#AllAboutThatPlace – A Unique Challenge Event

On September 6, 2023September 2, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local HistoryLeave a comment

Some of you may have spotted this is a ‘challenge’ event. We are hoping listeners will not only sit back and enjoy the 100 or so short talks, but that they will be inspired.

There will even be a ‘workbook’ for the event, for you to make notes, encouraging you to think how this applies to you and your potential research. There are lots of tips on how you might record and share your knowledge and findings too. You will get more out of this mega event if you allow it to spark memories (and capture them!) as well as considering potential for your own research and how to share your findings. It is a call to action!

Today we have more resources for research at our fingertips than ever before. Opportunities for disseminating our findings in interesting and exciting ways have mushroomed. Blogs, online audio or video clips, sharing recordings or giving live talks across the world, as well as much more accessible purposely designed software and options for visual aids.

The boundaries between factual family and local and family histories and literature have also softened. Many genealogists try to ‘bring their ancestor to life’ with exploration of what it was like walking in their shoes. We can also search for memorabilia related to our place, not only locally but online. What can you find to enrich and deepen your understanding of life at that time and enhance your narrative? There are also a number of groups who share their research and findings together online, to encourage and help each other such as The Curious Descendants Club (£) and FewForgottenWomen project of which I am a small part (join research days for free, just requires time to research and write up your allotted woman).

This #OnePlace event will open your eyes.

So here are some gentle challenges for you to consider (inspired by the event Facebook group).

Spark a conversation with friends and family members – Which of their ancestors would they most like to meet and why? Be ready to share some examples of your own!
Write a paragraph about an aspect of your own history – nothing fancy, just bullet points would do.
Join your local Family History Society and/or Local History Society. At least find out who they are and explore their websites.

IF you haven’t already signed up for updates and information click here

Meanwhile I have taken up the challenge to re-start my blog, and will be adding posts throughout the #AllAboutThatPlace event.

#All About That Place – Not to be missed!

On September 5, 2023September 2, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local HistoryLeave a comment

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:

The Society website https://www.one-place-studies.org/about/what-is-a-one-place-study/

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)

Meanwhile see Janet’s article:

10 Steps to a One-Place Study

With the help of the British Association for Local History I have created two ten minute talks explaining the ‘Ten Steps’, available here:

Part One and Part Two

Where is your #OnePlace?

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!

Your challenge for today – Tell someone about

#AllAboutThatPlace

– especially if they don’t use social media.

Celebrate a Tenth Anniversary in Style!

On September 4, 2023September 2, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local HistoryLeave a comment

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).