Ask AGRA: A Family History Podcast Association Of Genealogists and Researchers In Archives (AGRA)

It is sometimes tempting to think that all the information we need to research a family tree is available at the touch of a button on the internet. While many of the records we might need have been digitised, there are far more documents that have not. The only way to view them is to go to an archive.

This podcast sets out to explain what archives are, what you might find in them and, how best to prepare for your visit. If you don’t live close to a particular archive it may well be much more cost effective to employ a skilled AGRA researcher to do the job for you.

Panel: Nick Serpell (Moderator), Maxine Willett, Valerie Brenton, Simon Fowler.

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.

Probably all of us are familiar with heraldry in one form or another. We see coats of arms on a daily basis, on documents, buildings, vehicles, flags and, of course, displayed during the great ceremonial occasions of state. But, what part can heraldry play in researching our family history and enhancing our knowledge of our ancestor?

This podcast sets out to look at what heraldry is, explains some of the sometimes strange terms used to describe colours and shapes, and how it can be used in genealogical research. It could well be that someone in your family tree did have the right to bear arms and a lot can be learned from studying the shields and crests. If listening to this podcast fires your interest in genealogy, there are some useful links below.

NB. Be wary of websites claiming to be able to sell you so called ‘family surname crests’. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not to families and can only be inherited by direct descendants of the individual concerned, normally down the male line. As such many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many others of that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms at all.

Panel: Nick Serpell (Moderator), Ann Ballard, Chris Broom.

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.

England & Wales are particularly rich in the historical documents needed to research family history. This is primarily because there has been no serious invasion since 1066, and the fact that we live on an island means the country borders have remain unaltered. All this has helped in the preservation of records which go back over more than a thousand years of history.

While the internet has been invaluable in helping people research their English and Welsh ancestors, only a small proportion of these records are online. That means that a great deal of research needs to be done in physical archives and the most cost-effective way of doing this is by commissioning a professional researcher.

This podcast looks at the challenges facing those researching their English and Welsh ancestors, discusses the wide range of records that are available, and looks at how to get the best out of any research you commission to help you understand more about where your ancestors came from and what their lives were like.

Panel: Nick Serpell (Moderator), Phil Brown, Lesley Trotter and Lorraine Whale.

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.

Professional genealogists and AGRA Members / Associates Vicki Manners, Simon Fowler, Clive Reedman and Judy Lester discuss the genealogical resources surrounding poor Law, settlement records and workhouses, with moderator Sarah Williams, Editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine.

The download mentioned in this podcast is available at: https://www.agra.org.uk/_resources/podcast/downloads/2022-02-ask-agra-poor-law-records.pdf

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.

Professional genealogists and AGRA Members / Associates Grace Tabern, Sharon Grant and Rachel Rick offer guidance for researching your Liverpool ancestors, with moderator Nick Serpell.

The download mentioned in this podcast is available at: https://www.agra.org.uk/_resources/podcast/downloads/2022-01-ask-agra-researching-liverpool-ancestors.pdf

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.

Professional genealogists and AGRA Members / Associates Ian Waller, Catherine Ryan and Sue Adams look at genealogy research in manorial and estate records, with moderator Helen Tovey, Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

The download mentioned in this podcast is available at: https://www.agra.org.uk/_resources/podcast/downloads/2021-12-ask-agra-manorial-documents.pdf

To find out more about AGRA or to find a professional researcher to help you uncover more about your family history, see our website www.agra.org.uk.