Free Genealogy Resources from the Hathi Trust

http://familyhistorydaily.com/free-genealogy-resources/the-massive-free-genealogy-resource-youve-probably-never-heard-of/

Easily found online at hathitrust.org, the project brings together multiple libraries, both public and academic, and their respective digital holdings into a single online collection. From universities such as the Ohio State University, Harvard and others, you can also find the New York Public Library, the California Digital Library and others.

Freely available for use and research, the focus of this massive treasure trove is multiplexed, seeded with digital books, magazines and other scanned items, but also sound recordings, maps and other ephemera. With multiple methods of search, PDF, image and plain-text downloads, there’s a lot to consider for the genealogy researcher. A few examples of some specific titles I’ve encountered for my own research include:

• Resident and business directory of Carver, Plympton, Halifax, Pembroke and Hanson, Massachusetts, 1910.

• Rand, McNally & Co.’s Chicago city railway directory and street number guide.

• Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois.

• The Genealogical quarterly magazine: devoted to genealogy, history, heraldry, revolutionary and colonial records.

In all, the wide variety of types, time periods, and collections will prove fruitful for most family researchers!

I got quite a surprise this week when I went into the Ancestry site and saw the following regarding my grandmother.  
It's sad to think that she had no-one she could turn to in her time of need, the only place which could help her was the workhouse (see below).  I don't recall anyone ever talking about this part of her life.

Records of Workhouse (institution) Woolwich Road, Greenwich, 1916.

a formidable-looking place

10 May: Admitted from Infirmary.

13 May, 0955, sought relief (of friends).  Violet Florence Gaspar, Barmaid, 184 New Cross Road*. Friend Mrs White, 107 Brockley Road. (born 1897), St Pauls district. Destitute.

June 15, 6.30: discharged from infirmary of work house and sent to Infirmary

Then 

Thursday 13 July, 3.00. Violet Gaspar, single, barmaid, 184 New Cross Road, Friend Mrs White 107 Brockley Rd, CE, b 1897, St Pauls.

July 22, 1.45: Discharge from infirmary, Violet Gaspar, removed to St Pancras.

*The is the address of the The White Hart.

Mrs White mentioned above who brought her to the workhouse in is seen in 1911 Census as follows:

107 Brockley Road, Lewisham: William white, head, married under a year, no children, Clerk (Butchers), shipping, worker, b Deptford, London, British

Florence White, wife, 31, b Whitehapel, British

Eliza Bennett, boarder, 58 widow, 2 children (1 living one died),  b blackwall, british

George Porter, visitor 24, single, gas fitter, commercial gas co, worker, b Whitechapel, british

Information about workhouses from Ancestry: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60391

All about workhouses: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Workhouse

... and 
Greenwich Workhouse in particular: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Greenwich/

The Google Genealogist by Devin Ashby


How to get the most out of Google when researching your genealogy, in five parts:

Part 1:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUsaxTM7yrw

Genetic Ancestry - sounds intriguing ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vy4kb

Tell the Office of National Statistics what family historians would like to see in the 2021 Census ...

The decennial census is a vital source for future family historians and we should ensure that the information we give about ourselves and our communities will be of use when the census becomes publically available.

The next census in England and Wales will be in 2021 and as part of the census research programme, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today launches a 12 week public consultation asking users for their views on the topics that the 2021 Census might include.  ONS wants to determine the information that users want and need from the 2021 Census, and which data will in future be needed for policy, business, and administrative purposes within the public and private sectors.

http://www.sog.org.uk/news/article/tell-the-office-of-national-statistics-what-family-historians-need-from-the

Discover your family history

This is a link to a leaflet from the Passport Office giving information on how to get the best out of the GRO (General Registry Office).  

The GRO holds information about births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales going way back to 1 July 1837.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423605/DYFH.pdf

50 free genealogy sites - not tried them yet but wanted to share:


http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-resources/50-free-genealogy-sites/