Auckland Libraries presents their family history club

Sundays:- 10 February, 5 May, 11 August, 10 November,

10.30am to 3.30pm

In response to demand . . . 

Curious about your family history? Want to know where to start?

Brick wall? Lack of time? Has your research been gathering dust and you want to restart? Then the Family History Club is for you!

Join experts from Auckland Libraries and the New Zealand Society of Genealogists for a day of research.

Tea and coffee supplied, please bring your own lunch.

Whare Wānanga – opposite the Central Auckland Research Centre, level 2, Central City Library

Contact the Central Auckland Research Centre 09 307 7771 to book
Or email arc@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Find out more:
http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events/Events/pages/familyhistoryclubfebruary.aspx

Discounted parking available in the Victoria Street East carpark - see your friendly librarian on the day!

See our other events for February and March 

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC265

Showing the grave and tombstone of Michael Gallagher in Symonds Street Cemetery.

The inscription reads:

In affectionate remembrance of Michael Gallagher who died May 26 1894 aged 38 years.

Erected by his widow, H K Gallagher.

In charity with all men.

The grave and headstone of his mother Mary Gallagher is partly visible to the left.

Palaeography is the study of old handwriting and The National Archives UK offers an excellent online tutorial that may help you with deciphering tricky letters and the spelling of words that appear on family history records. Census records often contain abbreviations that at the time of writing may have been common knowledge, but can leave us quite puzzled by their meaning as well as with an inability to identify the letters. I particularly found the historic county abbreviations useful and often there was more than one in use. For example, Shropshire was referred to as Shrops and Salop – this last variation is not intuitive in any sense!

You can also see examples of handwriting from the National Archives interactive tutorial that is available at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-3275

I also recommend Hilary Marshall’s book Palaeography for Family and Local Historians, there is a copy held at the Central Auckland Research Centre, under the call number 4 ENG AID.

You never know what you may decipher!

Karen