Monthly Archives: September 2014

Guest Blog – Shauna Hicks (Diary of an Australian Genealogist and SHHE Genie Rambles)

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There are five Mondays in September and as the GSQ blog post is every Monday they needed a guest blogger. I am flattered to have been asked but was a little unnerved to find that I could write about anything I wanted. Totally open. Now some might think that is easier than having a defined topic but I find it is quite the opposite. I actually like blogging prompts and it is why I set myself a personal genealogy blogging … Continue reading

I Digress

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“But I can’t”, I explained.  “GSQ’s blog has only just really begun and I should continue with posts that focus on the Society’s collection of family tree charts”.  “But you should”, I was told and eventually I was convinced.  Let me set the scene. GSQ is open on Wednesdays between 6 and 9pm twice each month and recently, with night falling outside the East Brisbane Resource Centre, a small group of dedicated family historians gathered to progress their research.  We … Continue reading

Talk the talk

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I’ve been thinking about oral histories lately and, maybe I’m wrong, but I think they’re a source that could be used more. Particularly given they’re a primary source: they offer first-hand accounts. Of course, for many of us researching our families, there are probably no oral histories that will shed much light on the ancestors we’re often thinking about – the ones waaaay back. You know, the ones with all those greats. But maybe, with a little looking, you can … Continue reading

Context is important in family histories

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A family history consisting only of facts, such as names, dates and places, can be a fairly dull read – family members may look to see that their information is correct, but get lost and bored in the detail and put the book aside. One way in which you can bring your family history to life is to add some context to your ancestors’ lives. Context helps you to understand the community from which your family came, the links between … Continue reading

Missing Friends, Criminals, Victims and More!

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Police Gazettes are another treasure trove of information that is overlooked by many genealogists. Each colony government produced Police Gazettes on a regular basis. They were the working journal for the police.Reporting on crime is a major purpose of the Gazette being the daily business of the police and you find out a lot of details such as what happened, where it happened, details of the victim and the crime, the details of the suspect. Some of the statements can … Continue reading