Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

Come along to tomorrow's meeting (19th May 2015) of the Family History Group at Sam Merrifield Library, from 1-3pm. The group will be looking at the following topics: Problem solving our brick walls Using Family Search https://familysearch.org/search Using microfiche reader – old church records

The Family History Group that meets each Tuesday 1-3pm at Sam Merrifield Library have set the following topics for their next two meetings: Tues 5 May: 1. Problem solving – bring your brick wall or problem. 2. Ancestry – Sandra Also, Val is going to bring her family history and travel books. Tues 12 May: 1. Problem solving – bring your brick wall or problem. 2. Using the booklet option in Word to record information. Also, Lorraine is going to bring her family history books. You can also bring your examples of family histories so the group can all see the different ways this research can be published.

The Family History Group have some great activities and topics coming up, (Tuesdays, 1-3pm, at Sam Merrifield Library unless otherwise stated): -24th February (tomorrow) – visit to the Essendon Historical Society Courthouse Museum. -3rd March – Brick Walls and tracing soldiers -10th March – general discussion and problem solving -17th March – visit to PROV with presentations from PROV and ANA at 1pm , 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne. There will be three (at least) cars going so if you don’t want to drive or take public transport then we will meet at the library around 12.30pm. -24th March – Colleen will be speaking on her research into female convicts in Tasmania

The new year has begun and the Family History Group have started meeting at Sam Merrifield Library again. The upcoming topics that the group will focus on over the next few weeks are: 20/1: General discussion and looking at Ancestry 27/1: Problem solving (highs and lows)/using microfiche/Ancestry 3/2: Problem solving/Find my Past/Digger 10/2: Problem solving/Trove 17/2: Guest speaker (to be confirmed) New members are always welcome. Just come along to Sam Merrifield Library, Tuesdays 1-3pm.

On Tuesday 18th Novemember Bob Chalmers, President of the Essendon Historical Society, will drop in to give a talk to the Family History Group. This group is open to anyone who would like to come along. Just drop in on a Tuesday at 1pm at Sam Merrifield Library. The group meets from 1-3pm.

Here are the upcoming topics for the Family History Group for the next 4 weeks: Each session will open with group problem solving, then move onto the weekly assigned topic or presentation, and then finish with "free time" for research/chat/anything. 30 September: What details are needed for each person researched? and Scanning documents and photos 7 October: Wills and probate and Convicts and criminal records 14 Oct: Scanning documents and photos 21 Oct: Online newspapers on Trove 28 Oct: Producing charts 4 Nov: MELBOURNE CUP DAY - LIBRARY CLOSED - NO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP 11 Nov: Possible guest speaker - to be confirmed Want to join the group? Come along to Sam Merrifield Library, Tuesdays 1-3pm. No need to book, just drop in.

Hello and thanks to all the people who have been coming along to the Family History Group recently started at Sam Merrifield Library. Hope you are enjoying the group! Here are the upcoming topics for the Family History Group for the next 4 weeks: Tuesday 9 September 2014: Starting out and keeping track of your research. What are your tips, tricks or recommendations? Bring along examples of what you do! Tuesday 16 Sept: Writing it up. How do you write up your research? Bring along examples to share. Tuesday 23 Sept: Library resources. Quick presentation of some of the resources you can access at the library to help with your family history research. Tuesday 30 Sept: What next? and social session This week the group will set the next few topics and catch up with library staff and other group members to discuss how the group is evolving. Want to join the group. Come along to Sam Merrifield Library, Tuesdays 1-3pm. No need to book, just drop in.

The first meeting of our new Family History Group, on Tuesday afternoon, was attended by 30 participants. The group decided on an ongoing meeting time of Tuesdays 1-3pm. These drop-in sessions will be held every week at Sam Merrifield Library, with no need for bookings. Each week the group will focus on a pre-determined topic for the first hour, and the second hour will be open for free discussion, chat and/or research. The discussion topics for the first 4 weeks are as follows: Week 1 (19 Aug): Show and tell: family heirlooms/quick stories Week 2 (26 Aug): Library resources for family history Week 3 (2 Sep): Dealing with brick walls in your research. What obstacles have you hit in your research? What tips do you have on overcoming “brick walls”? Week 4 (11 Sep): Tools for keeping track of your research. What tool/s do you use to record your research? Can be software/online or other methods (files/notebooks/other)? What are your tips, tricks or recommendations?