General Chat

Can anyone advise me if it is worth joining the Society of Genealogists? How much information can I find there that I cannot find elsewhere on the web? Do they have infomation under one room that I could find elsehere by going to each of the difference parish's. As I live in London is this my best bet instead of trapsing all over the parish's where my ancestors lived? Can a SOG member explain in laymans terms what I would be getting for my £53. Many thanks. Kathy.

The Society of Genealogists has three sections under one roof. In the basement, you have microfilm/fiche of original parish registers from all over the place and many other records. There is also deposited material: wills, certificates, family trees, a complete lucky dip. On the first floor the library is divided into counties and overseas. There are register transcripts, monumental inscriptions, family history journals, directories etc. On the top floor there are more general records on occupations, apprentices etc. It is an absolute treasure trove. There are just so many things there. You also get free access to Ancestry on the premises. There are guided tours that you can go on for free and you can also do a few hours research for a fee and if you decide to join on the day the cost is deducted. I love it to pieces. Whenever I think I have exhausted all its resources I discover something else to keep me busy for months. The parish registers are particularly important: I can look at fiche for Devon, Norfolk, Notts all in one day. It's brilliant. But that's just my opinion! B

Is that a hint, Linda?! My personal opinion is that if you are fit and live within the M25, membership of the SoG represents better value than membership of Ancestry. Most of the things on Ancestry have been around for years and are readily available in the larger libraries. Some of the SoG's holdings are unique. If you are fit, it is walking distance from Guildhall, London Metropolitan Archives and the Family Records Centre, so gluttons for punishment can take advantage of late opening days to kill two birds with one stone. B

Kathy I think your best bet would be to go there for an hour and just look at what there is. I haven't joined, as I like going to local records offices where possible, as I want to tread the streets my ancestors trod, look at gravestones etc too. But I did spend a morning there - I had a voucher from the Family History Fair last year - and it is full of riches. nell

Thanks to everybody for replying. Sounds like a good bet. I wish I had found out about it before I joined Ancestry. Still Ancestry has been a good source so far. Thanks again. Kathy.