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Topic: Microfiche Phobia!!...... (Read 1472 times)
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trish251
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Posts: 8308
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I always get a little jealous hearing that it is ever possible to see the original registers - film is as close as I ever get - and some of the films I have seen look to have been made by a not sober person, late on a Saturday night with the originals held under water  - I have found that using the high quality readers with a large magnification has made interpretation of some of these films so very much easier - but still not always possible.
Has the original poster returned? I have enjoyed all the opinions given, do hope she finds it useful as well.
Trish
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willow154
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1401
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I've had completely the opposite experience with Nottinghamshire Archives (the one I visit most - not my county one).
I recently went to look at protestation oaths on microfilm, but when I got there they were unavailable. As they knew I'd travelled some distance one of the staff actually went to look for the originals - all written on long rolls of parchment(real bonus). Didn't even need to ask!
I've always found this record office very helpful and friendly. They're also introducing speciality workshops/talks, some with short dramas, etc to appeal to a wider audience + acted by local theatre groups(one or two are members of the archives staff).
All in all a friendly, yet very well resourced record office.
Paulene 
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MarieC
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Posts: 3058
In Queensland, Oz
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Like Trish, I'm very jealous of people who can get to see originals! Some of the fiches of the English bmds that I have looked at are appalling.  On one brief occasion, I was able to go into the late lamented Family Records Centre and look at those wonderful registers, that are now inexplicably locked away from all human gaze.  Every entry I looked at was beautifully clear, and I really wondered how those who put them on fiche had done such a poor job!
Paulene, your Notts Archives are taking things to a new level - short dramas! Wonderful!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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Aulus
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 720
The black sheep: Florence Stevenson née Hampson
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Hi Aulus, I didn`t know that you could access the original registers,thats good to know. Some of the microfilms at my Archives office is very hard to read. The problem is I probably wouldn`t get a good reception form the office staff by wanting to do this. They are not really very helpful at my Archives and would probably chuck me out the door and ban me for life. Johngirl 
If it's truly illegible and there's no other way (e.g. BTs) to decipher it, then I don't think it's at all unreasonable to ask one of the record office staff to look at the original register for me. The bonus at Suffolk, was that they took me halfway backstage (if you see what I mean) so I could see the original too.
Of course, if the register hasn't been filmed or put on fiche then you'll always get to see the original register. The other useful thing in records offices is to look in their catalogues to see what else is available from the parish you're looking at. There might be a parish clerk's notebook of all bmds that won't have been microfi**ed, so you should be able to see the original of that. Also any vestry minutes, churchwardens' accounts, overseers accounts - the latter can be very useful in the rare instances they survive, as they can contain what are effectively censuses both of the poor, as recipients of relief, and of the better off whose property is being assessed for the poor rate.
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Lancashire: Stevenson, Wild, Holden, Jepson Worcs/Staffs: Steventon, Smith East London & Suffolk: Guest, Scrutton East London: Palfreman (prev Tyneside), Bissell, Collis, Dearlove, Ettridge Herts: Camac, Collis, Mason, Dorrington, Siggens Marylebone & Sussex: Cole London & Huntingdonshire: Freeman Bowland: Marsden, Noble Shropshire: Guest Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Abiam
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 730
Lucky Black Cat ???
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I don't know whether to be reassured or even more nervous with my first visit to Reading BRO two weeks today coming up!
I've booked my 'table space', arranged to be dropped off outside at 9am and picked up at 5pm, have sharpened my pencils, cleaned my magnifying glass, remembered my pencil sharpener, bought 2 new exercise books and typed up a list of what I want to find.
I have never been before and so have never seen microfiche, film or whichever and now I hear of all the possible problems of trying to read them! And as I live abroad and this is my one day for discovery I obviously want to use my time to the best advantage.
So, Roots Chatters wish me luck please,
Abiam
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TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
DOBSON,Berks, Wilts.DOPSON, Fyfield, Wilts
SMITH, WEBB, Little Gransden, Gamlingay, Cambs
WEBB, Hatley St George, Hunts
HUNT, Wanborough, Swindon, Wilts
TUBB, Hungerford, Berks, EGERTON, Highworth, Wilts
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!!
WISE, South Australia, WISE, Fawley, Berks
WISE, Bray, Binfield, Berks
WYSE, Wise, Maidenhead, Berks
VINCE, VINCENT, St Mary Bourne, Hants, Bucks, Berks
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
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stonechat
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1082
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Sometimes after a while I succumb to 'Microfiche eye' and need to look at some paper records as an antidote!
