"Saved memories: scrapbooks 1570-2011"

Scrapbooking is often a hobby that goes hand in hand with family history research.

As family history researchers, we collect the information to do with our families and individuals within our families.

Instead of sticking these items into files and leaving them in boxes or filing cabinets, what better way than scrapbooking to display them?

Items suitable for scrapbooking, typically, are photos of course, copies of certificates, census records and momentoes. Annotate them with the stories of the individuals as you go along. Its a wonderful way of preserving and passing along your research in a creative way.

Sir George Grey Special Collections on Level 2 (the Heritage floor) of the Central City Library in Lorne Street, is holding a fabulous exhibition "Saved memories: scrapbooks 1570-2011" which began today.

Kate de Courcy, Sir George Grey Special Collections librarian and exhibition curator, says the word "scrap-book" first appeared in the English language in 1825 but books with similar characteristics have been made since the 15th century.

"It is fascinating to see how the practice of preparing scrapbooks has changed through the years," she says.

"What hasn't changed over 500 years though, is that people have continued to collect and display things that are precious to them.

Scrapbooks are compiled for different reasons: from the simplest expression of fancy or taste, to telling an individual’s life story or focussing on a particular area of interest."

The display also highlights a variety of materials used for pages such as paper, cloth and vellum (animal skin prepared for writing or printing) and items added to scrapbooks include photos, paintings, magazine items, feathers, tickets, newspaper clippings, professional scrapbooking items, scraps and cartoons.

The fact that the library holds scrapbooks in the collection from as far back as 1570, is testament that your story could possibly survive way, way into the future by design (if preserved carefully) or even luck and good fortune.

The exhibition runs from 1 December 2011 to 3 March 2012 on level 2 of the Central City Library on Lorne St.

Guided ToursThere are free guided tours on Wednesdays at 12-1pm (until Wednesday 28 February 2012), led by Kate de Courcy.

Viewing times Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 4pm

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Key speaker: Chris Paton

Recently we were fortunate to host Unlock the Past and their speakers, prior to them setting sail on their Scottish/Irish History and Genealogy Cruise aboard the Holland America's line ship "Volendam".

Saturday's programme was a full day seminar event, and well-worth the $35 entry that UnlockthePast were asking for. Altogether there were five seminars, and each one was well polished and really informative.

Chris Paton was the main speaker and he gave three talks. His talk on Irish Family History Resources Online, just touched the tip of the iceberg of what is available and is described in more detail in his new book of the same title (on order at the Research Centre). Chris has a list of these online resources with a brief explanation on his website, but I recommend that you read his book, to gain an understanding of where to start or go to next for your own family research.

Chris' other talks covered Scottish Land Records and Scottish Church Records. Both entailed quite a history lesson in order to provide the background to where to find records and how to use them. Chris explained the changes in the Scottish Church very clearly and concisely, and in a very entertaining way also. The Scottish land system was distinctly different to the English one, and required quite a bit of explanation also. Again this was fascinating. Chris has a book out "Discover Scottish Church Records" and I'm not the first one to say he should write one about the Scottish Land System!

Rosemary Kopittke gave us a summary of what you can find online in the three FindMyPast websites - Australasia, UK, and Ireland. We haveFindMyPast UK available now through all 55 of our libraries which is proving very popular - but we don't yet have the Australasia or Ireland versions of the site unfortunately. More and more is being added to these sites all the time, an astonishing 56 million more records will be added in February/March 2012 which will double the current content!

Shauna Hicks gave us a very informative and clear "Google Your Family Tree: Tips and Tricks". Her talk was based on Dan Lynch's bookGoogle Your Family Tree and his presentation of the same name. However, Shauna had used her own examples to illustrate features, updated it to reflect the considerable changes to Google since Dan wrote his book, and made it her own. Her style of presenting this reminded me that she had been a librarian - especially when she was describing search techniques.

Shauna wrote a blog about the day on her website. Shauna also writes another more informal blog "Diary of an Australian Genealogist" where she is also currently writing about her experiences on board the cruise.

Monday's programme was a free library event, and just a short half day, as the speakers had to board their cruise ship just after lunch.

Our programme started with an optional tour of the Research Centre, where there were enough people to necessitate splitting into two groups - I took one, and Marie Hickey took the other round.

At 10.30am Dr Perry McIntyre gave us an overview of how to begin researching your Irish family history. She gave us an Australian view on the subject which was refreshing as it enabled us to think laterally about our Irish ancestors who might have previous gone to Australia, before coming to New Zealand.

At 12 noon, Dr Richard Reid gave us a talk about Irish immigration to Australia and New Zealand. Richard's presentation was based on his published thesis "Farewell my Children - the Irish Emigrant Journey to Australia" (on order for the Research Centre), which he had expanded a little to include New Zealand.

I've been given a lot of new knowledge and a whole lot of information to follow up and research. I left feeling energised and motivated and can't wait for some spare time! The cruise ship is stopping at ports all round New Zealand, and there will be shore based seminars at each stop (organised by the NZSG). The audience at each stop will be in for a rare treat!

We've been very lucky to have had the calibre of speakers presenting for us this year - and the UnlockthePast speakers have definitely been the icing on the top for us!

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UnlockThePast have chosen Central City Library, Auckland, to launch their History and Genealogy Cruise November 2011 - Scottish & Irish Theme that sets sail from Auckland to Sydney for 14 nights.

The pre-cruise one-day seminar is being held in the Whare Wananga, Level 2 of Central City Library on Saturday, 19 November, and is aimed at people who are unable to take part in the cruise.

We are very privileged to have Chris Paton as our guest keynote speaker on this day, and he will be giving three different presentations:

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