Family Tree Podcast

In July 2021 the Society of Genealogists closed the doors of 14 Charterhouse Buildings, home of the SoG for the past 37 years of its 110 year history, and stepped forward into a new future. Keen to find out a little more about their plans, Helen Tovey caught up with some members of the SoG management teamPlus we speak to DNA Detective and DNA Bootcamp tutor Michelle Leonard about the upcoming September DNA Bootcamp – your chance to master your DNA test results with Michelle’s excellent, practical course.

Behind-the-scenes book interview. Learn about the research behind a remarkable true family story that spans Europe as we speak to family historian and author Dr Robin Harrod.Useful urls mentioned in the podcast:  Buy The Misconceptions of Miss Harrod: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Misconceptions-Miss-Harrod-Robin-ebook/dp/B08VD74QQF For a review of Robin Harrod’s book please see the August issue of Family Tree https://www.family-tree.co.uk/store/back-issues/family-tree-magazine 

The House History Show is sponsored by Chimni will take place online from Saturday 15 May 2021, tickets £10-£45 To find out more please visit: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/house-history/ 

DNA chat – reflections & discoveries with Karen Evans, Pauline & Bev In this episode of the Family Tree podcast, we’ve got a few very special guests. Both of them have taken a DNA test and received the results (and yes, some of the outcomes were a surprise to say the least). We’re now going to catch up with them, to hear about their thoughts the DNA discoveries they have made, and hear from our DNA adviser Karen Evans on her insights to their DNA journey too. FREE DNA GUIDE!Thinking of taking a DNA test? Or taken a test and not sure what to do next? Family Tree's DNA guide has top tips, information and checklists and it's yours FREE when you sign up to receive our popular email update.Sign up right now and we'll let you know how to download your free DNA guide! 

Professional genealogist David Ryan shares tips on researching the lives and stories of Irish ancestors, and how to record our families’ oral histories.Find out more about Family Tree at: www.family-tree.co.uk

Meet DNA Detective Michelle Leonard as she speaks to Helen about how DNA can help family history research and reveals more about the new DNA Bootcamp launching on 4 February 2021. Find out more about the DNA Bootcamp at: www.family-tree.co.ukHelen also speaks to author Andrew Tatham, about his new book 'I Shall Not Be Away Long'.Discover so much more about family history and the stories of our ancestors at www.family-tree.co.uk

When DNA is pointing at unexpected news, how best should we deal with this? We catch up with Family Tree’s DNA advisor Karen Evans to find out about just such a recent case study she’s been working on. Take part in Karen's DNA Workshop in every issue of Family Tree magazine Plus learn how to trace your ancestor’s life from cradle to grave with tips from Jackie Depelle.  DON'T MISS JACKIE'S WEBINAR: Book your place at this live webinar 'From Cradle to Grave - A Lifetime of Sources', presented by Jackie Depelle. £10, on Thurs 26th Nov, 6.30pm. Thursday 26th November, 6.30pm (GMT) Don't miss the December BUMPER ISSUE of Family Tree, which includes the hugely popular Family History Handbook 2021. Find out more and order your copy at: www.family-tree.co.uk

We chat to Dr Diane Brook about her research into documents lost and found – those precious manuscripts and treasures that survive the passage of time, or which turn up again after many centuries in the mud, or at the back of a musty cupboard. Plus we catch up with family history pioneer Ian Hartas about his brainchild – UKBMD – which this autumn is celebrating 20 years since the first project launched.

Join Helen Tovey & Rachel Bellerby from the Family Tree as they discuss fun and useful family history projects to tackle this autumn. We chat to family history novelist Janet Few about her latest book – on witches, prejudice and the delights of researching the 17th century. Plus we get the latest on RootsTech 2021 with Keith Penfold from FamilySearch, and hear from Steve Manning about the forthcoming FHF REALLY USEFUL Family History Show. Join Family Tree today! https://www.family-tree.co.uk/store/subscriptions/family-tree-magazine Janet Few's historical novels: https://thehistoryinterpreter.wordpress.com/historical-novels/ RootsTech 2021: https://www.rootstech.org/ FHF REALLY USEFUL Family History Show: https://www.fhf-reallyuseful.com/

Don't miss our expert webinars… Working with DNA for family history - 11.30am on Tuesday 15th September Setting up and keeping organised family history files - 11.30am on Wednesday 16th September Dating and understanding Victorian photographs - 10am on Thursday 17th September

We chat to Dr Kathleen McIlvenna about her research into 19th-century Post Office staff, and talk to Paul Carter to find out more about the Name & Place, designed for one-place studies, one-name studies and local history research projects.Don't miss the Family Tree Academy Conference in September. Find out more at https://www.family-tree.co.uk/virtual-exhibitions/sep20-conference

Learn about the very place you live, and uncover the lives of the people who dwelt there before you: professional researcher and house history enthusiast Adele Emm shares insights and enthusiasm on ways to trace the history of your house and discover more about the community of your area in times gone by. Plus we speak to Artistic Director of the Pascal Theatre Company, Julia Pascal, about the two year project in the making – One Lost Stone – which sought to look at the return of Jewish communities to England in the time of Olive Cromwell, following their banishment in 1290, and the changes in the communities over the intervening centuries.Subscribe to Family Tree today - just visit family-tree.co.uk

