, flora and fauna, statistics, or memorials and epidemics. Others start with a house history or focus on a specific organisation. Many gradually create a forest of family trees and look for the interconnections. One-Place Studies usually cross some of those boundaries to create a more rounded picture over time. It is good to start small and expand, small both geographically and within a time period. Otherwise a study quickly becomes overwhelming as there is so much to find out!
Celebration of 25 years of marriage with silver and 50 years of marriage with gold symbolises prosperity, and of course to an extent luck with both parties still living. Commercialisation means more and more anniversaries are celebrated (Father’s Day, even Black Friday) and each year has its own ‘traditions’. Ten years of marriage is apparently tin, or diamond if you ask a jeweller!
The Society for One-Place Studies is celebrating ten years since it started. With members all around the world and widespread studies too, a party is not ideal. Perhaps diamond cut tin badges? However, the committee (of which I confess I am a member) thought long and hard, and invites members to celebrate with any items to do with 10. Number 10 on a street or ten exciting stories and so forth. Blogs, journal articles, and of course the annual conference (free to members). Try using #OnePlaceStudies especially on #OnePlaceWednesdays to find some of them.
Even more exciting we have joined forces with several other organisations to celebrate for ten days with ten or more ten minute talks each day on relevant topics.
More information is coming very soon! #SticklepathOne Place Study has roped in Auntie Kate to tell some Tales of Sticklepath School. Plus a second talk about Creating Auntie Kate (she will not be attending that one in person).
Details all over the internet and will be in a blog tomorrow… watch this space
Genealogy has developed almost out of recognition in my lifetime. Digitisation and expanding availability of records brings scans and transcriptions literally to our fingertips, with sophisticated search and analysis functions. Rapid DNA sequencing, “a unique new tool”(Holton 2019) started as a niche interest but DNA analysis is now part of the Genealogical Proof Standard. Techniques to manipulate the data are expanding. Family trees which primarily focused on going ‘up’ or back in time now expand ‘out and down’. My autosomal DNA test (2021) plus very recent sibling and first cousin’s tests may help confirm relationships and expand our tree. @JanetFew’s article in @familytreemaguk (Feb 2023) reminded me that in 1989 I did not have a home computer and my grandfather did not comprehend the ability to video him talking about his life and show it on a TV screen. (“Are you going to send this up to the BBC then chiel?”)
Our history may be in the past, but ideas and research techniques continue to develop; ways to analyse and present history continue to evolve. Collaboration with other hisstory ‘specialisms’ is perhaps increasing – local history, social history and academia for example. Current challenges to the concept of family include how to record sex and gender for example. GenZ genealogists and the wider range of cultures and ethnic groups now utilising archive resources may well challenge traditional family history wisdom. Whilst often thought of as an innately personal activity, the genealogy community and academics have clear up-to-date guidance for best practice. Traditional family history societies may have struggled during ‘lock-down’, but Zoom and similar programs have facilitated innovative group activities and interaction. Small groups of genealogists don’t just share findings but actively research together over zoom, sharing resources and expertise. Discussions abound about how to convert dates and places into engaging personal stories, with participants from around the world bringing new aspects. Digital technologies to present and illustrate our findings proliferate.
So, taking a step back, how do we acquire ‘expertise’? How does one assess achievement or ‘level’ in genealogy? By the earliest ancestor we can identify, numbers on your tree, or numbers reading your FH blog? Not really.
Percentage of ancestors identified in each generation is a possible progress tool. I started 2022 with 3 unknown Great Great Grandparents and rapidly diminishing numbers in earlier generations. Revisiting the research, with the ever expanding online sources and increased experience, improved my findings.
Genealogy ‘Score’ by generation (2022) :
Parents 2/2 or 100%
Grandparents 4/4 or 100%
Great Grandparents 7/8 or 87.5%
2x Gt Grandparents 14/16 or 87.5%
3xGt Grandparents 15/32 or 46.8%
Ancestry has a simple self-assessment tool, hinting at the value of time spent:
Ancestry Website Profile – A self-assessment tool
(Accessed August 2022, *my profile)
Family History Level Beginner *Intermediate Advanced Professional Genealogist
How Often? *Almost every day Once a week Once a month Twice a year Once a year Never
Researching since Year (*2013)
For many sports and hobbies it is the number of hours spent training, practising, learning the art which really counts (10,000 hours perhaps). Acquiring different skills and knowledge of a wide variety of aspects. External assessment through a recognised qualification denotes time applied to achieving standards and learning as well as summative assessment. The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies @IHGS Correspondence Course in its initial assignment combines many of the above ideas. Consideration of numbers found (fourth generation back) with evidence of research skills before and after civil registration, use and citation of sources, alongside student reflection on the process, to establish a student’s understanding. The on-going course then seeks to expand knowledge and skills across a wide range of areas with assignments and exams to prove individual achievement.
DNA analysis has a huge learning curve of its own. Many of us struggle to get to grips with our ‘matches’. Courses, lectures and Facebook help groups abound, including the aptly named DNA Bootcamp! Family tree preparation recommended for DNA purposes by @GenealogyLass Michelle Leonard would include building forward all collateral lines. Such a checklist would ask:
DNA Progress Checklist
Have I traced my grandparents, their siblings and descendants?
Have I traced my great grandparents their siblings and descendants?
Have I traced my 2x great grandparents their siblings and descendants?
Etc.
Any assessment includes reflection, identification of weaknesses and areas for improvement. My research in physical archives is limited, just three half days spent in one archive, practical experience of physical research lags somewhat behind my theoretical knowledge gained through multiple Zoom lectures online and a range of @PharosTutors Online courses. I easily succumb to temptations, distracted by ‘bright shiny objects’ and of course rapid access to multiple records online invites haste and failure to cite sources. I love to start projects… too many on the go not finished. My organisational skills, knowledge and use of research plans, and therefore records of research undertaken, both positive and negative, is limited. For each research question (and ‘project’) the ideal would include:
————————————— 5 Thorough & Clear Write Up——–
——————————- 4 Citation of all Sources———————–
———————- 3 Conflicts Resolved————————————-
————–2 Analysis & Correlation—————————————–
—–1 Thorough & Exhaustive Research————————————-
Elements of The Genealogical Proof Standard described by Osborn
For many of course our genealogy skills are used is other ways such as volunteering for various projects and societies, a one-name study or one-place study. Findings are shared through books, websites, u-tube or podcasts etc. We can always find further developments to explore in our genealogical journey.
CONCLUSION
Lots of progress in 2022 but … Plenty of room for ‘improvement’ in 2023!
I do not view genealogy as primarily a solo activity. As an apprentice family historian, I have greatly enjoyed the company of genealogists and aspiring genealogists along the way, and look forward to meeting many more “travellers on the educational route to becoming historians” in coming years.
Bibliography
Tracing Your Ancestors using DNA A Guide for Family Historians 2019 Ed. Graham S. Holton Pen & Sword Family History, Barnsley p1
GENEALOGY STANDARDS 2nd edition Board for Certification of Genealogists 2021: “The Genealogical Proof Standard requires researchers to consider all relevant evidence. Such consideration includes DNA evidence” Introduction to 2nd Edition page xiv.
Janet Few ‘The Family History Revolution’ Article in Family Tree magazine Feb 2023 warners Group Publications
Example of podcast describing collaborating in research over Zoom for Few Forgotten Women project
Sticklepath a Village and its People 