Genealogy Chat

I just did a quick analysis of the Parish Register holdings of the Society of Genealogists in London and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (centres nationwide). It seems LDS has more records available, and is the ideal place to conduct family research; what is your opinion?

Giles - I use both. The library at SOG is excellent with a vast range of materials and is well worth a few hours to read about the counties of your ancestors and although their parish holdings are limited in comparison to LDS you can work there more at your leisure and then take copies of what you find.There are some parish indexes of BMDs in the library which can be valuable for quick checks. You can also react more easily to things that emerge that day by moving onto another set of parish records, bmd, parish indexes in the library, census returns etc etc. - good for those rellies who jump around from place to place.I have actually now joined rather than paying research fees of £14.50 per day. I do find the LDS films easier to negotiate though. My LDS is very small with only 2 film facilities so booking can be difficult if you are limited to Saturday mornings. Soo being near to London I use both!! Jan

Please don't tell me my local LDS centre is the ideal place to do my research or I may have a seisure!! lol here is how it goes for me: 1) Drive the 15 miles to the LDS centre through tortuous streets and two fairly major towns. Takes about an hour and is V frustrating at the best of times. 2) Spend about half an hour driving round looking for a parking space. 3) Give up - drive a distance to the multi story. Remember it's market day as I go up and down the floors looking for a space. 4) Park and walk to the LDS centre. 5) Good job I set off early as they only open for a max of two hours a day (just long enough to get started and then they chuck you out!!) 6) Arrive at LDS centre (in the rain - no umbrella - I left it in the car as it wan't raining in the multi-story, was it??) 7) Read wet paper notice on the door which says that due to unforseen circumstances the centre will not be open until next Monday, due to a volunteers holiday (unforseen??????? Aagghhhh!) 8) Walk back to car. Pay extortionate parking fee and drive home! I have never been to the SoG. It sounds fantabulous - Maybe if hubby was to look after kids for a week I could camp outside at night? In my dreams?? MMM

So sorry about your experience at LDS - I do hope it is a one off. I feel sure my local one would have done everything they could to contact me about a closure. Perhaps when you book you put your telephone number down too to stop it happening again. So far I haven't had any problems with them - there's also a regular group of people who go who are very helpful if you get stuck or can't read something and suggesting other sources of info. Also found lady researching two of the same places as me in Scotland so were able to share films. My local one has 5 readers, 2 fiche readers and 2 computers, one with Ancestry subscription.

It is going to depend entirely on the areas in which you are interested and the type of records you want to look at. A few items may be out on loan but, in general, anything in the SoG catalogue would be available on the day. I enjoy researching in the SoG library because there are so many arcane items there and it is the logical place for most family history societies to deposit their transcripts and finding aids.

Hi Julie, Yes, mine was fine on other occassions (the bad one was second visit, when everything went wrong lol!) - though it is really frustrating that they only open for two hours at a time, yet it takes about five hours of my day! MMM

Hi MMM I can really relate to your experience, had a similar one myself. Took the afternoon off work. LDS only open 3 hours per day. Ordered 2 films in October...they arrived the day before Xmas. (LDS closed till after Xmas)...February they finally re-opened with shortened hours because it is summer here then and there weren't enough people to staff it!!!! Sylvia

My local LDS Centre is really good. They are only open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but are open in three 3 hour sessions. 10a.m. to 1p.m., 1p.m. to 4p.m. and 6.30p.m. to 9.30p.m. You have to book, but they always take your phone number so they can let you know if they have any problems which mean they can't open (it has never happened to me) They have about 6 film readers and even more fische readers as well as computers with internet access. The volunteers are all very helpful. I really don't think you can blame the LDS Centre for the length of your journey, parking, traffic, weather etc. even though I realise that it is all very frustrating. I'd have no hesitation in recommending LDS Centres. Kath. x

Kathleen - I'm not blaming them for the fact I live in the wrong place lol, and I can hardly say they are not as good as the SoG not having been there!! I was just trying to make light of problems we can all face, and that it's important to check the place is open before you leave home! Although that's tricky if they have not been open for the previous few days and you have to leave home hours before they open on the day!! You are quite right that the volunteers are very helpful.... MMM

OOh, Kathleen, I just noticed you said your LDS is open in the evenings - fantastic!!! MMM

Yes the evening opening is very popular, although I prefer mornings. I suppose it just depends on how many volunteers a centre has, as to how often they can open. Kath. x

My LDS phoned to tell me that one of the films I'd ordered had arrived - I've been waiting since April - but they were closing until August 30th for summer holidays. Aaaarrrrgh! Beth :)