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Douglas, Varnden, Joy(i)ce Surrey, Clarke Northants/Hunts, Pullen Worcs/Herefords, Holmes Birmingham/USA/Canada/Australia, Jackson Cheshire/Yorkshire, Lomas Cheshire, Lee Yorkshire, Cocks Lancashire, Leah Cheshire, Cook Yorkshire, Catlow Lancashire
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behindthefrogs
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 3286
EDLIN
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I don't know whether to be reassured or even more nervous with my first visit to Reading BRO two weeks today coming up!
I've booked my 'table space', arranged to be dropped off outside at 9am and picked up at 5pm, have sharpened my pencils, cleaned my magnifying glass, remembered my pencil sharpener, bought 2 new exercise books and typed up a list of what I want to find.
I have never been before and so have never seen microfiche, film or whichever and now I hear of all the possible problems of trying to read them! And as I live abroad and this is my one day for discovery I obviously want to use my time to the best advantage.
So, Roots Chatters wish me luck please,
Abiam
If you have time the Berks FHS search rooms are in the row of old houses in the carpark, entrance at the back. It is worth checking their site to see if it is a day that they are open.
David
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Living in Berkshire. Origin Northampton & Milton Keynes DETAILS OF THE FOLLOWING NAMES CAN BE FOUND IN SURNAME INTERESTS AT FOOT OF PAGE Wilson, Higgs, Buswell, PARCELL, Matthews, TAMKIN, Seckington, Pates, Williams, Webb, Arthur, MAYNARD, Caves, Norman, Winch, Culverhouse, Drakeley. Johnson, Routledge, SHIRT, SAICH, Mills, SAUNDERS, EDLIN, Perry, Vickers, Pakeman, Griffiths, Marston, Turner, Child, Sheen, Gray, Woolhouse Census Info is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Abiam
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 730
Lucky Black Cat ???
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Thanks David, I shall try!
Abiam
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TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
DOBSON,Berks, Wilts.DOPSON, Fyfield, Wilts
SMITH, WEBB, Little Gransden, Gamlingay, Cambs
WEBB, Hatley St George, Hunts
HUNT, Wanborough, Swindon, Wilts
TUBB, Hungerford, Berks, EGERTON, Highworth, Wilts
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!!
WISE, South Australia, WISE, Fawley, Berks
WISE, Bray, Binfield, Berks
WYSE, Wise, Maidenhead, Berks
VINCE, VINCENT, St Mary Bourne, Hants, Bucks, Berks
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
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trish251
RootsChat Marquessate
Offline
Posts: 8308
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Abiam - you will love it - One suggestion is to remember to have a break from the films/fiche every so often. Go for a walk, a stretch, or have a cup of whatever 
Most of my fiche/film experiences have been great. Don't be afraid to ask for help - if you have limited time, get as much help as you can, especially with the mundane of "How does this work"
Perhaps you will be looking at original documents so equipment will not even be an issue?
enjoy the day
Trish
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stonechat
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1082
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I used microfiche for quite some time at my company.
Undortuanately they had all be thrown out by the time my interest in family histoy was re-awakened, or I could've had a freeby
Bob
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Douglas, Varnden, Joy(i)ce Surrey, Clarke Northants/Hunts, Pullen Worcs/Herefords, Holmes Birmingham/USA/Canada/Australia, Jackson Cheshire/Yorkshire, Lomas Cheshire, Lee Yorkshire, Cocks Lancashire, Leah Cheshire, Cook Yorkshire, Catlow Lancashire
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Abiam
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 730
Lucky Black Cat ???
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There are so many 'if only's' with regard to Family History. If only I'd been interested when I was actually in Australia, within spitting distance of then unknown relatives, asked questions of my parents and listened with more than half an ear to the stories my dad used to tell.
So many regrets but at least I have really got down to it now!
Abiam
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TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
DOBSON,Berks, Wilts.DOPSON, Fyfield, Wilts
SMITH, WEBB, Little Gransden, Gamlingay, Cambs
WEBB, Hatley St George, Hunts
HUNT, Wanborough, Swindon, Wilts
TUBB, Hungerford, Berks, EGERTON, Highworth, Wilts
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!!
WISE, South Australia, WISE, Fawley, Berks
WISE, Bray, Binfield, Berks
WYSE, Wise, Maidenhead, Berks
VINCE, VINCENT, St Mary Bourne, Hants, Bucks, Berks
TUCKWELL ANYWHERE!!!
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willow154
RootsChat Aristocrat
Offline
Posts: 1401
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Good luck + happy hunting.
Don't forget to let us know how you get on, Abiam.
Paulene
You'll be fine!
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