The Advantages
of Joining
An Family History Society.

---

by Thelma Grunnell - Launceston Branch Member

After localizing the area from which the family that you are researching came, it is often helpful to join a Society covering that part of the world.

The majority of family history/genealogical societies publish some form of journal/newsletter in which their members are entitled to place free queries.
Non-members can do so for a relatively small fee.
In addition to the query service, research interests of new members are usually published in a subsequent journal, and in this way researchers with common interest names can contact each other.

It is considered polite protocol to enclose a stamped self addressed envelope when first writing to a person whose name seems to tie in with your line and you should always reply to letters sent to you even if there is a negative result.
It can be very frustrating waiting for the postman to bring that letter which just may be a true contact.

Postage stamps for UK and New Zealand are available from the Tasmanian Family History Society library at 2 Taylor St, Launceston and are better value than International Reply Coupons from Australia Post.

Various services are maintained by most societies with Baptismal, Burial and Marriage indexes, Tombstone transcriptions, photo-links to mention a few.

Articles appear on local customs, places and personalities of note, lists of material deposited in local record offices and libraries and in some cases members offer to do complimentary research using these sources.

Addresses of County/state societies can be found in the Genealogical Research Directory published by K A Johnson & M R Sainty.
This is an index of many thousands of research names and researchers addresses with an international circulation.
You may also submit your research names to this publication consequent on purchase of the yearly updated volume.
Back numbers and the current edition of this book are held at the Launceston branch library of the Tasmanian Family History Society, 2 Taylor St, Launceston.

The State body of the Society subscribes to and exchanges journals with over 100 other groups within Australia and overseas.
A selection of these is exchanged every three months and is available for reading at 2 Taylor St.
Members may request a particular journal to be made specially available for them.

Many TFHS members have made contact with people in a close family relationship through such means.
Recently one member found in a journal which she would not normally have read, the fate of a family connection for whom she had been seaching for the past 15 years.

Joining up even for 12 months will give a new awareness and insight into your family history,which you may never have thought possible

Other Articles:
A Goal For Family History Historians.
British Census Records.
Computers and Genealogy.
Finding Relatives.
Finding your Ancestors In New Zealand.
Genealogy - The Roots and a Portion of Stem.
Lower Court Records.
Newspaper Research.
What is Genealogy?
Identifying Family Photographs.
Old Launceston Landmarks.

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