Midland Ancestors

Kenilworth: 'Military Matters'
2023-04-12 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Speaker: Mick Rawle

This is an in-person meeting held at The Kenilworth Centre

Bromsgrove (No meeting due to the Easter holiday)
2023-04-11 08:00 - 17:00
No meeting due to the Easter holiday.

Bank Holiday - Easter Monday
2023-04-10
Bank Holiday
Easter Monday

Bank Holiday - Good Friday
2023-04-07
Bank Holiday
Good Friday

Wolverhampton: Enclosure in the English Midlands
2023-03-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
This presentation had originally been planned for early 2020 but was cancelled because of the covid pandemic.
This is a talk about the effect on people and the landscape of opening up heathland when historically all the fields were enclosed. How did this affect our agricultural and farming ancestors?
Our speaker, Richard Churchley, is an well known and experienced local historian with an MA in English Local History awarded by the University of Birmingham. He has written articles for our quarterly journal Midland Ancestors.

Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. start.

Stourbridge: Talk on Family History
2023-03-25 14:30 - 16:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY90SW, United Kingdom
Talk on Family History

Speaker: Vanessa Morgan

Making a start
Its more than just a list of names and dates

On Line – Family History Workshop
2023-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Online Event Using Zoom
Family History Workshop by Members
An On Line Members Meeting where you can hear about other members research experiences. You can learn how they knocked down their brick walls, what new websites they found, how they got to grips with better known sites, any obscure or lesser known websites, archives offices or libraries, or tackled computer problems. What Tips & Tricks they might have to help with research or help with software they might use. All the issues that family historians frequently come up against. In essence, a Midland Ancestors Self Help Workshop.
Please get in touch by email eventsonline@mid-anc.uk if you have a query or are stuck somewhere and we will raise it in the workshop.
These meetings will be fairly loose format and will go where they lead. If you would like to make a contribution, please get in touch. You do not need to be an experienced researcher.
Amongst the items that came up for discussion last time there was – Census’s, Army service during 1st WW, Castle Bromwich Hall & Gardens, Forgotten Women, Nurses, and a little bit of technology.

The success of the format is entirely dependent upon the members. It is in your hands. Many people have asked if we will be running any Zoom meetings in the future, now is your chance to help out.
An Online event using Zoom. Visit this page to find out how we do it.

To Register, Click here – FH Workshop

Bromsgrove: Life as a Professional Genealogist
2023-03-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Bromsgrove Methodist Centre, 19 Stratford Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 1AS, United Kingdom
Speaker: Mike Sharpe

Kenilworth: CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW - Rescheduled for May 2023
2023-03-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
‘The Last Letter I Ever Received; Epistles, Emotions and the Family Archive in Eighteenth Century England’
Speaker: Dr Imogen Peck, FRHistS, FHEA – Assistant Professor in British History, Dept. of History, University of Birmingham

This is an in-person meeting held at The Kenilworth Centre

Birmingham: The History (Research) of The Friends' Ambulance Unit
2023-03-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
The History (Research) of The Friends’ Ambulance Unit
The Motor Ambulance Convoys and its Members during WW1.
Presenter – Paul Handford MBE
The talk looks at the experiences of those individuals who, for conscience and other reasons, chose to serve in the non-combatant Friends’ Ambulance Unit (Quakers) during 1st World War. Todays speaker will explore the evolution of the Unit, the main area of work of the Unit – Motorised Ambulance Convoys recovering the wounded, and the impact conscription had on the individuals and the organization, including the experiences of Laurence Cadbury of the famous Cadbury family. Paul will also reflect on those members who lost their lives while serving with the FAU.
This presentation is supported by many rare original photographs from the speaker’s own private collection and will also consider the research opportunities for this subject.
Taking place in the BMI, the John Peek Room on the first floor
Paul is President of the Birmingham Medal Society, a member of The Orders and Medals Research Society, Chair of the Military History Society of West Midlands Police, and serves on the committee of the West Midlands Police Museum. Along with his wife Su, Paul has travelled extensively along the entire length of the Western Front in pursuit of his research.

Introduction to Family History Research
2023-02-27 13:30 - 16:30 | Cannock Library, Manor Avenue,, Cannock, WS11 1AA, United Kingdom
Family History Course
Find out how to ….

get started in researching your family history
learn about the records which will help you
find the records and interpret them
discover the heroes and rogues in your family
reveal the truth behind your family tales

This is a FREE five week course, held at Cannock Library, on Monday afternoons beginning at 1.30 p.m.
Places are limited and booking is required. To book a place please call the library direct on 01543 334 530.
If you book a place but later change your mind about attending please notify library to allow someone else to take up the place.

Stourbridge: 'The Diggum Uppers'
2023-02-25 14:30 - 16:30 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY90SW, United Kingdom
‘The Diggum Uppers’

Wolverhampton: Member's Research Evening
2023-02-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
‘Two heads (or many) are better than one’ so can we help each other with our problem ancestors?
Wifi will be available and access to various records that you may not be able to view from home or even be aware of. Come prepared with what you know and with what you are struggling with. Perhaps we can help with ideas or maybe suggest other avenues to explore that could help you solve your difficulty.
Bring along your problem ancestors for an airing!

Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 start

On Line – Family History Workshop
2023-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Online Event Using Zoom
Family History Workshop by Members
The first of a series of On Line Members Meetings where you can hear about other members research experiences. You can learn how they knocked down their brick walls, what new websites they found, how they got to grips with better known sites, any obscure or lesser known websites, archives offices or libraries, or tackled computer problems. What Tips & Tricks they might have to help with research or help with software they might use. All the issues that family historians frequently come up against. In essence, a Midland Ancestors Self Help Workshop.

