Monday 6 May 2024

Seven Stories You Missed

 



In a fun session at the Heritage Centre, seven people shared some gems from their family history collections.

Here's a brief summary of what you missed.

The Missing Brother

Bev told the story of how she found a grandfather's brother and his wives and children in the days before Internet databases. She ended with a lovely photo of her Mum and her mother's newly found first cousin.

The Pearly Ones

Richard told us about the Pearly Kings and Queens of London. He elaborated on their past roles as arbiters of the peace in their domain down to today as charitable workers. He shared some stunning photos of their outfits too. Read about and view some of their wonderful outfits on the Museum of London site.

The Wrong Party and the Gold Envelope

Tiny gold envelope approx. 10mm x 6mm

Joan brought along this tiny gold envelope that belonged to her grandmother. It also has a little letter inside. She told the story of how her grandfather accidentally went to the wrong party in town and that was where he met her grandmother. From age 14 until he was 65 he worked his way up in the post office with placements across country Queensland. Eventually he became a Postmaster. During WWII he was also stationed in NSW.

The Iron Hoop

Robyn shared the story of the iron hoop in the Noosa Museum and read us the story of the little French boy who was adopted by Australian soldiers in WWI. She retold the story of how they smuggled him first to Britain and then to Australia. Read more of that story here and here.

A Family History Project and a confusion of Names

Jo, a new member shared the story of how her son in Year 8 worked on his family history project. She then shared a copy of her grandmother's family history book where all the names had been changed to protect their privacy. Oh, what a mess to sort through! Her 93 yr old mother is helping to identify the persons in this book.

The book with the "mystery" names

The Scrapbook

Cathy had a fascinating story of a scrapbook which had previously been the business letters book of her German Gt.Gt. grandfather. He had a business in Point Pass, South Australia in the late 19th and early 20th century. The book contained the copies of the letters he had written throughout his years in business. 

Cathy read out one letter where he wrote to a lady in nearby Robertstown saying he had visited 11 warehouses but could not find a frock that she had ordered! Imagine someone going to that effort for a customer. Some of the pages are in English and some in German, all in his copperplate handwriting.



Siblings in Line Ups

Carmel showed photos of her 6 siblings as children when their mother lined them up in age order throughout the years from 1944 until 1954. In two of the photos the children were on old converted wagon wheels, one a seesaw and one a hurdy gurdy. Nothing was wasted on that farm.
What treasures to have all those photos!
The see-saw

Keep an eye on the calendar for the next Share, Show or Tell session and come along to enjoy.

Sunday 11 February 2024

Research informs historical fiction

An enertaining meeting

 "As the American colonies whisper of liberty and revolution a young slave boy, John Randall, listens. And when the country hurtles into war, he seizes his chance, escaping to fight for the English and his freedom. John’s flight leads him across oceans: poverty and petty crime in the grey slums of Manchester; the rotting prison hulks on the Thames, and finally as a convict to a new penal colony on the other side of the world – a vast, unknown land later to be called Australia.”

On Saturday at our general meeting Jo Braithwaite presented an introduction to her book Black Randall. He was her ancestor who was transported to Australia on the First Fleet. As she researched this man she became fascinated with the circumstances that led to his deportation and his subsequent life in the early colony.

Jo has used her creative writing skills and provided his story as historical fiction, a favourite genre for many genealogists and family historians. Jo also talked about the path to publishing, including finding a mentor. 

The book will soon be available for members to borrow from our library.

Two other historical fiction authors recommended by family historians are Nathan Dylan Goodwin, who is a genealogical mystery crime novelist and M J Lee. Martin is a writer of contemporary crime, historical and genealogical mystery novels.

Thursday 18 January 2024

Family Tree UK

 What's in the magazines?

Each month we receive a print copy of the UK Family Tree magazine. 

As well as the lateset updates on family history news, this issue takes a forensic look at family heirlooms, includes a planning guide for 2024, answers some DNA questions and Richard Morgan reports on the vast vessels of the East India Company. The article about early blood transfusions is enough to make a vampire shiver!

If you are unable to read the magazine in the Heritage Centre, you may like to access the magazine on your computer or mobile device using your Noosa Libraries card. Choose Libby from this link or download the app to your mobile device.

Other magazines of interest to the family historian in Libby are shown below.

Happy reading!