(PR.co.nz) Looking for the inside story on your family history? In August the NZ Society of Genealogists is celebrating Family History Month and there will be events all over the country, and Auckland is no exception. The Family Research Centre in Panmure will be helping people from all walks of life to trace their family history.
Family history is not just about family trees and dead people says genealogist Robyn Williams, “it is about social history, the life and times our ancestors lived in. That, and reconnecting families, is what brings the past to life and is the aspect that many genealogists find most fascinating.”
The NZ Society of Genealogists uses Family History Month to promote the enjoyable and exciting hobby of genealogy. The NZSGs Family Research Centre (FRC) has a large library collection made up of many thousands of books, microfiche, maps, CDs and magazines. There are knowledgeable volunteers who run the library and assist with the selection of resources. Once you pay your entry fee, the library has free access to Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, Irish Origins, the Genealogist and more.
The FRC is open to the public and anyone who has an interest in their family history. It is not just for experienced genealogists according to Robyn Williams. “Our organisation finds that many people are interested in starting their family history research but simply don’t know where to begin,” she says. “The FRC is the best place for that to happen. You’re surrounded by people as obsessed as you are about hunting down those elusive ancestors.”
The FRC has resources on Scotland, Ireland, Wales, any of the English counties, London, Continental Europe, the Channel Islands – or indeed almost anywhere in the world, including New Zealand and Maori research.
During Family History Month, all entries into the FRC go into the draw to win one of three new Index CDs.
For more details about Family History Month and the opening hours, visit the website at www.genealogy.org.nz
Media Release 13 August 2011.