These meetings will be fairly loose format and will go where they lead. Contributors need not be experienced researchers nor should they be shy. If you prefer to just submit an item and not do a demonstration yourself, then please get in touch.
The success of the format is entirely dependent upon the members. It is in your hands. Many people have asked if we will be running any Zoom meetings in the future, now is your chance to help out.
Please get in touch by email eventsonline@mid-anc.uk if you have a query or are stuck somewhere or would like to make any sort of contribution.
An Online event using Zoom. Visit this page to find out how we do it.
To Register Click here – FH Workshop

Bromsgrove: A Fascinating Family History
2023-02-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Bromsgrove Methodist Centre, 19 Stratford Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 1AS, United Kingdom
Speaker: Vanessa Morgan

Kenilworth: '‘Women of Excellent Understanding: The Wives and Daughters of the Lunar Society ’
2023-02-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Speaker: Dr Kate Croft – CWMH, University of Birmingham

This is an in-person talk at The Kenilworth Centre

Birmingham: Genealogy Modelling Kinship - Are We Related ?
2023-02-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Genealogy Modelling Kinship – Are We Related ?
The Kingsley Norris Memorial Lecture
Presenter – Dr Alan C Smith, FInstP FIET FRAS
Genealogy is the study of our family – but how large is it and are we related? Our speaker today will describe Pedigree – and Cousin – Collapse and how these can be addressed scientifically. We will look at ancestry and cousin relationships in general and discover some surprising conclusions about who we are and to whom we are related.
Taking place in the BMI, the Sir Arthur Sullivan Hall, on the ground floor

The Kingsley Norris Memorial Lecture is always by a society member.
It was from a germ of an idea of Dr. Stuart Kingsley Norris, retired surgeon at Birmingham Eye Hospital, that BMSGH now Midland Ancestors, was established in 1963. As its pioneering founder member, after his untimely death in 1972, this annual lecture was set up in his memory.

Stourbridge: War Time Boat Women
2023-01-28 14:30 - 16:30 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY90SW, United Kingdom
War Time Boat Women
Official war time photographs of the mother and daughter crew of the narrow boat “Heather Belle” delivering flour from Worcester to Tipton in 1942

Presenter – Keith Hodgkins

Keiths presentation will be preceded by –
Annual General Meeting
Do not be put off by the AGM also being at the time of this meeting. At Midland Ancestors, the record time for the AGM is about 7 minutes. We try to better it each year.

Wolverhampton: Where Does My Family Come From? Unlocking the Secrets of your DNA.
2023-01-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Presenter: Karen Evans
Adverts for DNA testing kits are constantly on the TV especially around Christmas – were you given one as a gift this year? What is it going to reveal and how can you get the most out of the test results?
This talk covers understanding how the test works in very general terms, getting the most from the test what the results mean and how to use the results to validate your paper research or overcome brick walls such as illegitimacy.
Karen will also highlight the range of DNA testing and the pitfalls of which you may not be aware.
Karen is a local author, she writes a monthly column for Family Tree Magazine on getting the most out of your DNA and is well known to many of our members.

Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. start

Birmingham: Catching Up With FamilySearch
2023-01-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Note Change of Date due to Rail Strike
Catching Up With FamilySearch
Presenter Sharon Hintze
FamilySearch.org is the largest family history website in the world, with billions of names across thousands of collections – and more added monthly. In this talk, Sharon Hintze will tell us about the recently completed digitising of its microfilm collection. In describing the latest major databases that have been added, Sharon will also give advice on how to search them and so make the best use of the whole website.
Taking place in the BMI, the Peek Room, on the first floor

The Midland Ancestors Family History Centre, being a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, will be able to provide visitors with a golden opportunity to follow up on Sharon’s words. As a bonus of course, a duty librarian will also be on hand to offer their assistance.

Date change due to Industrial Action on the Railways, now not the 7th Jan which is shown on the Little Yellow Programme Booklet.

Kenilworth: 'Fred Hancox: More insights into the family life of an Edwardian working class, Coventry photographer'
2023-01-11 19:15 - 21:30 | Online Event Using Zoom
Following the decision to allow Zoom meetings to go ahead if Groups wish to, the Kenilworth meeting for January, which had been likely to be cancelled, will now be a Zoom meeting inviting David Fry back to show us more of Fred Hancox’s Edwardian photographs.

This is an online event via Zoom.
Registration is now OPEN
You can register by using this link: David Fry: Fred Hancox: More insights into the family life of an Edwardian working class, Coventry photographer
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you lose the link for any reason, just re-register to receive a new one.
“Doors Open” at 7:15pm for 7:30pm start.
Meeting times are prompt, please allow yourself good time, especially if you’re using Zoom for the first time.
Visit this page to find out how we do it.
All registrants will be acknowledged with joining instructions included.
All Midland Ancestors presentations are the intellectual property of the speaker presenting. Copying or recording any event in any way is strictly prohibited without the express permission of the speaker. Midland Ancestors cannot be held responsible for any illegal copying or recording that may take place during this event.

Bromsgrove: Common Law Weddings: A Different look at Marriage
2023-01-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Bromsgrove Methodist Centre, 19 Stratford Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 1AS, United Kingdom
Speaker: David Phillips

Family History Centre
2023-01-05, 2023-01-04, 2023-01-03, 2023-01-02, 2023-01-01, 2022-12-31, 2022-12-30 | Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
The FH Centre in Birmingham is Closed for the Festive Break

Bank Holiday
2023-01-02
Bank Holiday
New Years Day Substitute