Are you stuck at home but in love with history? Join in with our #StoryOfOurStreet challenge and uncover the history on your very own doorstep. We chat to Rachel Bellerby about her first steps into researching her road.  Sign up for your freebie #StoryOfOurStreet check list Click here for your bumper 15 page #StoryOfOurStreet research kit (priced £1.99or 99p for subscribers).  Plus – if you like a new angle on history, don’t miss Dr Vivien Newman speak about her new book Children at War 1914-1918 and her investigations into their lives in the classroom and in the trenches, on the allies side and children of the ‘enemy’ side too.#StoryOfOurStreet #localhistory #househistory #streethistory #historyofchildren

Learn about the people and the places of the past down your street. What discoveries will you make when you research the history of the very place you live? Find out more when you join in with the #StoryOfOurStreet challenge – introduced in this episode of the podcast.Sign on the Family Tree website receive your free #StoryOfOurStreet PDF checklist.To help make sure your family’s war years are researched and remembered we chat to Simon Fowler, who has handy advice to help you track down the records you need to trace their story.  And our families’ WW2 years can be quite a story, can’t they – as author Louise Fein demonstrates in her gripping debut novel, People Like Us – a love story between a young girl from a Nazi family and a German Jewish boy, with themes based on her own family history research.

Join Family Tree magazine  Subscribe to the print edition for just £3: https://familytr.ee/3for3sale Subscribe to the digital edition: https://pocketmags.com/family-tree-magazine Episode 8Sometimes the clues just don’t seem straightforward do they? With variations in names, ages, places and spellings, the written record of our ancestors’ lives can be more than a little confusing. However, professional researcher David Annal is here to help and has some simple tips and rules to follow that will give you the confidence to piece together the evidence and keep researching.Plus – we might be on lockdown, but we can still enjoy a visit to a museum – Senior Curator at the Royal Museums Greenwich, Claire Warrior talks about the many maritime artefacts they hold and the family history stories that they tell.

Join Family Tree magazine  Subscribe to the print edition for just £3: https://familytr.ee/3for3sale Subscribe to the digital edition: https://pocketmags.com/family-tree-magazine Episode 7The Second World War is remains such an important and hugely evocative era of history, and family history too. Tune in to the Family Tree podcast for a glimpse of war-time memories and VE Day celebrations. Plus learn about the resources we have in the June issue of Family Tree that will help you both discover how to research, and how to record your family stories: see how you too can make audio recordings of your loved ones life stories. Discover more about your ancestors Second World War in the June issue of Family Tree on sale now.Derek has made a number of TV appearances as Winston Churchill including BBC dramas Hustle and Close to the Enemy as well as other appearances as Churchill on TV, radio and in theatre. Find out more about the film Lawrence: After Arabia in which Derek Herbert plays Winston Churchill at: www.lawrencethemovie.com

Join Family Tree magazine  Subscribe to the print edition for just £3: https://familytr.ee/3for3sale Subscribe to the digital edition: https://pocketmags.com/family-tree-magazine Episode 6As family historians we’re so lucky to have a hobby that’s so rich in resources to help us online (we know, not everything can be found online – but a billions of records can!). Perhaps the upcoming VE Day 75th anniversary commemorations have inspired you to look into the lives of your family in the 1940s. In this episode of the podcast Helen Tovey chats to Simon Pearce, Pro Genealogist and military researcher at Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) for advice on how to research our Second World War heroes. With the historic UK records on Ancestry being free between 4-10 May, this is an ideal time to indulge yourself – spend time finding your family story without parting with a penny. From the Home Guard, to Prisoners of War out in the Far East, and many more leads besides, there are many routes to research.Plus take the opportunity provided by The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) to download their digital records free of charge for the duration of lockdown. With archival collections that span back a thousand years, The UK National Archives are a digital dream.Finally sit back and hear Mike Wood speak about his new book ‘A Soldier’s Story’ (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Z8NN967), in which he tells the extraordinary story of his lorry driver Dad whose war service spanned from Dunkirk to Bergen Belsen and so much more.

Join Family Tree magazine  Subscribe to the print edition for just £3: https://familytr.ee/3for3sale Subscribe to the digital edition: https://pocketmags.com/family-tree-magazine Dr Simon Wills describes the voyages across the seas our ancestors would have taken. Listen to the full version of Simon's fascinating talk at: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/videos/voyages-from-the-past/Helen speaks to author Stephen J King about his new book Humbugs and Doodlebugs: A wartime story of seaside sweetmakers (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humbugs-Doodlebugs-wartime-seaside-sweetmakers/dp/1913036251)We get the latest genealogy news (including details of Family Tree virtually Live - https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/family-tree-live-virtual-conference/) from Rachel.

Paul Chiddicks provides more at-home inspiration to help you keep researching, organising and discovering. We speak to economist Vincenzo Alfano and find out more about genealogy in Italy, and Rachel and Helen from the Family Tree team discuss the latest family history news. Join Family Tree for just £3 at: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/store/promotions/family-tree-magazine/FTRE/MAR20/3for3

DNA expert Karen Evans chats to Helen about DNA during the lockdown Dr Penny Walters discusses, the psychology of searching, the subject of her latest book Find out more about Penny's work at: www.searchmypast.co.uk Find out more about the Psychology of Searching book on amazon.co.uk Family Tree team member Rachel gives us an update on some welcome good news stories. Subscribe to Family Tree for a special price of £3 for 3 issues at: https://familytr.ee/3for3sale