Genealogy Chat

I am going to the Family Record Office tomorrow for the first time, can anyone tell me what sort of information to take, what i will find and genrel info. Thank you

Sarah do you mean the FRC in Islington or the PRO in Kew? Zoe

FRC in Islington

Hi Sarah There's a visit to the FRC next Saturday, so I've nudged the thread for you as there are various useful tips on it.

Thank you for your help

Sarah, MOST important things are a notepad and pencil (you're not allowed pens in the reading rooms) Make notes of exactly who you want to find and order them on how important they are to you. Look for the important ones first. Try and group similar things together i.e. all births, all marriages as the rooms are split into these three sections. Then put them in date order so you're not walking backwards and forwards all teh time. See if you can get a genealogy form for recording your search (these are free every month on the Your Family Tree CD). These sheets have boxes for each year you want to search and is split into four so you can mark off as you search each quarter. These are invaluable when you want to look back six months later and confirm you searched a specific quarter for someone. There is a canteen downstairs with vending machines for food and drink. The cans etc are cheaper than you'll get in local shops as are the sandwiches - but Id recommend you take your own food at least as some of the sandwiches I've had there have been very unexciting. The top floor has census with some street indexes and the people up there will show you how to use them correctly as it's not particularly straight forward. You'll need small change if you intend to take copies of the census'. If you intend to order certs whilst there there is a cut off time when you order isnt processed until the next day so you have to wait a day longer. On a personal note (if you're not going alone) pease try not to hold loud conversations across the desks about where you've searched, who you cant find etc etc. Although talking isnt banned it's incredibly distracting for others - someone with the courtesy to at least speak in lowered tones is always greatly recieved!! And most of all - have fun!!!! And poke around the bits you're not using to figure out what stuff you can go back for one day. And don't be afraid to ask other users for help - everyone remembers their first time and how daunting it was.

Thank You my mum is going to a meeting and she don't like travelling so i said i would go with her and go to the records office, as i said i have never been before, i think what i will do is take my note book with the most inportant info and spend sometime getting a feel for the place for future and then start searching

When I get excited, I tend to forget where I've left bags, notes etc. Take nothing that you can't replace (their lost property is bulging with research notes as well as the usual items) and remember that thieves can operate anywhere, so it is sensible to dump as much as you can in the lockers. Wear comfy shoes if you want to look at the birth, marriage death indexes and layers on top: the central heating/air conditioning can be temperamental. If you wear glasses, make sure you have them with you. There is a good bookshop. If you have London ancestors, they have a good selection of old maps. Don't tire yourself out. The FRC won't vanish in the next couple of days. Have a plan B to visit an art gallery/museum/cinema/shoeshop/ other favourite treat so that if you are feeling fed up by lunch time you've still enjoyed the day. As Zoe says, enjoy yourself!