Previous Topics
2023 topics :-
Group member's talk about female ancestor's life, and writing a book about them
"History of a Village" talk by Sarah Horne
Open Forum & Help session
BMDs on the Internet- talk by Ian Hartas (from UKBMD website project)
Visit to Lancashire Archives
Using DNA for Family History research
Understanding & Using the Census
Show & Tell
Sources of information for full BMD dates (Kathryn Carter, LDS)
Colin's "road trip" tracing ancestors across four different counties & his "family booklets"
Military Records
2022 topics :-
Family History Quiz
Open Forum - news, problems, future topic ideas etc.
Old Postcards
Disappearing Ancestors (why can't I find them?)
Emigration
Family History Tales
Getting the most from old family photos (talk by Steve Gill, photographer & author)
1939 Register
Show & Tell
Useful Websites
Open Forum & Help session
2021 topics :-
Open Forum (Zoom)
Adoption (Zoom)
Irish & Scottish Research (Zoom)
Early 20th Century Research (by Stephen Dyer) (Zoom)
Graveyards & Cemeteries (Zoom)
Archiving Documents (Zoom)
Talk on Gallipoli Campaign in WW1 (Ian Binnie, Gallipoli Association) (Zoom)
Useful Websites (Zoom)
Show & Tell
DNA - Ancestry demo
2020 topics :-
Family History Quiz
Open Forum - problem solving, future topic ideas
Show & Tell (Zoom)
Wills & Probate (Zoom)
Using DNA (Zoom)
Disreputable Ancestors (Zoom)
Reputable Ancestors (aka "the good guys") (Zoom)
2019 topics :-
Family History Quiz
Using photographs in family history research
Open Forum (several)
Old Occupations
Wills & Probate
Newspaper Archives & Trade Directories
Record Keeping
Talk - "I wish I'd asked my Grannie" by Sarah Horne
DNA in Family History Research (by Geoffrey Cowell, Wyre U3A)
Using Family Search (Kathryn Carter, LDS)
2018 topics :-
Using Parish Registers (*)
Margaret’s talk on “The Hewitson Family of Westmorland”
Visit to Lancashire Archives
Open Forum
Using the Death Certificate in Family History – visiting speaker (Chorley FHS)
Wendy’s talk on her “Eureka” moment & family tree, and Colin’s on a family photograph & notebook
Understanding & Using the Census (*)
“Show & Tell” - bring something from your family history, and share the story behind it
Emigration & Immigration - bring any tales of your ancestors
A talk “The Absolutist” - a WW1 conscientious objector and his links to a local artist & suffragette
100 years Anniversary of WW1 Armistice – memories, personal tales of ancestors
2017 topics :-
Record Keeping & Filing Systems (over 2 meetings) – paper/manual records & digital/computer records
Pat’s talk on “The Harris Institute of Preston”
Open Forum – share news, problems, experiences, successes, ideas for topics etc.
Back to Basics (*) – a refresher session looking at getting started in Family History
Irish & Scottish ancestors – share knowledge, experiences, problems, research tips etc.
Military Records and Research (over 2 meetings)
Maps and their use in family history research
Visit to Lancashire Infantry Museum
Open Forum
(* = Powerpoint slides used are on website)
Some earlier topics (not complete list) :-
Family History records & sources
“Black Sheep” ancestors
A talk about the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks project
Visit to Chorley FHS
Sad or Happy events/tales from your research
Problem solving sessions
Working in Cotton Mills
BMD certificates
What made you start Family History?
Philanthropists
Suffragettes
Using Family History websites
1939 Register